Classroom of the Elite
Japanese light novel series by Shōgo Kinugasa
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Classroom of the Elite (Japanese: ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ, Hepburn: Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e; lit. 'Welcome to the Classroom of Real Ability Supremacism'), abbreviated as Yōjitsu (よう実) in Japan, is a Japanese light novel series written by Shōgo Kinugasa, with illustrations by Shunsaku Tomose. The series is published under Media Factory's MF Bunko J imprint, with Classroom of the Elite: Year 1 published from May 2015 to September 2019; followed by its sequel Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ 2年生編, Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e Ninensei-hen; lit. 'Welcome to the Classroom of Real Ability Supremacism Second-Year Students Edition') published from January 2020 to November 2024, as well as the follow-up Classroom of the Elite: Year 3 (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ 3年生編, Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e Sannensei-hen; lit. 'Welcome to the Classroom of Real Ability Supremacism Third-Year Students Edition'), which began publishing in March 2025.
| Classroom of the Elite | |
First light novel volume cover, featuring Suzune Horikita (left) and Kiyotaka Ayanokoji (right) | |
| ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ (Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Psychological thriller[1] |
| Light novel | |
| Written by | Shōgo Kinugasa |
| Illustrated by | Shunsaku Tomose |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | MF Bunko J |
| Original run | May 25, 2015 – September 25, 2019 |
| Volumes | 11[a] |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Shōgo Kinugasa |
| Illustrated by | Yuyu Ichino |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| English publisher |
|
| Magazine | Monthly Comic Alive |
| Original run | January 27, 2016 – present |
| Volumes | 12 |
| Manga | |
| Classroom of the Elite: Horikita | |
| Written by | Shōgo Kinugasa |
| Illustrated by | Sakagaki |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| English publisher |
|
| Magazine | Monthly Comic Alive |
| Original run | June 27, 2017 – May 26, 2018 |
| Volumes | 2 |
| Light novel | |
| Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 | |
| Written by | Shōgo Kinugasa |
| Illustrated by | Shunsaku Tomose |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| English publisher |
|
| Imprint | MF Bunko J |
| Original run | January 24, 2020 – November 25, 2024 |
| Volumes | 12[b] |
| Manga | |
| Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 | |
| Written by | Shōgo Kinugasa |
| Illustrated by | Shia Sasane |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| Magazine | Monthly Comic Alive |
| Original run | December 25, 2021 – December 26, 2024 |
| Volumes | 4 |
| Light novel | |
| Classroom of the Elite: Year 3 | |
| Written by | Shōgo Kinugasa |
| Illustrated by | Shunsaku Tomose |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| English publisher |
|
| Imprint | MF Bunko J |
| Original run | March 24, 2025 – present |
| Volumes | 3 |
| Manga | |
| Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 2nd Stage | |
| Written by | Shōgo Kinugasa |
| Illustrated by | Hachi Komada |
| Published by | Media Factory |
| Magazine | Monthly Comic Alive |
| Original run | January 27, 2025 – present |
| Volumes | 2 |
| Anime television series | |
| |
Set in the prestigious elite national high school 'Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School' established by the Japanese government, the story is about students assigned to four classes in the hierarchical order of 'A' 'B' 'C' and 'D', who are in constant competition over their three years of schooling to decide which gets to ultimately graduate in 'Class A', whose graduating members are said to be promised automatic acceptance in any desired career path or further education.
A manga adaptation by Yuyu Ichino began its serialization in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive on January 27, 2016. A manga adaptation of the sequel light novel series illustrated by Shia Sasane began serialization in the same magazine in December 2021. An anime television series adaptation produced by Lerche aired from July to September 2017, with the second season aired in July to September 2022, and the third season aired from January to March 2024. The fourth season premiered in April 2026.
The series has received widespread critical acclaim and has sold over 10.8 million copies in circulation, as one of the best-selling light novels.
Plot
The Japanese government has established the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School, dedicated to instruct and foster the generation of people that will support the country in the future. The students are given a high degree of freedom in order to closely mimic real life. The story follows the perspective of Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, a quiet and modest boy, who is bad at making friends and would rather keep his distance, but possesses unrivaled intelligence and incredible physical ability. He is a student of Class 'D', which is where the school dumps its inferior students, widely considered "defective". After meeting Suzune Horikita and Kikyō Kushida, two other students in his class, the situation begins to change, and he gets involved in many affairs and his thought of an ideal normal high school life is disrupted.
Media
Light novels
Classroom of the Elite
Written by Shōgo Kinugasa and illustrated by Shunsaku Tomose, the series is published by Media Factory, which published eleven volumes, along with three short story volumes from May 25, 2015, to September 25, 2019, under the MF Bunko J imprint.[2] Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the series.[3] On February 17, 2021, Seven Seas announced it released a new version of volume seven, due to the localization decisions in the original omitting several paragraphs.[4]
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 25, 2015[5] | 978-4-04-067657-9 | February 7, 2019 (digital) May 7, 2019 (physical)[6] | 978-1-64-275137-6 | ||
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| 2 | September 25, 2015[7] | 978-4-04-067778-1 | May 16, 2019 (digital) August 13, 2019 (physical)[8] | 978-1-64-275139-0 | ||
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| 3 | January 25, 2016[9] | 978-4-04-068008-8 | July 18, 2019 (digital) November 19, 2019 (physical)[10] | 978-1-64-275723-1 | ||
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| 4 | May 25, 2016[11] | 978-4-04-068338-6 | November 21, 2019 (digital) February 25, 2020 (physical)[12] | 978-1-64-505197-8 | ||
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| 4.5 | September 23, 2016[13] | 978-4-04-068629-5 | February 6, 2020 (digital) June 16, 2020 (physical)[14] | 978-1-64-505437-5 | ||
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| 5 | January 25, 2017[15] | 978-4-04-069017-9 | May 14, 2020 (digital) July 21, 2020 (physical)[16] | 978-1-64-505486-3 | ||
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| 6 | May 25, 2017[17] | 978-4-04-069231-9 | July 23, 2020 (digital) October 13, 2020 (physical)[18] | 978-1-64-505751-2 | ||
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| 7 | October 25, 2017[19] | 978-4-04-069458-0 | October 29, 2020 (digital) January 19, 2021 (physical)[20] | 978-1-64-505820-5 | ||
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| 7.5 | January 25, 2018[21] | 978-4-04-069675-1 | February 4, 2021 (digital) March 23, 2021 (physical)[22] | 978-1-64-505975-2 | ||
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| 8 | May 25, 2018[23] | 978-4-04-069861-8 | May 27, 2021 (digital) June 22, 2021 (physical)[24] | 978-1-64-827223-3 | ||
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| 9 | September 25, 2018[25] | 978-4-04-065157-6 | August 26, 2021 (digital) September 28, 2021 (physical)[26] | 978-1-64-827261-5 | ||
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| 10 | January 25, 2019[27] | 978-4-04-065506-2 | February 17, 2022 (digital) March 15, 2022 (physical)[28] | 978-1-64-827321-6 | ||
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| 11 | May 25, 2019[29] | 978-4-04-065739-4 | April 7, 2022 (digital) May 10, 2022 (physical)[30] | 978-1-64-827361-2 | ||
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| 11.5 | September 25, 2019[31] | 978-4-04-064007-5 | May 12, 2022 (digital) June 28, 2022 (physical)[32] | 978-1-63858-102-4 | ||
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Classroom of the Elite: Year 2
A sequel light novel series titled Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ 2年生編, Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e Ninensei-hen; lit. "Welcome to the Classroom of Merito-Supremacism: Second-Year Students Edition") was published under the MF Bunko J imprint from January 2020 to November 2024,[33] which concluded with twelve main volumes and three short story volumes.[34] Seven Seas Entertainment has also licensed Year 2.[35]
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 24, 2020[36] | 978-4-04-064329-8 | June 9, 2022 (digital) July 19, 2022 (physical)[37] | 978-1-63858-182-6 | ||
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| 2 | June 25, 2020[38] | 978-4-04-064664-0 | July 21, 2022 (digital) August 30, 2022 (physical)[39] | 978-1-63858-337-0 | ||
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| 3 | October 24, 2020[40] | 978-4-04-065942-8 | September 8, 2022 (digital) November 22, 2022 (physical)[41] | 978-1-63858-642-5 | ||
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| 4 | February 25, 2021[42] | 978-4-04-680166-1 | December 29, 2022 (digital) February 7, 2023 (physical)[43] | 978-1-63858-817-7 | ||
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| 4.5 | June 25, 2021[44] | 978-4-04-680516-4 | March 30, 2023 (digital) May 9, 2023 (physical)[45] | 978-1-68579-639-6 | ||
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| 5 | October 25, 2021[46] | 978-4-04-680846-2 | May 18, 2023 (digital) July 11, 2023 (physical)[47] | 978-1-68579-653-2 | ||
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| 6 | February 25, 2022[48] | 978-4-04-681185-1 | June 15, 2023 (digital) October 3, 2023 (physical)[49] | 978-1-63858-816-0 | ||
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| 7 | June 24, 2022[50] | 978-4-04-681477-7 | September 14, 2023 (digital) December 5, 2023 (physical)[51] | 978-1-68579-947-2 | ||
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| 8 | October 25, 2022[52] | 978-4-04-681833-1 | March 21, 2024 (digital) April 16, 2024 (physical)[53] | 979-8-88843-430-7 | ||
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| 9 | February 25, 2023[54] | 978-4-04-682213-0 | July 4, 2024 (digital) August 6, 2024 (physical)[55] | 979-8-88843-871-8 | ||
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| 9.5 | June 23, 2023[56] | 978-4-04-682566-7 | November 7, 2024 (digital) December 10, 2024 (physical)[57] | 979-8-89160-225-0 | ||
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| 10 | October 25, 2023[58] | 978-4-04-682985-6 | February 27, 2025 (digital) March 25, 2025 (physical)[59] | 979-8-89160-754-5 | ||
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| 11 | February 24, 2024[60] | 978-4-04-683349-5 | May 8, 2025 (digital) July 8, 2025 (physical)[61] | 979-8-89373-014-2 | ||
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| 12 | July 25, 2024[62] | 978-4-04-683797-4 | August 14, 2025 (digital) October 7, 2025 (physical)[63] | 979-8-89373-607-6 | ||
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| 12.5 | November 25, 2024[34] | 978-4-04-684244-2 | November 20, 2025 (digital) January 6, 2026 (physical)[64] | 979-8-89373-799-8 | ||
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Classroom of the Elite: Year 3
A sequel light novel series titled Classroom of the Elite: Year 3 (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ 3年生編, Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e Sannensei-hen; lit. 'Welcome to the Classroom of Real Ability Supremacism Third-Year Students Edition') has been published under the MF Bunko J imprint since March 2025.[65] Seven Seas Entertainment has also licensed Year 3.
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 24, 2025[66] | 978-4-04-684635-8 | April 2, 2026 (digital) May 5, 2026 (physical)[67] | 979-8-89561-933-9 | ||
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| 2 | July 25, 2025[68] | 978-4-04-684976-2 | September 1, 2026 (physical)[69] | 979-8-89765-900-5 | ||
| 3 | November 25, 2025[70] | 978-4-04-685440-7 | — | — | ||
| 4 | May 25, 2026[71] | 978-4-04-660156-8 | — | — | ||
Manga
Classroom of the Elite
A manga adaptation illustrated by Yuyu Ichino began serialization in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive magazine on January 27, 2016, and has been collected in twelve tankōbon volumes as of February 22, 2022. Seven Seas Entertainment has also licensed the manga, with the first volume released in February 2022.[72]
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 23, 2016[73] | 978-4-04-068550-2 | February 22, 2022[74] | 978-1-63858-130-7 |
| 2 | January 23, 2017[75] | 978-4-04-069039-1 | May 10, 2022[76] | 978-1-63858-242-7 |
| 3 | March 23, 2017[77] | 978-4-04-069120-6 | August 16, 2022[78] | 978-1-63858-599-2 |
| 4 | July 22, 2017[79] | 978-4-04-069303-3 | November 1, 2022[80] | 978-1-63858-772-9 |
| 5 | November 22, 2017[81] | 978-4-04-069532-7 | February 21, 2023[82] | 978-1-63858-964-8 |
| 6 | April 23, 2018[83] | 978-4-04-069747-5 | May 23, 2023[84] | 978-1-68579-511-5 |
| 7 | November 21, 2018[85] | 978-4-04-065321-1 | August 22, 2023[86] | 978-1-68579-548-1 |
| 8 | June 22, 2019[87] | 978-4-04-065704-2 | November 7, 2023[88] | 979-8-88843-038-5 |
| 9 | January 23, 2020[89] | 978-4-04-064297-0 | February 6, 2024[90] | 979-8-88843-210-5 |
| 10 | August 20, 2020[91] | 978-4-04-064789-0 | April 30, 2024[92] | 979-8-88843-344-7 |
| 11 | June 23, 2021[93] | 978-4-04-680382-5 | August 13, 2024[94] | 979-8-88843-847-3 |
| 12 | February 22, 2022[95] | 978-4-04-681125-7 | November 5, 2024[96] | 979-8-88843-848-0 |
Classroom of the Elite: Horikita
A spin-off manga illustrated by Sakagaki and featuring Suzune Horikita was serialized in Monthly Comic Alive from June 2017 to May 2018, with its chapters collected in two tankōbon volumes.[97] At Anime Expo 2022, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they licensed the spin-off for English publication.[98]
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 22, 2017[99] | 978-4-04-069642-3 | July 4, 2023[100] | 978-1-63858-850-4 |
| 2 | June 23, 2018[101] | 978-4-04-069825-0 | October 10, 2023[102] | 978-1-68579-934-2 |
Classroom of the Elite: Year 2
A manga adaptation of the sequel light novel series illustrated by Shia Sasane was serialized in the Monthly Comic Alive magazine from December 25, 2021, to December 26, 2024.[103][104] It was collected in four tankōbon volumes, and released from June 22, 2022, to January 22, 2025.
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 22, 2022[105] | 978-4-04-681438-8 |
| 2 | April 21, 2023[106] | 978-4-04-682455-4 |
| 3 | February 22, 2024[107] | 978-4-04-683297-9 |
| 4 | January 22, 2025[108] | 978-4-04-683297-9 |
Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 2nd Stage
A sequel manga to the manga adaptation of the Year 2 light novels illustrated by Hachi Komada began serialization in the Monthly Comic Alive magazine on January 27, 2025.[104] The first tankōbon volume was released on August 21, 2025.
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 21, 2025[109] | 978-4-04-811547-6 |
| 2 | April 23, 2026[110] | 978-4-04-660011-0 |
Anime
An anime television series adaptation aired from July 12 to September 27, 2017, on AT-X and other networks.[111][112] Seiji Kishi and Hiroyuki Hashimoto directed the series at Lerche, Aoi Akashiro handled the series composition, Kazuaki Morita designed the characters, and Ryo Takahashi composed the music.[113][114] The opening theme song is "Caste Room", performed by ZAQ, while the ending theme song is "Beautiful Soldier", performed by Minami.[112][115] Crunchyroll streamed the series[116] and Funimation streamed the English dub.[117] iQIYI added the series onto its platform, Q3, and the Thai dub in 2022.[118]
On February 21, 2022, it was announced that a sequel was in production,[119] which was later revealed to have two seasons, with Lerche returning as the studio. The second season is directed by Yoshihito Nishōji, with Kishi and Hashimoto serving as chief directors, Hayato Kazano replacing Akashiro as screenwriter, and Morita returning as character designer. Masaru Yokoyama and Kana Hashiguchi replaced Takahashi, and served as music composers. The second season aired from July 4 to September 26, 2022. The opening theme song is "Dance in the Game", performed by ZAQ, while the ending theme song is "Hito Shibai" (人芝居), performed by Mai Fuchigami.[114][120] The third season was originally scheduled for 2023,[114] but was delayed, and eventually aired from January 3 to March 27, 2024.[121][122] The third season's opening theme song is "Minor Piece", performed by ZAQ, while the ending theme song is "Konsei Dai Kakumei" (今世大革命; "The Great Revolution of this World"), performed by Yui Ninomiya.[123]
A fourth season, covering the first semester of the Year 2 sequel light novel series, was announced during the "MF Bunko J Natsu no Gakuensai 2024" livestream event on September 1, 2024.[124] It is produced by Lerche and directed by Noriyuki Nomata, with the rest of the staff and cast reprising their roles. The fourth season premiered on April 1, 2026.[125] The fourth season's opening theme song is "MONSTER", performed by Eir Aoi, while the ending theme song is "Liar Veil" (ライアーヴェール), performed by ZAQ.[126]