Tomodachi Game

Tomodachi Game

Company type	Franchise
Industry	Manga, anime, live-action television, film
Founded	December 9, 2013 (2013-12-09)
Founder	Mikoto Yamaguchi (creator), Yuki Sato (illustrator)
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Manga series, anime series, live-action drama, live-action films

Tomodachi Game is a Japanese manga series developed by Mikoto Yamaguchi, with writing and illustration by Yuki Sato. The story was featured in Kodansha's shōnen manga publication Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine from December 2013 until August 2024, compiled into a total of 26 volumes. This franchise has grown to include various adaptations such as a live-action television drama and two feature films released in 2017. An anime adaptation produced by Okuruto Noboru aired between April and June 2022, followed by a second drama installment titled Tomodachi Game R4, broadcast on TV Asahi from July through September 2022.

Premise

Yūichi Katagiri cherishes the value of friendship, a principle instilled during his childhood that influences his high school experiences alongside four close companions. When the funds for their class trip are stolen, the group of five becomes entangled in the enigmatic Tomodachi Game due to an outstanding debt. Their bonds are pushed to the limit as they confront temptations involving money and trust.

Group C

Yūichi Katagiri is a high school student from an impoverished background who is drawn into the Tomodachi Game with his friends. Behind his ordinary appearance lies a cold, calculating mastermind adept at unraveling rules and human psychology. His dark history includes the killing of at least three individuals, including his adoptive parents. Eventually, he takes part in the Adult Tomodachi Game with the goal of dismantling its organization, having originally conceived the game's concept during his childhood.

Shiho Sawaragi, daughter of a police officer, represents morality and enjoys popularity among peers. She inadvertently loses the class trip money, which triggers their involvement in the Tomodachi Game and results in hostility from classmates. After suffering bullying and disappearing for a time, she resurfaces as a hostage connected to her father's investigation into the game and uncovers traitors within her group. She later participates in subsequent games seeking to uncover Tomodachi Game's secrets and learns about Yūichi’s past.

Tenji Mikasa is composed and intelligent, excelling academically while often mediating disputes among friends. Having previously participated in the Tomodachi Game, he carries debts stemming from past betrayals connected to Shiho—whom he initially blames for his father’s death. Upon discovering the truth behind these events, he reconciles with Shiho and allies with Yūichi in later games.

Shibe Makoto, son of a politician, is carefree and sincere with romantic feelings toward Shiho. Following accusations of serious crimes amid bullying after their release from the second round, he proves his innocence but inherits his father’s financial obligations. He joins Yūichi in the Adult Tomodachi Game but eventually uncovers Yūichi’s involvement in his father’s corruption, prompting him to betray Yūichi alongside Kokorogi and Shinji.

Kokorogi Jirou possesses kindness mixed with naivety and a captivating charm along with an interest in manga. She joins forces with Yūichi and Tenji after early stages of the game. Despite enduring past bullying and rumors regarding prostitution—which she denies—she conceals a shrewd nature with secret connections to Yūichi’s history. She orchestrated Mikasa’s father’s murder to implicate Sawaragi and draw everyone deeper into the Tomodachi Game.

Administrators and Observers

Maria enters the third game under the guise of competing solo but is actually an administrator assigned to monitor Yuichi. With a lively yet cunning personality, she keeps an eye on Yuichi and intervenes with other players when necessary. Over time, she becomes infatuated with Yuichi, attracted by his merciless nature.

An administrator characterized by her voluptuous figure and short blue hair that covers one eye, primarily tasked with overseeing Yuichi.

An administrator with a curvaceous build and long blonde hair, initially responsible for supervising Group K during Game #3: Friendly Hide and Seek, while mainly keeping watch over Kei Shinomiya. She is affectionately called "Tama-chan" by insiders.

Manabu Variants

Manabu-kun serves as the mascot figure who hosts various games, introducing their rules and themes but seldom directly engaging with participants.

Manabu's alternate identity during Tomodachi Game #2: Kageguchi Sugoroku.

Disguise adopted for Tomodachi Game #3: Friendship Hide-And-Seek.

Costume used in Tomodachi Game #4: Friend's Sin Trial.

Outfit worn during the banquet event before Adult Tomodachi Game #1: Friend's Prison Game.

Disguise employed in Adult Tomodachi Game #1: Friend's Prison Game.

Group K

The shortest and apparently most innocent member of Group K, Kei was actually the brilliant strategist behind their near victory in Hide-and-Seek. Possessing intellect comparable to Yuichi, he entered the Adult Tomodachi Game aiming to outwit him. After defeat in Friend's Prison, he allied with Yuichi’s team, gaining his confidence and cooperating during All-Bet Gambling.

The leader of Group K and a hider in Friendly Hide and Seek. Having dropped out of school to support his family’s business, he joined the Tomodachi Game driven by a desire to win the national high school basketball championship due to significant debt. Following Game #3, he was slated for Adult Tomodachi Game #1 but vanished; it was later disclosed that he was alive, with Shinomiya standing in for him.

A hot-tempered yet kindhearted member prone to aggressive behavior.

The group's playboy who helps manage Hyakutaro’s moods.

The quietest participant within Group K.

Game #1: Friend's Prison

A gangster who abducted Yutori under false pretenses related to the Tomodachi Game, provoking Yuichi’s intervention. Arrested for impersonation, Kuroki entered the Adult Tomodachi Game seeking vengeance against Yuichi. It is later uncovered that Yutori orchestrated her own kidnapping through him. His first name is presumed .

A former host club playboy and two-time victor of the Tomodachi Game competing in Friend's Prison.

Participant and ex-girlfriend of Kuroki.

A former housekeeper from the Shibe family harboring strong resentment toward them. Initially hostile during Shibe’s trial, she later regains trust and allies with Yuichi in the prison game. She is also revealed as Shibe’s first love who influenced his preference for "big sister" types.

Team Kamishiro

The son of Taizen Shiba and Yuichi's adoptive older brother involved in illicit dealings; he initially appears as Kamishiro’s assistant during the Gambling games. Raised under the same mentor as Yuichi, he matches him in strength and intellect. He previously collaborated with Kokorogi to orchestrate events such as Sawaragi’s capture and Mikasa’s father’s murder and is implied to be responsible for Sawaragi’s chest scar.

The elderly leader of Team Kamishiro, renowned for his "God Eye" skill that enables him to perceive opponents’ deceptions.

Team Kaidou

A detective who, along with his team and daughter, infiltrated the Tomodachi Game to conduct an investigation, eventually joining forces with Yuichi to bring the game to a close.

Tsukasa Kaidou's daughter, recognized for her exceptional sensory abilities.

Others

Shinji Shiba's biological father and Yuichi's adoptive father, who imparted lessons about the importance of money. He was among the three individuals Yuichi ended up killing in the past.

Yuichi's adoptive mother, who prioritized teaching the significance of friendship over monetary value. She was also one of the three people Yuichi killed, and her passing deeply affected him.

Manga

Tomodachi Game, authored by Mikoto Yamaguchi with illustrations by Yuki Sato, was serialized in Kodansha's Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine from December 9, 2013, until August 8, 2024. Kodansha compiled the chapters into 26 tankōbon volumes released between April 9, 2014, and October 8, 2024.

In May 2023, Kodansha began distributing the series digitally in English through their K Manga application.

TV drama

A television drama adaptation consisting of four episodes aired on Chiba TV from April 3 to April 24, 2017. Additional broadcasts took place on Teletama, Hokkaido TV, tvk, Kyushu Asahi Broadcasting, Sun TV, KBS Kyoto, and Mētele, with streaming available on GYAO!. The series was directed by Jiro Nagae, who also co-wrote the scripts alongside Sagami Yoshitsugu. The soundtrack was composed by Kuniyuki Morohashi.

In June 2022, TV Asahi announced a new live-action drama titled Tomodachi Game R4. This eight-episode adaptation aired from July 23 to September 10, 2022. It was directed by Takurо̄ Oikawa, Hajime Takezono, and Toshiaki Kamada; written by Takuji Higuchi and Shinya Hokimoto; with music composed by Yoshinori Nakamura. The cast included members from Johnny's Jr. boy bands HiHi Jets and Bishonen.

Live-action films

Two live-action movies titled Tomodachi Game Gekijō-ban and Tomodachi Game Gekijō-ban Final were released in Japan on June 3 and September 2, 2017, respectively.

Anime

An anime adaptation produced by Okuruto Noboru was announced in November 2021. The series was directed by Hirofumi Ogura with scripts by Kenta Ihara; character designs were created by Satomi Miyazaki while Michiru composed the music. It aired from April 6 through June 22, 2022, on NTV's AnichU block and other networks. The opening theme song "Double Shuffle" was performed by Nana Mizuki; the ending theme "Tomoshibi" was sung by saji. Crunchyroll streamed the anime outside Asia, whereas Medialink secured licensing rights for Southeast Asia and made it available exclusively on Disney+/Disney+ Hotstar starting May 2022.

The English dubbed version premiered on Crunchyroll on April 19, 2022.

Episodes

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See also

• Dead Tube, manga authored by Mikoto Yamaguchi
• Game of Familia, manga created by Mikoto Yamaguchi
• Who Wants to Marry a Billionaire?, manga series penned by Mikoto Yamaguchi

External links

• Official Tomodachi Game page on Magazine Pocket
• Official website for the Tomodachi Game live-action adaptation
• Official site for the Tomodachi Game anime