Manga creator Mitsuba Takanashi announced on her X (formerly Twitter) account on Wednesday that her Otome Tsubaki wa Warawanai (also known as Otome Tsubaki Never Laughs) manga has officially entered its final arc. Despite this significant development, Takanashi also conveyed that “the goal is still far off,” indicating that readers can anticipate a considerable journey before the series concludes.
A Look at Otome Tsubaki wa Warawanai
The series centers on Tsubaki Kanno, a 25-year-old woman who works at a stationery shop and is characterized by her straightforward nature and inability to laugh in public. The plot takes a turn when, after work one day, a man named Touma assists Tsubaki after she drops her glasses. It is revealed that Touma is a candidate for the Katsuragi family and was asked by Tsubaki’s deceased mother, Yuriko, to make her daughter laugh. The narrative delves into Tsubaki’s past, particularly the reason she stopped laughing, which is linked to discovering her mother had been seeing another man before her death when Tsubaki was in high school. The manga explores themes of family drama, loss, and personal growth, featuring categories such as death of loved ones, love triangles, and a serious female lead.
Takanashi launched Otome Tsubaki wa Warawanai in Shueisha’s Cocohana magazine in October 2018. Shueisha released the manga’s first compiled book volume in March 2019, and the 13th volume is scheduled to ship on January 23.
Author’s Journey and Previous Works
Mitsuba Takanashi, a prolific Japanese manga artist born on May 27, 1975, in Shimane Prefecture, debuted in 1992. Her career has seen several popular works, including The Devil Does Exist (Akuma de Sōrō) and Crimson Hero (Beniiro Hero), both of which were published in English in North America. The Devil Does Exist was serialized from 1999 to 2002 in Bessatsu Margaret and even inspired a Taiwanese live-action television drama. Crimson Hero concluded in 2008 and was a launch title for Viz Media’s Shojo Beat magazine.
Takanashi also launched the Sumika Sumire manga in Cocohana in August 2013, which concluded in June 2018 and inspired an eight-episode live-action television adaptation in 2016.
In May 2023, Takanashi temporarily halted Otome Tsubaki wa Warawanai to undergo surgery and treatment for breast cancer, resuming serialization in November of the same year. Her return to the series and the subsequent announcement of the final arc underscore her dedication to her storytelling despite personal challenges.
What a “Final Arc” Means for Readers
The announcement of a “final arc” in manga typically signals that the narrative is heading towards its conclusion. While Takanashi’s statement that “the goal is still far off” suggests readers will have more chapters to enjoy, it also indicates that key plotlines will begin to resolve. Fans can anticipate character development reaching its peak and major mysteries being unveiled as Tsubaki Kanno’s journey to overcome her past and find her smile finally comes to a definitive close. This stage often builds significant anticipation as readers eagerly await the ultimate fate of their beloved characters.
