Kill Blue
Japanese manga series
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Kill Blue (Japanese: キルアオ, Hepburn: Kiru Ao) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki. It was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from April 2023 to September 2025, with its chapters collected in thirteen tankōbon volumes. An anime television series adaptation produced by Cue premiered in April 2026.
| Kill Blue | |
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Juzo Ogami | |
| キルアオ (Kiru Ao) | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Tadatoshi Fujimaki |
| Published by | Shueisha |
| English publisher | |
| Imprint | Jump Comics |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Jump |
| Original run | April 17, 2023 – September 1, 2025 |
| Volumes | 13 |
| Anime television series | |
| Directed by |
|
| Written by | Hiro Kaburagi |
| Music by | Ryo Konishi |
| Studio | Cue |
| Licensed by | Remow |
| Original network | TXN (TV Tokyo) |
| Original run | April 11, 2026 – present |
| Episodes | 6 |
Plot
Juzo Ogami is a 39-year-old who works for the Z.O.O. assassin syndicate as their prized hitman. During a job taking out criminals working with the genetic manipulation company Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals, Ogami is stung by a wasp that modifies his DNA, regressing his age to that of when he was 13. Unable to resume work as a hitman due to his stature, the head of Z.O.O. gives Ogami another assignment while they work on an antidote: attend a middle school the head's daughter is applying to and judge if it is safe. Ogami, due to having no formal education, turns out to love middle school, and must balance his time as a student and an assassin. He must also deal with Noren Mitsuoka, the heiress of Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals, who may be the key to figuring out how to age Ogami back to normal.
Characters
- Juzo Ogami (大狼 十三, Ōgami Jūzō)
- Voiced by: Shunsuke Takeuchi[3] (adult), Yūko Sanpei[4] (young) (Japanese); Ray ChaseEp. 1 credits (adult), Caitlyn ElizabethEp. 1 credits (young) (English)
- A 39-year-old assassin who is aged back to 13 years old after being stung by a mysterious wasp during a mission. Initially not liking the idea of going back to middle school, he soon comes to enjoy it. His skill with a handgun has earned him the nickname "Demon's Left Hand".
- Kotatsu Nekota (猫田 コタツ, Nekota Kotatsu)
- Voiced by: Shūichirō Umeda[4] (Japanese); Khoi DaoEp. 1 credits (English)
- Ogami's partner. Although not nearly as experienced as Ogami, he is skilled with technology, and has more skill in cooking and house care. He created the pair of glasses that Ogami wears that acts as a camera and radio for him.
- Eri Wanibuchi (鰐淵瑛里, Wanibuchi Eri)
- Voiced by: Yumi Uchiyama[4] (Japanese); Dawn M. BennettEp. 1 credits (English)
- Ogami's ex-wife who is the head of Z.O.O.'s science department.
- Noren Mitsuoka (蜜岡 ノレン, Mitsuoka Noren)
- Voiced by: Fūka Izumi[4] (Japanese); Kayli MillsEp. 1 credits (English)
- A middle school student and the daughter of Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals founder. She is constantly hit on by other students, causing her to initially hate men, before befriending Ogami. She helps out her uncle at his ramen shop, and wishes to take it over when he retires.
- Chisato Shiraishi (白石千里, Shiraishi Chisato)
- Voiced by: Atsumi Tanezaki[4] (Japanese); Kira BucklandEp. 3 credits (English)
- A third-year middle school student who is the head of the Home Economics Club. She is affectionately referred to as "Capo" (アネゴ, Anego).
- Shin Kohazame (古波鮫 シン, Kohazame Shin)
- Voiced by: Daisuke Sakuma[5] (Japanese); Brian Timothy AndersonEp. 4 credits (English)
- An assassin associated with Yugang, a Chinese organization, who is Ogami and Noren's classmate. Due to his tendency of being nervous, he often uses a pacifier to calm himself down.
- Tenma Tendo (天童天馬, Tendo Tenma)
- Voiced by: Takeo Ōtsuka[4]
- A second-year middle school student who is a three-way athlete. Due to his versatility and abilities, he is a member of "Unicorn", an elite group of students.
- Kazuma Rindo (竜胆カズマ, Rindō Kazuma)
- Voiced by: Shōya Chiba[6]
- Eiji Rindo (竜胆エイジ, Rindō Eiji)
- Voiced by: Yoshiki Nakajima[6]
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Tadatoshi Fujimaki, Kill Blue was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from April 17, 2023,[7][8] to September 1, 2025.[9] The series' individual chapters have been collected into thirteen tankōbon volumes, released from September 4, 2023, to December 4, 2025.[10][11]
Viz Media and Manga Plus simultaneously published the series in English with its Japanese release.[12] Viz Media began releasing the volumes digitally in Summer 2024.[13][14]
Volumes
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 4, 2023[10] | 978-4-08-883686-7 | July 23, 2024 (digital) June 3, 2025 (print)[14] | 978-1-9747-4419-0 (digital) 978-1-9747-5613-1 (print) | ||
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| 2 | November 2, 2023[15] | 978-4-08-883737-6 | October 22, 2024 (digital) August 5, 2025 (print)[16] | 978-1-9747-5068-9 | ||
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| 3 | January 4, 2024[17] | 978-4-08-883797-0 | October 14, 2025 (print)[18] | 978-1-9747-5911-8 | ||
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| 4 | April 4, 2024[19] | 978-4-08-883881-6 | December 9, 2025[20] | 978-1-9747-5912-5 | ||
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| 5 | June 4, 2024[21] | 978-4-08-884109-0 | February 3, 2026[22] | 978-1-9747-6202-6 | ||
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| 6 | August 2, 2024[23] | 978-4-08-884129-8 | April 7, 2026[24] | 978-1-97-476203-3 | ||
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| 7 | November 1, 2024[25] | 978-4-08-884252-3 | June 9, 2026[26] | 978-1-9747-6362-7 | ||
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| 8 | January 4, 2025[27] | 978-4-08-884441-1 | August 11, 2026[28] | 978-1-9747-6519-5 | ||
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| 9 | April 4, 2025[29] | 978-4-08-884442-8 | — | — | ||
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| 10 | June 4, 2025[30] | 978-4-08-884562-3 | — | — | ||
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| 11 | September 4, 2025[31] | 978-4-08-884654-5 | — | — | ||
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| 12 | November 4, 2025[32] | 978-4-08-884741-2 | — | — | ||
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| 13 | December 4, 2025[11] | 978-4-08-884809-9 | — | — | ||
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Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on September 1, 2025, the same day as the final chapter of the manga. It is produced by Cue and directed by Yasunori Ide, with supervision and series composition handled by Hiro Kaburagi, characters designed by Miho Daidōji, and music composed by Ryo Konishi.[9] The series premiered on April 11, 2026, on TV Tokyo and its affiliates.[4] The opening theme song is "ATTITUDE" performed by Aespa, while the ending theme song is "KILL SHOT" performed by Riize.[33] Remow licensed the series for simultaneous streaming worldwide on several platforms.[34] An English dub by Bang Zoom! Entertainment premiered on the same day.[35]
Episodes
| No. | Title [36][37] | Directed by [a] | Written by [a] | Original release date [38] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Let's Go to School" Transliteration: "Gakkō e Ikō" (Japanese: 学校へ行こう) | Mikiya Muta & Jirou Yoshida | Hiro Kaburagi | April 11, 2026 | |
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Juzo Ogami, an 39-year-old assassin for the Z.O.O. syndicate, eliminates thugs from Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals and discovers a wasp nest. One wasp stings him unconscious and he awakens at Z.O.O. headquarters in the lab of his ex-wife Eri Wanibuchi, who reveals the wasp was genetically engineered by Mitsuoka and its venom has somehow regressed him back to 13 years old. As he desires to continue working, his boss sends him undercover to Rikka Private Middle School to determine if it is safe to send his daughter there. As he never attended school himself, Ogami is supported through spy glasses by his trainee Kotatsu Nekota. Due to his awkwardness around children, his classmates label him a loser. Kotatsu moves into Ogami's apartment and automatically becomes his parental figure. Ogami is amazed to discover he loves school, except for the children. A pervert in a panda mask exposes himself to the students, but Ogami neutralizes him with a groin kick. The next day, two girls invite Ogami to the class group chat, implying they saw what he did and are grateful. Eri informs Ogami that Noren Mitsuoka, daughter of Mitsuoka's president, is in his class. | |||||
| 2 | "Noren Mitsuoka" Transliteration: "Mitsuoka Noren" (Japanese: 蜜岡ノレン) | Yoshiaki Kyougoku | Hiro Kaburagi | April 18, 2026 | |
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Ogami tries to talk to Noren, but she treats him with disgust. He learns from the two girls, Takada and Baba, that Noren hates men. Ogami stops for dinner and accidentally discovers Noren works at a ramen shop. Ogami is confused why an heiress would need to work. Noren demands he keep her secret and reveals the shop is her uncle's. She also admits as an heiress, men looked at her as a potential rich wife. Like her uncle, her dream is to open a ramen shop so her life is not spent surrounded by wealthy snobs. Ogami assures that it is alright to have dreams, even if her parents disapprove. Noren is suddenly kidnapped in front of him. The kidnapper demands Noren tell him about the drug her father is developing. Ogami arrives, covers Noren's eyes so she cannot see it is him, then incapacitates several thugs with rubber bullets. Afterward, he takes an unconscious Noren to her home. Noren wakes the next day certain from his voice that it was Ogami who rescued her. Ogami denies it but asks permission to continue visiting the shop for her uncle's excellent ramen. | |||||
| 3 | "Wipe Your Own Butt" Transliteration: "Jibun no Ketsu wa Jibun de Fuke" (Japanese: 自分のケツは自分で拭け) | Takashi Kumazen | Hiro Kaburagi | April 25, 2026 | |
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Ogami finds he is hopeless at algebra but receives help from classmate Ryo Shiraishi, who wants to be a doctor. A bully mocks them both but Ryo stands up for Ogami. The bully later tries to attack them, but Ogami throws him into a river. Clubs begin recruiting new members and Ogami mocks the Home Economics Club as being for girls. Ryo's sister, Chisato, points out that learning to look after yourself is a basic life skill, and can be used to care for others. Ogami attends a cookery session and gives the food he made to Eri. He is surprised their daughter Kozue enjoyed it enough to talk to him for the first time in weeks, so he joins the club, unaware Noren is also joining. Eri reveals Ogami could get his adult body back by marrying Noren, since her father just announced whoever marries Noren will inherit Mitsuoka Pharmaceuticals. Ogami refuses due to the age gap. Meanwhile, Noren is furious as even more men begin approaching her, so she appreciates Ogami's lack of interest in her. When numerous boys attempt to join the club to get close to her, Noren impulsively claims Ogami is already her boyfriend. | |||||
| 4 | "The Pacifier Duel" Transliteration: "Oshaburi Kettō" (Japanese: おしゃぶり決闘) | Atsuji Tanizawa | Hiro Kaburagi | May 2, 2026 | |
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Noren apologizes to Ogami for causing him trouble. Along with normal bullies, Takada and Baba warn Ogami about an elite group of students called the Unicorns. Kotatsu also warns him that criminal organizations that want the de-aging wasp might send their own teenage assassins to try marry Noren. Ogami decides to keep dating Noren anyway, since he feels sorry for her. An assassin named Shin Kohazame soon starts attending their school. Ogami is confused when Noren's father sends him a fountain pen as a gift. Shin finds himself actually attracted to Noren. He then uses a pacifier to calm himself down before he confesses to her. However, Noren is so repulsed that she punches him. Becoming even more attracted to her, Shin challenges Ogami to a duel for the fountain pen, the Mitsuokas' symbol of engagement. As Noren's fiancé, Ogami must accept all challenges. For the duel, Shin announces that if he manages to place a pacifier in Ogami's mouth within one hour, he wins. Ogami considers quitting, but realizes disappointing Noren would be like disappointing his own daughter. After an hour, Ogami narrowly wins. Refusing to quit, Shin joins the Home Economics Club. | |||||
| 5 | "There's a Unicorn Up Ahead" Transliteration: "Itta Saki ni wa Yunikōn" (Japanese: 行った先には幻獣組) | Yoshiaki Kyougoku | Hiro Kaburagi | May 9, 2026 | |
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Noren is pleased as the arrival of the exams means everyone is too busy to confess to her. As Ogami is studying too much, Kotatsu kicks him out to have dinner at Mama's. Noren spots Ogami on the street and follows him to Mama's, a bar in the love hotel district owned by crossdresser Kyosuke, also known as Mama, one of the few Ogami trusts with his identity. Eri also visits and is surprised about how much happier Ogami looks. Noren sees him with Eri and suspects he is cheating with older women. The Home Economics Club is later tasked with making rice balls for the baseball team, though everyone warns Noren that one of the players, Tenma Tendo, is a Unicorn. Tenma challenges Ogami to futsal, not because he wants to marry Noren, but because Ogami is just a home ec nobody whose fame as Noren's fiancé is overshadowing his own fame as a future three-way athlete. Angry at Tenma's insult, Ogami accepts the duel. As Tenma also insulted Noren, Shin and Kito insist on being on Ogami's team. Tenma reveals to his teammate he wants to duel Ogami because he senses Ogami is powerful. | |||||
| 6 | "How About a 'Thank You'?" Transliteration: "Chanto Arigatō Iwankai" (Japanese: ちゃんとありがとう言わんかい) | Masahiko Suzuki | Hiro Kaburagi | May 16, 2026 | |
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Within seconds of starting the game, Tenma almost scores and Shin loses his pacifier, becoming useless with stage fright. Tenma's frustration increases the longer he cannot score against Ogami. He suddenly reveals he has been holding back to make the match more challenging, so he goes all in and scores. Ogami finds his childhood competitiveness reawakening, overpowering Tenma's kick and scoring a goal as well. Tenma suddenly admits defeat, revealing Ogami injured his leg, and if he continues the injury might worsen and affect his future career. Tenma is amazed Chisato bandages his ankle, so he genuinely apologizes for insulting the Home Economics Club. The next day, every other sports club tries to recruit Ogami. Tenma soon confesses his feelings to a shocked Chisato. As a result, a furious Ryo decides to kill Tenma. Tenma later warns Ogami that despite his efforts to hide, he is standing out like crazy, and whatever his secret is will be exposed eventually. An eavesdropping Noren worries about what said secret might be. As a favor, Tenma spreads a rumor he was injured before the match, which causes the other clubs to stop trying to recruit Ogami. | |||||
Reception
The series was ranked seventh in the Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2024 list.[39] The series ranked tenth in the print category at the tenth Next Manga Awards in 2024.[40]
Kaylie Fielden of Screen Rant felt the plot was unique among other hitman manga and praised the beginning chapters.[2] Robbie Pleasant of Multiversity Comics praised the artwork and characters. Regarding the story, Pleasant felt that it had some worrying elements concerning a possible romance between Ogami and Noren but nonetheless handled them well.[41] Kara Dennison of Otaku USA described the series as "Case Closed with added violence".[42]
Notes
- Production staff information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.