The World's Greatest First Love

Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi
Company type	Manga series, anime series
Industry	Entertainment, Publishing
Founded	2006
Founder	Shungiku Nakamura
Headquarters	Tokyo, Japan
Products	Manga, anime, novels, mobile game app
Parent	Kadokawa Shoten (publisher)

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article The World's Greatest First Love, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 10 August 2025

is a Japanese manga series created by Shungiku Nakamura. In 2011, it was transformed into an anime television adaptation by Studio Deen, with Chiaki Kon serving as director; the series debuted on April 9, 2011. Original animation DVDs accompanied the manga's fifth and sixth volumes, which were released in March and September of the same year. A cinematic adaptation premiered on March 15, 2014.

On December 13, 2016, Funimation acquired the licensing rights for the series, including the OVA episodes, and distributed it on home video starting March 7, 2017.

A mobile game app was introduced in January 2018 for Smartphone/iOS users.

To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Emerald magazine, a new anime adaptation centered on the Proposal Arc premiered on February 21, 2020. In June 2021, Funimation recognized the series for its contribution to broadening LGBTQ+ representation within anime.

Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi serves as a spin-off from Junjo Romantica, another work by Nakamura.

Plot

Ritsu Onodera is a literary editor who departs from his father's publishing company after colleagues accuse him of nepotism. Determined to establish his own path, he joins Marukawa Publishing but is assigned to the less prestigious Emerald shōjo manga division rather than literature. Although initially displeased with his supervisor Masamune Takano, Onodera remains to demonstrate his capabilities following Takano’s dismissal of him as "useless." They soon discover they were classmates in high school with a complicated history—Onodera had confessed his love to Takano, who still harbors feelings and is determined to win Onodera’s affection again. The narrative follows their developing relationship alongside workplace challenges.

Parallel to this are two other romantic arcs: editors Hatori and manga artist Yoshino, as well as Kisa and bookstore clerk Yukina. Additionally, a novel explores the romance between salesman Yokozawa and widower Kirishima.

Characters

Ritsu Onodera (): A 25-year-old literary editor who leaves his father's firm to prove himself independently at Marukawa Publishing. Previously hurt by Takano during high school, he navigates balancing career goals with rekindled emotions for his former love and current boss.
Masamune Takano (): At age 27, Takano leads Marukawa's Emerald department as editor-in-chief and is known as "the Capable." Formerly named Masamune Saga, he has endured personal struggles and unresolved feelings toward Onodera. His goal is to rekindle Onodera’s affections while managing editorial responsibilities.
An Kohinata (): Onodera's childhood friend and fiancée by family arrangement, though her romantic feelings are not returned.
Arata Haitani (): Takano’s ex-colleague seeking vengeance for a lost lover; he develops complex feelings toward Onodera.
Chiaki Yoshino (): A 28-year-old shōjo manga creator using the female pen name Chiharu Yoshikawa. His editor Hatori is also a childhood companion whose relationship gradually shifts from friendship into romance.
Yoshiyuki Hatori (): Editor at Marukawa's Emerald division and longtime friend of Yoshino. Secretly in love with Yoshino but hesitant due to fear of rejection amid growing romantic tension.
Yuu Yanase (): Chief assistant to Yoshino who competes romantically with Hatori for Yoshino’s attention.
Shouta Kisa (): A 30-year-old editor in Emerald who struggles with relationships despite identifying as gay. He questions his emotions toward bookstore clerk Kou Yukina.
Kou Yukina (): Bookstore clerk managing the shōjo manga section at Marimo Books. Initially straight, he gradually develops sincere romantic feelings for Kisa.
Takafumi Yokozawa (): A sales representative and close friend of Takano’s with a complicated history involving a physical relationship during college. Jealous of Onodera, he features in a side story focusing on his romance with Kirishima Zen.
Zen Kirishima (): Editor-in-chief of the shōnen manga magazine Japun and single father raising his daughter Hiyori. He becomes Yokozawa’s new romantic interest after initially blackmailing him.
Hiyori Kirishima (): Zen’s 10-year-old daughter who quickly forms a bond with Yokozawa.
Kanade Mino (): An editor within the Emerald department known for maintaining calm under pressure but implied to possess a darker nature.
Ryūichirō Isaka (): President of Marukawa Publishing connected to Onodera’s family. Once an aspiring novelist himself, he is now recognized for discovering bestselling authors. Shares a kinship with Onodera regarding overcoming nepotism stigma.
Kaoru Asahina (): Isaka’s assistant and childhood friend who has developed strong feelings toward him.
Saiki: Ritsu's close friend and former colleague from Onodera Publication.
Erika Ichinose (): A prosperous manga artist at Marukawa's Emerald department known for her wealth and lavish lifestyle due to her popular series.

Manga

Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi, created and illustrated by Shungiku Nakamura, commenced its serialization in the November 2006 edition of The Ruby magazine. It later transitioned to Asuka Ciel magazine in July 2009, where it was serialized until May 2014. In May 2014, Kadokawa introduced a real-world counterpart to the Emerald manga magazine, inspired by Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi. From August 2014 onward, both Sekai-ichi Hatsukoi and Nakamura’s other work, Junjo Romantica, have appeared in Emerald magazine. Kadokawa Shoten's imprint, Asuka Comic CL-DX, has published twenty tankōbon volumes, starting with the first volume released on July 1, 2008, and the nineteenth volume issued on May 1, 2024.

SuBLime, a division of North American publisher Viz Media, licensed the first eight volumes for English distribution under the title The World's Greatest First Love: The Case of Ritsu Onodera. The debut volume was released in February 2015, followed by subsequent volumes every two months. Prior to this, the series was licensed for North America by Tokyopop's Blu Manga imprint beginning in July 2011; however, this release was halted due to Tokyopop's shutdown in May 2011.

Novels

By April 2011, four novels titled Yoshino Chiaki no Baai (), written by Fujisaki Miyako and featuring short comics by Shungiku Nakamura, had been published.

By December 2012, three novels focusing on Yokozawa and his new partner were released under the title "Yokozawa Takafumi no Baai" (), also including mini-comics. In January 2013, an anime film adaptation of this narrative was announced with Chiaki Kon as director. The movie's release on March 15, 2014, was accompanied by a special anime short titled "Valentine-hen".

The Case of Chiaki Yoshino

The Case of Chiaki Yoshino (Omnibus)
This edition compiles volumes one through four.

The Case of Takafumi Yokozawa

The Case of Takafumi Yokozawa (Omnibus)
This omnibus reprints volumes one through six.

The Case of Yoshiyuki Hatori

The Case of Animate

Anime

The opening theme for the first season of the anime is "Sekai de Ichiban Koishiteru" performed by Shuhei Kita, while the ending theme is "Ashita Boku wa Kimi ni Ai ni Iku" by Wakaba. The second season’s opening song is "Sekai no Hate ni Kimi ga Itemo," also by Shuhei Kita, with the ending theme "Aikotoba" by Sakura Merry-Men; episode six features Junjo Mistake. An OVA bundled with the sixth manga volume was released in September. A new anime adaptation centered on the Proposal Arc premiered on February 21, 2020.

Season 1

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Season 2