Blue Box (manga)

Blue Box (アオのハコ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Kouji Miura. It has been serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump since April 2021, with its chapters collected in 24 volumes as of February 2026. An anime television series adaptation produced by TMS Entertainment and animated by Telecom Animation Film aired from October 2024 to March 2025. A second season animated by Electric Circus is set to premiere in October 2026.

Synopsis

The series focuses on Taiki Inomata, a student at Eimei Junior and Senior High, an athletics-oriented school, where he is a member of the boys' badminton team and is considered simply average. Every morning, he trains to get better early in the gym, often at the same time and place as his upperclasswoman Chinatsu Kano, the star of the girls' basketball team. Taiki quickly develops a crush on her, but is initially too shy to speak to her despite their continual alone time together. His fortunes change, however, when Chinatsu moves in with Taiki's family after her parents leave Japan to work abroad. With Chinatsu now living with him, Taiki aims to slowly develop his relationship with her as they both strive to make it to the national championship with their respective teams.[4]

Characters

Taiki Inomata (猪股大喜)

An avid badminton player, Taiki strives to succeed despite setbacks. He greatly admires Chinatsu for her dedication to basketball and harbors a huge crush on her. While he is often awkward and emotional, his unwavering determination and sincerity slowly earns him respect from others. His goal is to reach the national championship, a dream he shares with Chinatsu in their respective sports. His mother was Chinatsu's mother's teammate and friend, hence the decision for Chinatsu to move in with Taiki. He is aware of Hina being in love with him, but doesn't reciprocate her feelings and rejects her, leading to the two drifting apart. He later starts a relationship with Chinatsu.

Chinatsu Kano (鹿野千夏)

Chinatsu is the star player of the girls' basketball team. She is one grade above Taiki and is often the first person at practice. Once a terrible basketball player, her dedication has helped her grow into a strong player with hopes of making it into the national championships. She moves in with Taiki's family when her parents leave to work abroad, and she and Taiki slowly become friends supporting each other. She is oblivious to Taiki being in love with her, but she enjoys his company and cares for him deeply. She later becomes Taiki's girlfriend. The two continue their relationship even after she moves out of the Inomata household.

Hina Chōno (蝶野雛)

Hina is Taiki's childhood friend who is on the rhythmic gymnastics team. She is quite theatrical and loves to tease Taiki. Although initially only seeing him as a close friend, she slowly realizes she has fallen in love with Taiki later on, despite encouraging him to go after Chinatsu. Taiki is completely oblivious to her feelings, and is often annoyed by her playful teasing, although he does genuinely care for her. She later confesses her feelings to Taiki, and becomes rivals with Chinatsu for his love, wanting him to be her boyfriend; however, Taiki rejects her, telling her that he doesn't reciprocate her feelings at all, which devastates her deeply. Following his rejection, she grows cold towards him and they drift apart from each other, before finally trying to repair their friendship despite still struggling with her feelings towards him.

Kyo Kasahara (笠原匡)

Kyo is Taiki's best friend and fellow badminton player. Quiet and observant, he often understands more than anyone else. Though sarcastic, especially with Taiki, he is a genuinely caring and wise person.

Kengo Haryū (針生健吾)

Kengo is a skilled badminton player in Chinatsu's grade who ends up becoming a mentor and rival to Taiki. Though he is often hard on Taiki, he slowly grows to admire his tenacity and growing skill.

Ryōsuke Nishida (西田諒介)

The captain of the badminton team.

Nagisa Funami (船見渚)

A member of the basketball team alongside Chinatsu.

Niina Shimazaki (島崎にいな)

A member of the rhythmic gymnastics team alongside Hina.

Shoichiro Kishi (岸祥一郎)

Haryū's previous doubles match partner.

Shōta Hyōdō (兵藤将太)

A skilled badminton player from Sajikawa High who is the rival of Haryū due to having never beaten him in badminton matches.

Shūji Yusa (遊佐柊仁)

A skilled badminton player from Sajikawa High who is a teammate of Hyōdō despite appearing lethargic.

Karen Moriya (守屋花恋)

Haryū's girlfriend and Ayame's older sister who is a childhood friend of him and Chinatsu.

Ayame Moriya (守屋菖蒲)

Karen's younger sister who is the team manager of the badminton team. She becomes a close friend of Hina following her being rejected by Taiki.

Kazuma Matsuoka (松岡一馬)

A member of the boys' basketball team who returned to Japan from studying abroad in America.

Yumeka Kido (木戸夢佳)

A former member of Chinatsu's basketball team.

type	tv series
director	Yūichirō Yano (S1) Daisuke Sakō (S2)
writer	Yūko Kakihara
music	Takashi Ohmama
studio	Telecom Animation Film (animation) (S1) Electric Circus (animation) (S2) TMS Entertainment (production and planning)
licensee	Netflix
network	JNN (TBS)
first	October 3, 2024
episodes	25
episode list	List of Blue Box episodes

Synopsis

Characters

Media

Manga

Anime

Reception

Popularity

Critical response

Accolades

External links

References