Kiiro Yumi is set to launch a manga adaptation of Hiro Arikawa’s “Sora no Naka” (In the Sky) SDF novel. This marks the second adaptation from Arikawa’s SDF Trilogy and is scheduled to debut on May 23 in the June issue of Hakusensha’s LaLa magazine.
A Tale of Mystery, Accidents, and Unforeseen Crisis
“Sora no Naka” tells the story of mysterious aircraft accidents. A pilot from the Self-Defense Forces and an aircraft mechanic venture to an altitude of 20,000 meters to investigate. Simultaneously, high school students Shun and Kanae discover a strange living creature on a beach in Tosa province and decide to care for it. These seemingly unrelated events intertwine, leading to an unpredictable crisis that threatens humanity.
The SDF Trilogy: A Series Exploring Japan’s Self-Defense Forces
Arikawa’s SDF Trilogy explores the Japanese Self-Defense Forces through the novels:
- Shio no Machi (City of Salt)
- Sora no Naka (In the Sky)
- Umi no Soko (Bottom of the Sea)
Kiiro Yumi: An Accomplished Manga Artist
Kiiro Yumi previously adapted Arikawa’s science-fiction novels into the “Toshokan Senso” shōjo manga, serialized in LaLa from 2007 to 2014. This series was published in English as “Library Wars: Love & War” by Viz Media. Yumi also worked on “Library Wars: Love & War Bessatsu-hen” from March 2015 to August 2020.
Previous Manga Adaptations of the SDF Trilogy
LaLa magazine announced the manga adaptation of Arikawa’s SDF Trilogy in August 2020. The “Shio no Machi” manga adaptation began in August 2021 and concluded on September 24. Hakusensha published the manga’s sixth and final compiled book volume on January 4, 2025.
Hiro Arikawa: Celebrated Author
Hiro Arikawa, born on June 9, 1972, in Kochi Prefecture, Japan, is a celebrated light novelist. She won the tenth annual Dengeki Novel Prize for new writers for “Shio no Machi: Wish on My Precious” in 2003. Her work has been praised for its love stories, depiction of military structures, and influence from Gamera films and “The Great Escape.”
Notable Works by Hiro Arikawa
Arikawa’s notable works include:
- The SDF Trilogy: Shio no Machi: Wish on My Precious, Sora no Naka, and Umi no Soko.
- The Library War series: Toshokan Sensō, Toshokan Nairan, Toshokan Kiki, and Toshokan Kakumei.
- The Traveling Cat Chronicles: A novel translated into English in 2017 and adapted into a film in 2018.
Arikawa’s works often explore themes related to the Japan Self-Defense Forces and have garnered critical acclaim, including the Seiun Award.
