Let's Go Karaoke!
| Company type | Manga series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Manga publishing |
| Founded | 2019 |
| Founder | Yama Wayama |
| Headquarters | Japan |
| Products | Manga, live-action film, anime television series |
is a Japanese manga created by Yama Wayama. The narrative follows a yakuza lieutenant who learns karaoke techniques from a high school choir captain. Initially self-published as a in 2019, it was subsequently released as a volume by Kadokawa Future Publishing in 2020. A follow-up series, , started serialization in the November 2020 edition of Comic Beam and remains ongoing. A live-action movie adaptation debuted in Japan in January 2024, succeeded by an anime television series from Doga Kobo premiering in July 2025.
Synopsis
Satomi Oka, the senior leader of a junior high choir, is preparing for his final performance before graduation. After witnessing Satomi's singing, yakuza lieutenant Kyouji Narita requests him to provide vocal coaching ahead of his boss’s yearly karaoke contest.
Characters
Development and release
Yama Wayama, the series’ creator, initially proposed a manga centered on yakuza themes to Morning magazine but was rejected. Drawing from her background in self-published doujinshi, Wayama independently released the story. What began as a concept about a yakuza becoming a school teacher evolved into focusing on a bromance featuring characters with a notable age difference, culminating in the finalized storyline.
The doujinshi made its debut at the 129th COMITIA event on August 25, 2019, quickly selling out and frequently reprinted through mail orders, though it remained difficult to acquire. The series was later picked up by Enterbrain for an official collected edition released on September 12, 2020, which included an additional chapter delving into Kyouji's background along with enhanced artwork and dialogue. An English version was issued by Yen Press on May 24, 2022.
A one-shot sequel titled was published in Enterbrain's Comic Beam magazine in November 2020, portraying Satomi as a university freshman. Additionally, the bonus chapter from the Enterbrain edition was reprinted in the May 2021 issue of Comic Beam.
Reading play
A reading play adaptation of Let's Go Karaoke! took place at Tokorozawa Sakura Town in Tokorozawa, Saitama on December 19, 2021. The production featured Taichi Ichikawa as Satomi and Takuya Eguchi as Kyouji. To support this event, a themed pop-up café operated at the EJ Anime Theater in Shinjuku, Tokyo from December 4 through December 26, 2021.
Live-action film
The live-action film adaptation, directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita with screenplay by Akiko Nogi, premiered on January 12, 2024, following a postponement from its original 2023 release date. The cast includes Jun Saitō portraying Satomi and Go Ayano as Kyouji.
Anime
An anime television adaptation was revealed on October 17, 2024. Produced by Doga Kobo, it is directed by Asami Nakatani with scripts written by Yoshimi Narita and character designs by Mai Matsūra. The series premiered on July 24, 2025, broadcasting on AT-X and other channels. The opening theme "HOWL" is performed by Ayumu Imazu. International streaming rights are held by Crunchyroll, while Medialink manages distribution for Southeast Asia and Oceania (excluding Australia and New Zealand) through Ani-One Asia's YouTube platform.
Reception
As of October 2022, Let's Go Karaoke! had surpassed 500,000 copies in circulation.
The series achieved notable acclaim within the industry, securing third place in the 14th Manga Taishō competition in 2021 and earning a nomination for the 17th edition in 2024. It was also ranked fourth in the 2021 edition of Kono Manga wo Yome! and placed fifth in the women's category of the 2021 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! rankings.
Upon release, the live-action film adaptation entered the Japanese box office charts at number eight during its opening weekend and improved to seventh place in its second weekend.