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Sakura, Saku

Sakura, Saku (サクラ、サク。, lit. "Cherry Blossoms, Bloom") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Io Sakisaka. It was serialized in Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine from February 2021 to October 2023.

Plot

The series follows protagonist Saku Fujigaya during her first year of high school. Saku has pledged herself to being of help to others after being aided by a mysterious stranger, who only left a note signed by the name "Ryosuke Sakura". When she meets fellow student Haruki Sakura, she becomes determined to find out if he is connected to her unknown rescuer. The story continues to follow Saku's journey, as well as the lives of the students around her, as they go through high school life.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Io Sakisaka, Sakura, Saku began serialization in Shueisha's Bessatsu Margaret magazine on February, 13, 2021.[2] The series entered its climax on September 13, 2023 and ended the following month.[3] Its chapters were compiled into nine tankōbon volumes from May 2021 to December 2023.[4][5]

The series is licensed in North America by Viz Media, who began publishing it in English from November 2023.[6]

Volume list

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 May 5, 2021[4]978-4-08-844488-8November 14, 2023[7]978-1-9747-3904-2
2 September 24, 2021[8]978-4-08-844531-1February 13, 2024[9]978-1-9747-4308-7
3 January 25, 2022[10]978-4-08-844577-9May 14, 2024[11]978-1-9747-4567-8
4 May 25, 2022[12]978-4-08-844610-3August 13, 2024[13]978-1-9747-4634-7
5 August 25, 2022[14]978-4-08-844692-9November 12, 2024[15]978-1-9747-4935-5
6 December 23, 2022[16]978-4-08-844705-6February 11, 2025[17]978-1-9747-5195-2
7 April 25, 2023[18]978-4-08-844740-7May 13, 2025[19]978-1-9747-5485-4
8 August 24, 2023[20]978-4-08-844795-7August 12, 2025[21]978-1-9747-5554-7
9 December 25, 2023[5]978-4-08-844850-3——

Other

In May 2022, singer-songwriter Miwa released the song "Bloom". The song was described as having been inspired directly by the manga itself. When asked about the writing process, Miwa commented: "When you fall in love with someone... your heart beats like a flower blooming, and you can't stop it. I put that feeling into the song."[22] A special interview with Sakisaka and Miwa was released in Bessatsu Margaret (September 2022) to commemorate the collaboration.

Reception

Reviews of the first volume were positive. Comics Beat gave it a score of four stars, complimenting the pacing of its "slow burn romance" and its "refreshing take on shōjo tropes".[23] Josh Piedra of The OuterHaven, while critical of the initial characterization of the main cast, reviewed the story as being "done well, with an interesting twist".[24]

References

  1. ^ "The Official Website for Sakura, Saku". Viz Media. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  2. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 15, 2021). "Blue Spring Ride's Io Sakisaka Launches New Manga on February 13". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  3. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 17, 2023). "Blue Spring Ride Creator Io Sakisaka's 'Sakura, Saku!' Manga Reaches Climax". Anime News Network. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  4. ^ a b サクラ、サク。 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  5. ^ a b サクラ、サク。 9 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  6. ^ Mateo, Alex (February 3, 2023). "Viz Media Licenses JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Stone Ocean, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu Academy, Blade of the Moon Princess, More Manga/Books for Fall 2023". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  7. ^ "Sakura, Saku, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  8. ^ サクラ、サク。 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  9. ^ "Sakura, Saku, Vol. 2". Viz Media. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  10. ^ サクラ、サク。 3 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  11. ^ "Sakura, Saku, Vol. 3". Viz Media. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  12. ^ サクラ、サク。 4 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  13. ^ "Sakura, Saku, Vol. 4". Viz Media. Retrieved April 27, 2024.
  14. ^ サクラ、サク。 5 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  15. ^ "Sakura, Saku, Vol. 5". Viz Media. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  16. ^ サクラ、サク。 6 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  17. ^ "Sakura, Saku, Vol. 6". Viz Media. Retrieved October 17, 2024.
  18. ^ サクラ、サク。 7 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  19. ^ "Sakura, Saku, Vol. 7". Viz Media. Retrieved January 31, 2025.
  20. ^ サクラ、サク。 8 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
  21. ^ "Sakura, Saku, Vol. 8". Viz Media. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
  22. ^ 咲坂伊緒×miwa、「サクラ、サク。」をイメージした書き下ろし曲のPV制作. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 13, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  23. ^ Garcia, Yazmin (December 6, 2023). "Syndicated Comics". The Beat. Retrieved April 25, 2025.
  24. ^ Piedra, Josh (2023-11-05). "Manga Review: Sakura, Saku Vol. 1". Retrieved 2025-04-25.