Mihona Fujii, the acclaimed manga artist behind the popular series GALS!, is set to release a new romantic comedy short manga titled Shukujo no Jōken (The Conditions of a Lady) on August 28. The announcement was made in the September issue of Shueisha’s Cocohana magazine, with Fujii herself confirming it on her X/Twitter account.
A Return to Romantic Comedy for Fujii
The Conditions of a Lady is described as a romantic comedy and will be a short series. Fans of Fujii’s work, particularly her earlier romantic themes, will likely anticipate this new release. Her personal X/Twitter account shared her excitement for the project, noting it’s been a while since she’s worked on a romantic comedy.
Mihona Fujii’s Legacy: From GALS! to New Horizons
Mihona Fujii is a well-known shōjo manga artist, best recognized for her iconic series GALS!
The Original GALS! Manga and Anime Adaptation
The original GALS! manga, which used a single exclamation point, was serialized in Shueisha’s Ribon magazine from 1998 to 2002. The series spanned 10 compiled book volumes and was also published in English by CMX Manga. GALS! gained further popularity with its 52-episode television anime adaptation, Super GALS! Kotobuki Ran, which premiered in 2001. The anime series was released on DVD by ADV Films and later by Right Stuf.
The GALS! series revolves around the “kogal” (gyaru) subculture in Japan, following the self-proclaimed “world’s greatest gal,” Ran Kotobuki, and her friends as they navigate life in Shibuya. While known for its comedy, the series also tackled more serious topics such as gang criminality, child abuse, bullying, and the sexual exploitation of high schoolers.
The GALS!! Sequel
Mihona Fujii continued the GALS! story with a sequel titled GALS!! (with two exclamation points), which launched on Shueisha’s Manga Mee app in November 2019. This sequel picked up after the original manga’s ending, depicting Ran, Miyu, and Aya after their high school graduation. The GALS!! sequel concluded in December 2022, with Shueisha publishing its fifth and final volume in March 2023.
