Murai in Love

Murai in Love
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Ayano Tanaka (front) and Murai (back)
村井の恋(Murai no Koi)
GenreRomantic comedy[1]
Manga
Written byJunta Shima
Published by
ImprintGene Line Comics
MagazineLine Manga
Original runJune 18, 2018 – June 13, 2022
Volumes7
Television drama
Directed by
Produced by
  • Keiko Matsumoto
  • Hiromi Matsushita
Written byKōhei Kiyasu
StudioTBS Sparkle
Licensed byViki
Original networkTBS
Original run April 6, 2022 – May 25, 2022
Episodes8
Manga
Murai no Koi Gaiden: Great Twin Busters
Written byJunta Shima
Published by
  • Line Digital Frontier (digital)
  • Media Factory (print)
ImprintGene Line Comics
MagazineLine Manga
Original runOctober 23, 2023 – present
Volumes1
Anime television series
Directed byYoshinobu Yamakawa
Written bySusumu Yamakawa
Music byRuka Kawada
StudioJ.C.Staff
Licensed byDisney Platform Distribution
Original networkTokyo MX, BS NTV, BBC, AT-X
Original run October 6, 2024[a] – December 22, 2024[a]
Episodes12

Murai in Love (Japanese: 村井の恋, Hepburn: Murai no Koi) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Junta Shima. It was serialized in Line Digital Frontier's Line Manga service from June 2018 to June 2022, with its chapters collected into seven tankōbon volumes. A television drama adaptation aired from April to May 2022. An anime television series adaptation produced by J.C.Staff aired from October to December 2024.[a]

Plot

Murai is a top student in his grade at his high school who is in love with his homeroom teacher, Ayano Tanaka. However, Ms. Tanaka has no interest in him and is secretly an otaku obsessed with Hitotose, her favorite character from the otome gameFeudal Era Love Scroll. After Ms. Tanaka rejects him, stating that she has no interest in men with long, black hair, he appears at school the next day with short, blond hair, becoming the spitting image of Hitotose.

Characters

Murai (村井)
Voiced by: Kengo Takanashi,[2]Yuka NukuiEp. 11 credits (young) (Japanese); Brandon Jay,[3] Daisy Guevara[3] (young) (English)
Portrayed by: Ryubi Miyase[4][5]
Murai is the top student in his grade at his high school. He is in love with Ms. Tanaka and tries to pursue her at all costs. He is in the school's A class.
Ayano Tanaka (田中 彩乃, Tanaka Ayano)
Voiced by: Yoko Hikasa[2] (Japanese); Morgan Lauré[3] (English)
Portrayed by: Hikaru Takahashi[5]
Ms. Tanaka is Murai's homeroom teacher and is nicknamed "Steel Maiden" (鉄子, Tetsuko) because of her "steel heart". Secretly, she is an otaku and is obsessed with Hitotose, her favorite character from the game Feudal Era Love Scroll.
Hitotose (春夏秋冬)
Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura[6] (drama CD), Yuki Kaji[7] (TV drama), Nobunaga Shimazaki[2] (anime) (Japanese); Michael Sinterniklaas[3] (English)
Portrayed by: Ryubi Miyase[5]
Hitotose is Ms. Tanaka's favorite character from the otome gameFeudal Era Love Scroll.
Kiriyama (桐山)
Voiced by: Hiroyuki Yoshino[6] (drama CD), Kōhei Amasaki[8] (anime) (Japanese); John Patneaude[3] (English)
Portrayed by: Asahi Ito[5]
Kiriyama is Murai's friend who is in the school's art program. He is commonly referred to as "Kiri" (桐).
Hirai (平井)
Voiced by: Daisuke Namikawa[6] (drama CD), Haruki Ishiya[8] (anime) (Japanese); Matt Shipman[3] (English)
Portrayed by: Ryōsuke Sota[5]
Hirai is Murai's friend who is a womanizer. He is in the school's B class.
Yamakado (山門)
Voiced by: Masaya Matsukaze[8] (Japanese); Crispin Freeman[3] (English)
Portrayed by: Kōdai Asaka[5]
Mr. Yamakado is Ms. Tanaka's co-worker. He is known as the "teacher from hell" and has been previously divorced.
Yuuka Nishifuji (西藤 悠加, Nishifuji Yūka)
Voiced by: Saori Gotō[9] (Japanese); Diana Garnet[3] (English)
Portrayed by: Noa Tsurushima[5]
Yuuka is one of Murai's childhood friends along with her twin sister Hitomi. She is a doujinshi artist under the pseudonym "Yu-katan" (ゆうかたん, Yū-katan), who also coincidentally happens to be Ms. Tanaka's favorite fan artist. She is in the school's art program.
Hitomi Nishifuji (西藤 仁美, Nishifuji Hitomi)
Voiced by: Mikoi Sasaki[9] (Japanese); Felecia Angelle[3] (English)
Portrayed by: Riko[5]
Hitomi is one of Murai's childhood friends along with her twin sister Yuuka. She is a cosplayer. She is in the school's B class.
Yayoi Fukunaga (福永 弥生, Fukunaga Yayoi)
Voiced by: Yuuki Hirose[9] (Japanese); Laura Stahl[3] (English)
Portrayed by: Nanoka Hara[5]
Yayoi is Murai's childhood friend who has been in love with him for 10 years. She learned self-defense after she was nearly kidnapped as a child and tries to keep a docile demeanor around Murai.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Junta Shima, Murai in Love was serialized under the Gene Line label of Line Digital Frontier's Line Manga service from June 18, 2018,[1] to June 13, 2022.[10]Media Factory has compiled the chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. Seven volumes were published from December 2018 to June 2022.[11][12] A drama CD adaptation was included in an issue of Monthly Comic Gene published on November 15, 2019.[6]

A spin-off manga, titled Murai no Koi Gaiden: Great Twin Busters (村井の恋外伝 グレートツインバスターズ), began serialization on Line Manga on October 23, 2023.[13] The first tankōbon volume was released on September 13, 2024.[14]

Volumes

Murai in Love
No.Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1 December 15, 2018[11]978-4-04-065333-4
2 May 15, 2019[15]978-4-04-065700-4
3 November 15, 2019[16]978-4-04-064149-2
4 August 12, 2020[17]978-4-04-064621-3
5 March 15, 2021[18]978-4-04-680108-1
6 October 15, 2021[19]978-4-04-680630-7
7 June 15, 2022[12]978-4-04-681382-4
Murai no Koi Gaiden: Great Twin Busters
No.Japanese release date Japanese ISBN
1 September 13, 2024[14]978-4-04-683951-0

Drama

A television drama adaptation was announced in March 2022, starring Hikaru Takahashi. It was directed by Taichi Imura, Aya Matsuki, and Daisuke Yamamoto, based on a screenplay by Kōhei Kiyasu. Keiko Matsumoto and Hiromi Matsushita of TBS Sparkle served as the producers. The series aired from April 6 to May 25, 2022, on TBS's brand new Drama Stream programming block.[20][21] The opening theme song is "Peace" (ピース, Pīsu) by Finlands, while the ending theme song is "Niji o Yobu" (虹を呼ぶ) by Reaction the Buttha.[22] The series began streaming on Viki on April 21, 2023.[23]

Episodes

No.Title [24]Directed by [b]Original release date
1"My Student Has Made a Big Transformation into My Bias"Transliteration: "Seito ga Oshi ni Dai Henshin" (Japanese: 生徒が推しに大☆変☆身)Taichi ImuraApril 6, 2022 (2022-04-06)
2"A Coincidental Love Story"Transliteration: "Rabu Sutōrī wa Hitsuzen ni" (Japanese: ラブストーリーは必然に)Taichi ImuraApril 13, 2022 (2022-04-13)
3"Happy Summer of Love"Transliteration: "Koi no Happī Samā" (Japanese: 恋のハッピーサマー)Aya MatsukiApril 20, 2022 (2022-04-20)
4"I Want To Eat Your Cheeks"Transliteration: "Kimi no Hoppeta o Tabetai" (Japanese: 君のほっぺたをたべたい)Aya MatsukiApril 27, 2022 (2022-04-27)
5"The Curtain Opens for the Tumultuous Culture Festival"Transliteration: "Haran no Bunkasai Kaimaku" (Japanese: 波乱の文化祭☆開幕)Daisuke YamamotoMay 4, 2022 (2022-05-04)
6"Distance of Love"Transliteration: "Koi no Disutansu" (Japanese: 恋のディスタンス)Aya MatsukiMay 11, 2022 (2022-05-11)
7"Camping in Mid-winter"Transliteration: "Mafuyu no Gachikyanpu" (Japanese: 真冬のガチキャンプ)Taichi ImuraMay 18, 2022 (2022-05-18)
8"Destined Love"Transliteration: "Unmei no Koi" (Japanese: 運命の恋)Taichi ImuraMay 25, 2022 (2022-05-25)

Anime

An anime adaptation was announced in June 2022.[25] It was produced by J.C.Staff and directed by Yoshinobu Yamakawa, with scripts supervised and written by Susumu Yamakawa, and music composed by Ruka Kawada.[2] While the series streamed worldwide on Disney+ and on Hulu in the United States from September 4 to November 20, 2024,[a] it aired from October 6 to December 22, 2024, on Tokyo MX and other networks.[9] The opening theme song is "Henshin!" (へんしん!) performed by Rinu, while the ending theme song is "Suko" (すこ。) performed by Yabai T-Shirt Ya-san.[8][9]

An English dub premiered on March 10, 2025.[26]

Episodes

No.Title [27][28]Directed by [b]Storyboarded by [b]Original release date [29][a]
1"Episode 1"Yoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaOctober 6, 2024 (2024-10-06)
2"Episode 2"Yoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaOctober 13, 2024 (2024-10-13)
3"Episode 3"Yoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaOctober 20, 2024 (2024-10-20)
4"Episode 4"Yoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaOctober 27, 2024 (2024-10-27)
5"Episode 5"Yoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaNovember 3, 2024 (2024-11-03)
6"Episode 6"Yoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaNovember 10, 2024 (2024-11-10)
7"Episode 7"Yoshie KitaKiyotaka ŌhataNovember 17, 2024 (2024-11-17)
8"Episode 8"Yoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaNovember 24, 2024 (2024-11-24)
9"Episode 9"Yoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaDecember 1, 2024 (2024-12-01)
10"Episode 10"Yoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaDecember 8, 2024 (2024-12-08)
11"Episode 11"Yoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaDecember 15, 2024 (2024-12-15)
12"Episode 12"Yoshinobu YamakawaYoshie KitaYoshinobu YamakawaDecember 22, 2024 (2024-12-22)

Reception

In 2019, the series ranked second in the Next Manga Awards in the web manga category.[32]

The series' first episode received mixed reviews from Anime News Network's staff during the Fall 2024 season previews. Richard Eisenbeis was critical of the "motion comic" quality animation but praised Yoko Hikasa's performance as Ms. Tanaka, concluding that: "All in all, this isn't ever going to be considered a masterpiece. It looks far too rough for it to ever get any mainstream appeal. However, as a comedy, it did its job. I laughed a lot and will continue watching as long as I continue to do so." Caitlin Moore criticized the "limited animation" for removing the series' comedy potential and felt that Ms. Tanaka's mishaps were "not relatable enough to feel like it's funny because it's true." Rebecca Silverman was also critical of the "choppy and cheap-feeling" presentation and "downright ugly" animation, and was turned off by the "obnoxious characters and storyline". James Beckett found the episode "earnestly pathetic" with its "memorably terrible visuals" and Hikasa's "genuinely charming and energetic performance".[33] Fellow ANN editor Jeremy Tauber reviewed the complete anime series and gave it an overall B grade.[34] While critiquing that the first three episodes felt awkward in places, the humor and direction did not consistently deliver and the "unorthodox nature" will put off regular rom-com viewers, he praised the crude animation and direction for giving the story an "oddball charm", some "slower tender moments" breathing believability into the main couple's chemistry, and the "well-composed" soundtrack, concluding that: "For better or worse, you won't find an anime this season that looks and feels this unique. I'd like to think it's for the better."[34]

Notes

  1. ^ abcdeEpisodes were released on Disney+ and Hulu one month before their televised airings from September 4 to November 20, 2024.[9][30][31]
  2. ^ abcProduction staff information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.

References

  1. ^ ab教え子が推しに大変身、一途な男子高校生とオタク女教師のラブコメ「村井の恋」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 18, 2018. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  2. ^ abcdPineda, Rafael Antonio; Loo, Egan (February 13, 2024). "Murai in Love Anime's Teaser Unveils Cast, Staff, Fall Disney+ Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  3. ^ abcdefghij"Murai In Love English Dub Credits". Imgur. Archived from the original on May 9, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
  4. ^ドラマ「村井の恋」教師に恋する男子生徒・村井役は宮世琉弥、金髪姿も披露 [Murai in Love drama casts Ryūbi Miyase as Murai, a male student in love with his teacher, shows off his blond appearance]. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 8, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2024.
  5. ^ abcdefghiTBSの新・深夜ドラマ枠ドラマストリーム『村井の恋』 本日3月26日(土)ひる12時よりParaviで先行配信スタート！ (in Japanese). Paravi. March 26, 2022. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2024 – via PR Times.
  6. ^ abcd声優・高梨謙吾さん&日笠陽子さんによる『村井の恋』作品紹介PVが公開！ 「コミックジーン12月号」には中村悠一さん、浪川大輔さん、吉野裕行さんも出演するドラマCDが付属. Animate Times (in Japanese). November 15, 2019. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  7. ^梶裕貴、『村井の恋』にサプライズ出演 「面白さに驚き、興奮しました！」. Real Sound (in Japanese). Blueprint Co., Ltd. April 1, 2022. Archived from the original on April 1, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2024.
  8. ^ abcdCayanan, Joanna (May 1, 2024). "Murai in Love Anime's 1st Promo Video Reveals More Cast, Ending Song Artists, October TV Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  9. ^ abcdefCayanan, Joanna (August 8, 2024). "Murai in Love Anime's 2nd Video Reveals More Cast, Opening Song, Disney+ & TV Premiere Dates". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 8, 2024. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  10. ^Line Manga [@LINEmanga] (June 13, 2022). 『村井の恋』がついに完結...😭✨ 次にくるマンガ大賞にも選ばれた大人気作品です📖 島先生、約4年間本当にありがとうございました！ (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved June 15, 2022 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ ab【12月15日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 15, 2018. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  12. ^ ab【6月15日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. June 15, 2022. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  13. ^『村井の恋』公式@アニメ化&外伝連載中!! [@MURAI_in_LOVE] (October 23, 2023). 🔥本日から新連載🔥 🔥『村井の恋外伝 グレートツインバスターズ』🔥 🔥開幕!!🔥 「外伝その1 破壊神シバ」が公開されました！売られた喧嘩はすべて買う志葉木大我。怪我だらけになりながらも喧嘩するその理由は、好きな子に振り向いてほしいから——!? (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ ab「村井の恋外伝」村井の後輩ヤンキーが主人公、幼なじみとの不器用な恋物語. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. September 13, 2024. Archived from the original on September 13, 2024. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  15. ^【5月15日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 15, 2019. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  16. ^【11月15日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 15, 2019. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  17. ^【8月12日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 12, 2020. Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  18. ^【3月15日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 15, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  19. ^【10月15日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 15, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  20. ^島順太「村井の恋」TBSの新深夜ドラマ枠でTVドラマ化、主演は高橋ひかる. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 1, 2022. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  21. ^登場人物たちの"結末"に「ハッピー」の声多数、ラストの"春夏秋冬"再登場にも「良かった」の声...「村井の恋」最終回. CinemaCafé (in Japanese). May 25, 2022. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  22. ^TBS新ドラマ『村井の恋』、OPテーマがFINLANDS、EDテーマがリアクション ザ ブッタに決定. The First Times (in Japanese). March 15, 2022. Archived from the original on February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 14, 2024.
  23. ^Viki [@Viki] (April 21, 2023). "#HikaruTakahashi and #RyubiMiyase star in the story of a high schooler who hopes to win his teacher's heart...when he changes his appearance to match that of her favorite video game character! 🎮🥰 Binge-watch #MURAIinLOVE from 4/21 – on #Viki: https://watch.viki.com/MURAIinLOVE" (Tweet). Retrieved November 1, 2024 – via Twitter.
  24. ^村井の恋 (in Japanese). TBS. Archived from the original on December 20, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  25. ^Pineda, Rafael Antonio (June 15, 2022). "Murai in Love Romantic Comedy Manga Gets Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 15, 2022. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  26. ^Lack, Reuben [@thereubeh] (March 10, 2025). "Murai in Love's English dub is now up on D+ ex-US and will be on Hulu later this week. Murai is one of my favorite all-time dubs I've produced, all thanks to the incredible work of @BrittanyLaudaVO and the whole team. Sub-watchers, give this dub a chance. It's so damn funny" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 17, 2025. Retrieved March 11, 2025 – via Twitter.
  27. ^"Sutōrī|Anime "Murai no Koi" Koshiki Saito" STORY|アニメ『村井の恋』公式サイト [Story|Anime "Murai in Love" Official Site]. murainokoi-anime.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  28. ^"Watch Murai In Love Streaming Online — Hulu". Hulu. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  29. ^村井の恋. Tokyo MX (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 22, 2024. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  30. ^"On'Ea|Anime "Murai no Koi" Koshiki Saito" ON AIR|アニメ『村井の恋』公式サイト [On Air|Anime "Murai in Love" Official Site]. murainokoi-anime.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 4, 2024. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  31. ^Cayanan, Joanna (September 5, 2024). "Hulu Streams Murai in Love Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 7, 2024. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
  32. ^Loveridge, Lynzee (August 22, 2019). "SPY × FAMILY, Kusuriya no Hitorigoto Win Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Award 2019". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 8, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2022.
  33. ^"Murai in Love - The Fall 2024 Anime Preview Guide". Anime News Network. October 1, 2024. Archived from the original on October 7, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  34. ^ abTauber, Jeremy (November 28, 2024). "Murai in Love Anime Series Review". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
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