Description
In present-day Japan, 27-year-old Arata Kaizaki is struggling to find work after leaving his first job. A researcher offers him a place in ReLIFE, an experiment intended to help him reenter society. A pill gives him the appearance of a 17-year-old, and he spends a year at Aoba High School while keeping his adult memories. There he befriends classmates including Chizuru Hishiro, a top student who struggles to connect with people.
The full-color manga mixes school comedy and a slow-building romance, with room for the supporting cast’s friendships and insecurities. Arata’s adult perspective shapes how he responds to everyday conflicts, even as helping others forces him to face his own past. The mood moves between playful and bittersweet, with serious themes of workplace bullying, depression, and loss.
Pros
- An adult’s perspective gives familiar school conflicts more emotional weight.
- Both leads and supporting characters grow through their friendships.
- Full-color artwork and an uncluttered layout make it easy to follow.
Cons
- School rivalries and misunderstandings can drag on.
- Simple artwork and sparse backgrounds may disappoint readers who want more visual detail.
Awards
Main characters
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Arata Kaizaki
海崎 新太
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Chizuru Hishiro
日代 千鶴
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Ryō Yoake
夜明 了
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An Onoya
小野屋 杏
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Rena Kariu
狩生 玲奈
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Kazuomi Ōga
大神 和臣
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Honoka Tamarai
玉来 ほのか