Chiikawa
Chiikawa, also known as Nanka Chiisakute Kawaii Yatsu, is a Japanese web manga series written and illustrated by Nagano. It follows the daily adventures of the titular protagonist, along with a series of animal-inspired characters. It has been serialized online via X since January 2020, and has been collected in eight volumes by Kodansha, as of November 2025. By November 2024, Chiikawa had sold over 3.6 million copies, including digital versions in circulation.
An anime television series adaptation was produced by Doga Kobo and premiered in April 2022. The first season aired in Japan from April 2022 to March 2025, with the second season premiering in July of that year. An anime film adaptation of the Siren Arc produced by CygamesPictures, titled Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island, is set to release in Q3 2026.
Synopsis
Set in a civilized world with grasslands and forests, the series follows the daily adventures of the titular protagonist, Chiikawa, and their friends. They also work at jobs, including weeding and hunting, which are given by a race referred to as Yoroi-san, who is involved in the characters' lives.Production
In May 2017, Nagano posted a sketch of the titular protagonist, Chiikawa, on Twitter. Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi were originally named Nitori, Ikeya, and Donki, respectively. The reason that Nagano chose Twitter was because of its immediacy and accessibility. By November 2020, Kodansha collected the comics into physical volumes, the first of which was published in February 2021.A separate account was created in January 2020, and the manga began serialization. A book version was published by Kodansha on February 12, 2021. Prior to that, a one-shot story was published in the 11th issue of Morning was released on February 10.''''
Characters
;Chiikawa;Hachiware
;Usagi
;Momonga
;Rakko
;Kuri-Manjū
;Shisa
Furuhonya
;Chiikabu
;Dekatsuyo
;Pochette no Yoroi-san
;Rōdō no Yoroi-san
;Ramen no Yoroi-san
Media
Manga
Anime
In October 2021, it was announced that Chiikawa would receive an anime adaptation by Doga Kobo The production team decided that Chiikawa and Hachiware would be voiced by child actors, with Nagano taking part in the casting process. It is directed by Takenori Mihara and Juria Matsumura, with Yuma Yamaguchi and Shugo Tokumaru composing the music. The series premiered on April 4, 2022, on Fuji TV's Mezamashi TV morning news and entertainment program. Sentai Filmworks licenses the series outside of Asia. In 2022, 120 English subtitled episodes were released on Hidive, although more episodes have been released outside of the service since then. In March 2025, it was announced the anime would be on a hiatus for three months.An anime film adaptation of the Siren Arc, titled Chiikawa the Movie: The Secret of Mermaid Island was announced on November 24, 2025. It will be produced by CygamesPictures and directed by Kei Oikawa, with Nagano writing the film's script. The film is set to be released in Q3 2026.
Video game
Chiikawa Pocket is a mobile game that was released globally in March 2025. It is a casual, idle RPG where players can battle enemies, pull weeds to collect items, cook dishes in Om Nom Fest, a food festival, and decorate their in-game spaces. Players can also unlock outfits and customize characters such as Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi. The game is free to play, with optional in-app purchases, and it supports multiple languages. Currently, the mobile game is available in 43 countries, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and others.Cultural impact and reception
The manga series has over 2.7 million copies in circulation. The series has been nominated for the 48th Kodansha Manga Award in 2024 in the General category. The series won the 53rd Japan Cartoonists Association Award in the Manga Division.Chiikawa merchandise experienced a surge in popularity in China and Hong Kong in early 2024. It also experienced a surge in popularity in western countries, starting in 2025, after clips of the anime were spread across social media sites, especially TikTok.
During the announcement of Chiikawa Pocket, there were 2 million pre-registrations, and it topped the free app charts in multiple regions.
Collaborations and merchandise
Chiikawa has given rise to a variety of merchandise. On the official online store, there is a variety of products designed based on the anime characters, including plush toys, stickers, clothing, and more. Co-branding between Chiikawa and other comics or companies are also well received. The official Chiikawa website has collaborated with Sanrio, Hankyu, and Converse, among others. A wide range of themed products are also offered, including Magic Girl series, sushi series, and Lailai Chinese restaurants series. In July 2025, the Chiikawa Park opened in Tokyo Japan.Chiikawa collaborated with Ariana Grande on the music video for "Santa Tell Me". Popular characters from Chiikawa were dressed as Santa Claus and the music video was animated. Since the video's release on December 6, 2023, it was viewed approximately 1.38 million times in a single day, further increasing the popularity of Chiikawa. In September 2024, Chiikawa stickers was released in Japanese Happy Meals. Chiikawa, among other Japanese brands, partnered with Major League Baseball for the 2025 Tokyo Series.