Yoroida’s fantasy slice-of-life comedy manga, #Kanagawa ni Sunderu Elf (“Elves Living in Kanagawa”), is set to receive both a live-action drama and a TV light anime adaptation later this year. The exciting news, announced recently, will bring the unique story of elves coexisting with humans in modern Kanagawa Prefecture to a wider audience through two distinct mediums.
Double Adaptation: Live-Action Drama Premieres in September, Light Anime in December
Fans of the manga can anticipate a dual release, with the live-action drama kicking off first on September 30. Following shortly after, the light anime adaptation is slated to begin in December. Both adaptations will debut within Television Kanagawa’s (tvk) programming.
The live-action drama will be written and directed by Oolongta Yoshida. Initial cast announcements for the drama include Sion Yoshitaka as the Yokohama Elf, Ryotaro Akazawa as the Kawasaki Human, Teruhisa Takura as the Yokosuka Elf, Junya Asada as the Chigasaki Elf, Rion Hatakeyama as the Sagamihara Elf, and Ryuga Akahane as the Machida Orc. Further details regarding the staff and cast for the light anime are expected to be revealed at a later date.
Delving into the World of “Kanagawa ni Sunderu Elf”
The #Kanagawa ni Sunderu Elf manga, penned and illustrated by Yoroida, presents a charming and humorous premise. The narrative centers on a community of elves who were forced to abandon their ancestral forest home two years prior, following a devastating forest fire in 2020. This displacement leads them to seek refuge and integrate into human society within Japan’s Kanagawa Prefecture, a region bustling with cities like Yokohama, Kawasaki, Yokosuka, Chigasaki, and Sagamihara.
Instead of remaining hidden, these whimsical and otherworldly elves begin to live openly among humans, navigating the intricacies of modern Japanese daily life. The story often highlights the comical and heartwarming contrasts between their ancient traditions and contemporary urban living. Readers follow the daily lives of these “Kanagawa elves” as they engage in everyday activities such as shopping at malls, reading at Yokohama Station, riding trains, and even encountering other fantasy creatures, like orcs, in city streets.
The manga series currently runs in Comic ELMO and has five volumes in print. The story often focuses on specific duos, such as a Yokohama elf and their human childhood friend, whose dynamic serves as a central thread for exploring the culture clash. This unique blend of fantasy and slice-of-life elements, set against a familiar modern backdrop, has garnered a dedicated readership.
