Yona of the Dawn
Yona of the Dawn is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Mizuho Kusanagi. It was serialized in Hakusensha's manga magazine Hana to Yume from August 2009 to December 2025, with its chapters collected in 46 volumes as of June 2025. The series is licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media.
Set in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world, the story follows Princess Yona as she flees a coup in the fictional kingdom of Kouka and heralds on a journey to save Kouka from both invasion and internal collapse.
A 24-episode anime television series adaptation produced by Pierrot aired between October 2014 and March 2015. A sequel has been announced.
Plot
The series takes place in an East Asian-inspired fantasy world. Two thousand years ago, the nation of Kouka is founded by the Crimson Dragon God, Hiryuu, who descends from the heavens in human form as King Hiryuu. Over time, humans forsake their divine origins, succumbing to greed and corruption. As darkness threatens to consume the land, King Hiryuu faces near annihilation until four dragon-blooded warriors join him, purging Kouka of evil. Following his death, the warriors disperse, and their legacy shapes the nation into five tribes: Sky, Earth, Water, Wind, and Fire. Over centuries, these events fade into myth.In the present, Princess Yona lives a sheltered life within the Crimson Dragon Castle under the rule of her pacifist father, King Il of the Sky Tribe. Her only companions are Hak, the Wind Tribe general and her bodyguard, and Su-won, her childhood friend and the son of King Il's late brother, Yu-hon. Despite the kingdom's fragile peace, unrest simmers beneath the surface.
Shortly before her sixteenth birthday, Yona confesses her desire to marry Su-won, only for King Il to forbid it. On the night of her celebration, she witnesses Su-won murder her father, revealing his orchestrated coup d'état. Forced to flee with Hak, they seek refuge in the Wind Tribe's capital, Fuuga. Guided by Hak's adoptive grandfather, the former general Son Mun-deok, they locate a priest exiled by Su-won's father. The priest recounts the legend of the Crimson Dragon King and his four dragon warriors. Inspired by the myth, Yona embarks on a quest to seek these warriors, determined to reclaim her kingdom and restore its future.
Characters
Kai Empire
Others
;Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Mizuho Kusanagi, Yona of the Dawn started in Hakusensha's manga magazine Hana to Yume on August 5, 2009. The series ended after a 16-year run on December 19, 2025. An extra chapter and a supplementary fan book are set to be published in Hana to Yume on February 20, 2026. Hakusensha has collected its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was released on January 19, 2010. As of June 20, 2025, 46 volumes have been released.The series has been licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media, who announced the acquisition at their New York Comic Con panel in October 2015. The first volume was released on August 2, 2016. As of June 3, 2025, 44 volumes have been released.
Anime
A 24-episode anime television series adaptation produced by Pierrot aired between October 7, 2014, and March 24, 2015, on AT-X. Funimation has licensed the anime series for streaming and home video rights in North America. Beginning on March 17, 2015, Funimation streamed their dubbed version of the anime, starting with episode 13 while the first half of the season released in June 2016. The first opening theme is an instrumental song by Kunihiko Ryo, called "Akatsuki no Yona". The first ending theme is Yoru by Vistlip. The second opening theme is "Akatsuki no Hana", by Cyntia. The second ending theme is "Akatsuki", by Akiko Shikata. Three original video animations were bundled with the manga's 19th, 21st and 22nd limited edition volumes, respectively. The first OVA was released on September 18, 2015, the second OVA was released on August 19, 2016, and the third OVA was released on December 20, 2016.A sequel to the anime series was announced in Hana to Yume on December 19, 2025.