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ドッグスレッド [Dogsred] #1
Dogsred, Vol. 1
ROU ONCE CHASED FIGURE SKATING GLORY—NOW HE CHASES REDEMPTION IN THE ICE HOCKEY RINK.
After winning the national championship, 15-year-old figure skater Rou Shirakawa was on his way to the Olympics. But with his mother’s tragic death on his mind, he threw it all away in an outburst of rage. Banned from figure skating, he and his sister move to Hokkaido. When he meets some local kids at the skating pond, they convince him to fill in on their soon-to-be-disbanded junior high school hockey team. The team has never won a game, and they’re up against the local champs—but if they’ve got to go down, they want to score at least one goal before it’s all over. Rou hasn’t got a clue how to play ice hockey, but he sure knows how to skate!
After winning the national championship, 15-year-old figure skater Rou Shirakawa was on his way to the Olympics. But with his mother’s tragic death on his mind, he threw it all away in an outburst of rage. Banned from figure skating, he and his sister move to Hokkaido. When he meets some local kids at the skating pond, they convince him to fill in on their soon-to-be-disbanded junior high school hockey team. The team has never won a game, and they’re up against the local champs—but if they’ve got to go down, they want to score at least one goal before it’s all over. Rou hasn’t got a clue how to play ice hockey, but he sure knows how to skate!
216 pages, Paperback
Published March 18, 2025
9 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Satoru Noda
65 books91 followersSatoru Noda (野田サトル, Noda Satoru) is a japanese mangaka.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
September 13, 2025
L’histoire peut plaire à un jeune public j’ai eu dû mal avec le personnage principal. Rou est un patineur artistique fabuleux sauf que que lors d’une compétition il perd les pédales et détruit tout sur son passage, c’est un manga sur le milieu du sport comme ils en existent depuis la nuit des temps bon j’ai quand ri avec Rou qui ne connaît rien aux règles de Hockey.
December 12, 2025
I never watch sporting events, but I'm a sucker for sports fiction.
A disgraced figure skater with emotional baggage and anger issues gets drafted into playing as a last-second substitute in a junior high school hockey game in the new town where he's living with his grandfather.
Following his successful run on Golden Kamuy, Satoru Noda asked his publishers for a do-over on his first failed series, Supinamarada! While the plot remains the same, the art and script get a revamp, and in Japan, the new version already has more volumes than the original.
As with Golden Kamuy, Dogsred is set in Hokkaido and features some Ainu cast members. I look forward to seeing what qualities those roots bring to the story in the long run.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 1. Rabid Prince -- Chapter 2. Routine -- Chapter 3. The Last Miyamori Junior High Ice Hockey Team -- Chapter 4. An Intriguing Player -- Chapter 5. A Small Spark -- Chapter 6. The Trick to Receiving -- Chapter 7. One Goal -- Rulebook
A disgraced figure skater with emotional baggage and anger issues gets drafted into playing as a last-second substitute in a junior high school hockey game in the new town where he's living with his grandfather.
Following his successful run on Golden Kamuy, Satoru Noda asked his publishers for a do-over on his first failed series, Supinamarada! While the plot remains the same, the art and script get a revamp, and in Japan, the new version already has more volumes than the original.
As with Golden Kamuy, Dogsred is set in Hokkaido and features some Ainu cast members. I look forward to seeing what qualities those roots bring to the story in the long run.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: Chapter 1. Rabid Prince -- Chapter 2. Routine -- Chapter 3. The Last Miyamori Junior High Ice Hockey Team -- Chapter 4. An Intriguing Player -- Chapter 5. A Small Spark -- Chapter 6. The Trick to Receiving -- Chapter 7. One Goal -- Rulebook
June 1, 2025
A solid, if a bit predictable, start. The story centers on Rou Shirakawa, a figure skater who spirals into a breakdown after his mother's death. He has a public meltdown at an event, leading to his ban from figure skating. Later, while skating alone in a field, he encounters a group of kids and is unexpectedly drawn into a game of hockey.
The opening felt a little odd, but thankfully the characters are fun, and I particularly like the Genma brothers. I have a feeling their development will really help this series grow. The art during action sequences looks great, though some of the faces can appear a bit...unusual. Overall, I'm definitely going to check out another volume! I'd give this one a 3 out of 5.
The opening felt a little odd, but thankfully the characters are fun, and I particularly like the Genma brothers. I have a feeling their development will really help this series grow. The art during action sequences looks great, though some of the faces can appear a bit...unusual. Overall, I'm definitely going to check out another volume! I'd give this one a 3 out of 5.
June 14, 2025
Read more graphic novel reviews at The Graphic Library.
If you're looking for more sports manga, this one could be your next read or purchase! A disgraced figure skater gets roped into playing ice hockey and has to learn the hard way that the two are not the same at all. There are some hilarious moments involved in this steep learning curve, and Noda is known for his meticulous illustrations.
Reviewed for Booklist Magazine.
Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
If you're looking for more sports manga, this one could be your next read or purchase! A disgraced figure skater gets roped into playing ice hockey and has to learn the hard way that the two are not the same at all. There are some hilarious moments involved in this steep learning curve, and Noda is known for his meticulous illustrations.
Reviewed for Booklist Magazine.
Sara's Rating: 8/10
Suitability Level: Grades 9-12
April 25, 2025
a young aspiring figure skating wunderkind has a temper tantrum...is banished and ends up on a backwater Ice Hockey team.
living in Canada ..this hits a nerve.
there is an underlying dark side...which was briefly touched on...and it will be interesting to see how that develops.
living in Canada ..this hits a nerve.
there is an underlying dark side...which was briefly touched on...and it will be interesting to see how that develops.
March 27, 2025
umm guys is this icebreaker? 🤔😹
August 6, 2025
MANGA SIDCROS <3
November 16, 2025
3.5 fun read
December 29, 2025
Super funny, also interesting and now I have a book for my hockey obsessed coworker lol.
January 20, 2026
What can I say I love-a da sports
February 17, 2026
You really do not see many manga centered on ice hockey, which is kind of surprising. Maybe the sport just is not that popular in Japan, but considering there are successful series about volleyball, badminton, horse racing, and even American football (which I know is not popular in Japan), it is wild that hockey has not received much attention. Then again, basketball was not especially popular in Japan until Takehiko Inoue created Slam Dunk!, which sparked a massive surge of interest in the sport thanks to his deep knowledge and obvious love for the game. Slam Dunk went on to become a cultural phenomenon, with enormous manga sales, a hit television adaptation, and even a successful feature film. Maybe we are on the cusp of something similar with Dogsred, a newer hockey manga by Satoru Noda, who is best known as the creator of Golden Kamuy. The series began serialization in Weekly Young Jump in July 2023 and follows Rou Shirakawa, a once promising figure skater whose Olympic dreams collapse after a personal tragedy, leading him to Hokkaido where he reluctantly becomes involved in competitive ice hockey. Noda apparently played hockey when he was younger, and his enthusiasm for the sport clearly comes through, which makes this project especially exciting.
I have recently become a big fan of my local minor league hockey teams, and aside from watching Shoresy, I was hoping there was more hockey media out there. Stumbling across Dogsred on the Shonen Jump app felt like perfect timing. Surprisingly, Dogsred is somewhat of a remake/relaunch of Noda’s earlier, cancelled ice hockey manga Supinamarada! (2011–2012). That original series was discontinued after six volumes due to poor sales, but after Noda’s later success with Golden Kamuy brought renewed interest in his work, he revisited and expanded the story he always wanted to tell with Dogsred. In contrast to the historical adventure and intense survival themes of Golden Kamuy, Dogsred leans into character-driven sports drama with a dash of comedy as the popular genre is often structured.
At the beginning of Dogsred, Rou Shirakawa immediately stands apart from many typical shonen sports protagonists. He does not fit the familiar mold of the small, overlooked underdog constantly doubted by everyone around him but fueled by pure determination. That archetype is actually closer to a side character like Nobuto Dohi. Rou, by contrast, is a pretentious, hot headed perfectionist. He is not as unlikable as that description might suggest, but his personality creates a refreshing dynamic compared to series such as Haikyu!! and Ahiru no Sora, which more closely follow the traditional underdog formula. He honestly feels like the late series addition that adds a secret weapon to the team's arsenal - think Keenan Thompson's character in The Mighty Ducks 2, who uses his unorthodox "knuckle puck" to turn the tables on the game. On a second thought, I guess in volume 1, Rou Shirakawa IS that character for Miyamori Junior High as he is brought in for the last game simply to allow the team a chance at just a single point in a disastrous season, before following the characters to high school - we just never get to follow that team through the rest of the season prior to that game.
Rou also carries a mysterious past. In volume one, the reason he abruptly quits figure skating is not fully explained. What we do know is that he was a top level competitor who suffered a tragic personal loss. After delivering a dominant comeback performance, he suddenly "crashed out" in spectacular fashion, destroying part of the competition set, causing significant damage, and effectively getting himself expelled from the sport. Why he did that remains unclear, and that lingering question is more than enough to keep me invested in what comes next.
In volume one of Dogsred, which spans seven chapters, we get the fundamentals done right. There is a strong introduction to the primary cast, including early rivals who clearly feel like long term fixtures. The stakes are present but restrained, pushing the story forward without forcing an early climax. At the same time, several compelling questions are planted. What happens now that middle school is ending? What becomes of Rou’s former figure skating rivals, undoubtedly wanting him to return to keep the sport lively and keep a goal in sight?
Much of the volume also teaches the reader the rules of hockey in a humorous way that feels very reminiscent of Slam Dunk!. Rou is thrown into the sport wearing his grandfather’s fifty year old equipment with no real understanding of the game beyond the fact that he can skate VERY well. Predictably, he spends a great deal of time in the penalty box. He is called for infractions like traveling with the puck after assuming he can simply carry it because he once saw someone stop it mid air. He commits slashing and hooking when he uses his stick to trip or fight opponents. He even gets called for high sticking after wildly swinging his stick over his head. Each moment is played for comedy, and his grandfather, seated behind the penalty box, becomes the perfect in story explainer, calmly walking Rou through the rules as he breaks them. It is an organic and clever way to educate both the protagonist and the reader without slowing down the narrative or having characters talk in unnatural ways.
The art style in Dogsred feels refreshing if you appreciate unconventional character designs, though I can easily see it being divisive for some readers. Nearly every character has an extremely expressive face, often defined by exaggerated eye shapes or sharply stylized eyebrows. It is likely a practical choice so readers can distinguish players once they are fully suited up in bulky hockey gear, but it also gives the series a distinct visual identity. I cannot think of many manga that look quite like it, aside from Noda’s earlier work on Golden Kamuy.
The backgrounds are detailed and grounded, and the action scenes are dynamic while remaining easy to follow. Noda is not an especially flashy artist in the traditional sense, but he elevates the hockey sequences with a strong sense of motion and physical impact. You can feel the speed, weight, and intensity of the sport on the page, which is exactly what a series like this needs to succeed.
As a casual fan of both sports manga and ice hockey, Dogsred has been a genuine treat for me and has pulled me further into the genre than I have been in quite some time. It has that same spark and cast of endearing, high energy characters that could translate beautifully into an anime television series if it ever makes that jump. With Satoru Noda’s story now sitting at seven volumes and counting, and nearly enough chapters for ten as of this writing, there is certainly plenty of material to support an adaptation.
I will be diving into volume two soon, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that this series eventually crosses mediums. It feels like the kind of sports story that could really take off if given the chance.
https://arcadiapod.com/2026/02/16/rev...
I have recently become a big fan of my local minor league hockey teams, and aside from watching Shoresy, I was hoping there was more hockey media out there. Stumbling across Dogsred on the Shonen Jump app felt like perfect timing. Surprisingly, Dogsred is somewhat of a remake/relaunch of Noda’s earlier, cancelled ice hockey manga Supinamarada! (2011–2012). That original series was discontinued after six volumes due to poor sales, but after Noda’s later success with Golden Kamuy brought renewed interest in his work, he revisited and expanded the story he always wanted to tell with Dogsred. In contrast to the historical adventure and intense survival themes of Golden Kamuy, Dogsred leans into character-driven sports drama with a dash of comedy as the popular genre is often structured.
At the beginning of Dogsred, Rou Shirakawa immediately stands apart from many typical shonen sports protagonists. He does not fit the familiar mold of the small, overlooked underdog constantly doubted by everyone around him but fueled by pure determination. That archetype is actually closer to a side character like Nobuto Dohi. Rou, by contrast, is a pretentious, hot headed perfectionist. He is not as unlikable as that description might suggest, but his personality creates a refreshing dynamic compared to series such as Haikyu!! and Ahiru no Sora, which more closely follow the traditional underdog formula. He honestly feels like the late series addition that adds a secret weapon to the team's arsenal - think Keenan Thompson's character in The Mighty Ducks 2, who uses his unorthodox "knuckle puck" to turn the tables on the game. On a second thought, I guess in volume 1, Rou Shirakawa IS that character for Miyamori Junior High as he is brought in for the last game simply to allow the team a chance at just a single point in a disastrous season, before following the characters to high school - we just never get to follow that team through the rest of the season prior to that game.
Rou also carries a mysterious past. In volume one, the reason he abruptly quits figure skating is not fully explained. What we do know is that he was a top level competitor who suffered a tragic personal loss. After delivering a dominant comeback performance, he suddenly "crashed out" in spectacular fashion, destroying part of the competition set, causing significant damage, and effectively getting himself expelled from the sport. Why he did that remains unclear, and that lingering question is more than enough to keep me invested in what comes next.
In volume one of Dogsred, which spans seven chapters, we get the fundamentals done right. There is a strong introduction to the primary cast, including early rivals who clearly feel like long term fixtures. The stakes are present but restrained, pushing the story forward without forcing an early climax. At the same time, several compelling questions are planted. What happens now that middle school is ending? What becomes of Rou’s former figure skating rivals, undoubtedly wanting him to return to keep the sport lively and keep a goal in sight?
Much of the volume also teaches the reader the rules of hockey in a humorous way that feels very reminiscent of Slam Dunk!. Rou is thrown into the sport wearing his grandfather’s fifty year old equipment with no real understanding of the game beyond the fact that he can skate VERY well. Predictably, he spends a great deal of time in the penalty box. He is called for infractions like traveling with the puck after assuming he can simply carry it because he once saw someone stop it mid air. He commits slashing and hooking when he uses his stick to trip or fight opponents. He even gets called for high sticking after wildly swinging his stick over his head. Each moment is played for comedy, and his grandfather, seated behind the penalty box, becomes the perfect in story explainer, calmly walking Rou through the rules as he breaks them. It is an organic and clever way to educate both the protagonist and the reader without slowing down the narrative or having characters talk in unnatural ways.
The art style in Dogsred feels refreshing if you appreciate unconventional character designs, though I can easily see it being divisive for some readers. Nearly every character has an extremely expressive face, often defined by exaggerated eye shapes or sharply stylized eyebrows. It is likely a practical choice so readers can distinguish players once they are fully suited up in bulky hockey gear, but it also gives the series a distinct visual identity. I cannot think of many manga that look quite like it, aside from Noda’s earlier work on Golden Kamuy.
The backgrounds are detailed and grounded, and the action scenes are dynamic while remaining easy to follow. Noda is not an especially flashy artist in the traditional sense, but he elevates the hockey sequences with a strong sense of motion and physical impact. You can feel the speed, weight, and intensity of the sport on the page, which is exactly what a series like this needs to succeed.
As a casual fan of both sports manga and ice hockey, Dogsred has been a genuine treat for me and has pulled me further into the genre than I have been in quite some time. It has that same spark and cast of endearing, high energy characters that could translate beautifully into an anime television series if it ever makes that jump. With Satoru Noda’s story now sitting at seven volumes and counting, and nearly enough chapters for ten as of this writing, there is certainly plenty of material to support an adaptation.
I will be diving into volume two soon, and I am keeping my fingers crossed that this series eventually crosses mediums. It feels like the kind of sports story that could really take off if given the chance.
https://arcadiapod.com/2026/02/16/rev...
May 21, 2025
3.5
My continuing quest to read any hockey graphic novel that crosses my path led me to this ridiculous book.
Please understand that I do not mean "ridiculous" in a derogatory way. I had so much fun reading this book. The skater-turned-hockey-star main character is so, SO hilariously over the top. I laughed out loud far too many times while reading this title.
Added to that, there's some really good hockey art. The positions of the bodies in motion are well captured. The on ice sequences had a decent flow to them. And added to THAT, there's some decent expositional information about hockey for the uninitiated.
I had no intention of enjoying this title, let alone looking forward to reading more of the series. But this was a lot of stupid fun and I think I'll keep going.
Have I found the hockey manga equivalent of how I feel about Dinosaur Sanctuary??
My continuing quest to read any hockey graphic novel that crosses my path led me to this ridiculous book.
Please understand that I do not mean "ridiculous" in a derogatory way. I had so much fun reading this book. The skater-turned-hockey-star main character is so, SO hilariously over the top. I laughed out loud far too many times while reading this title.
Added to that, there's some really good hockey art. The positions of the bodies in motion are well captured. The on ice sequences had a decent flow to them. And added to THAT, there's some decent expositional information about hockey for the uninitiated.
I had no intention of enjoying this title, let alone looking forward to reading more of the series. But this was a lot of stupid fun and I think I'll keep going.
Have I found the hockey manga equivalent of how I feel about Dinosaur Sanctuary??
May 30, 2025
This is so ridiculous—I love it already.
If you loved “Yuri on Ice” but wished it had more nonsense and was about ice hockey instead, this is for you.
In this first volume, we’re introduced to Rou—a once famous but now disgraced 15-year-old national figure skater. After the unexpected death of his mother who was also his biggest supporter, he is clearly floundering. The fans are out of control. Rou caused a scene at his last championship and got himself disqualified. Having to move in with his grandfather in a remote village isn’t helping things either.
Rou is a mess.
But, the local hockey team needs a fill-in for their soon-to-be disbanded team. He is easily swayed. But, unfortunately for everyone, while Rou can definitely skate, he doesn’t know how to play hockey.
This story strikes such a balance between being silly and heartfelt. (Honestly, I think that’s Satoru Noda’s distinctive style.)
I had such a blast reading this story—and I’m so looking forward to reading more. The rivalries and dynamics introduced are already hella entertaining. I’m so ready to see what happens next~
If you loved “Yuri on Ice” but wished it had more nonsense and was about ice hockey instead, this is for you.
In this first volume, we’re introduced to Rou—a once famous but now disgraced 15-year-old national figure skater. After the unexpected death of his mother who was also his biggest supporter, he is clearly floundering. The fans are out of control. Rou caused a scene at his last championship and got himself disqualified. Having to move in with his grandfather in a remote village isn’t helping things either.
Rou is a mess.
But, the local hockey team needs a fill-in for their soon-to-be disbanded team. He is easily swayed. But, unfortunately for everyone, while Rou can definitely skate, he doesn’t know how to play hockey.
This story strikes such a balance between being silly and heartfelt. (Honestly, I think that’s Satoru Noda’s distinctive style.)
I had such a blast reading this story—and I’m so looking forward to reading more. The rivalries and dynamics introduced are already hella entertaining. I’m so ready to see what happens next~
illustrated-series
February 25, 2026Chapter 27
January 30, 2025
It’s an interesting-ish premise. Basically a figure skater, Rou, gets kicked out of the sport after a family tragedy makes him go berserk is the kiss and cry. He moves to Hokkaido and while skating on a pond gets into a fight with a hockey player, Keiichi. In order to pay for a lost net Rou agrees to be a sub for a local middle school hockey team. However, he has no idea how to play or what the rules are. Also, the team they are playing against is Keiichi’s. Honestly, there’s not a lot of depth to the story so far. We don’t know what caused Rou to lose it in the kiss and cry. The dialog is a little weird, at least for Rou. This mostly felt like a volume that’s main point it to teach the reader how hockey works. I did appreciate the Sidney Crosby name drop though. There was also a moment during Rou and Keiichi’s fight the felt BL-ish and even though I know that is no where near where the story is going it still made me happy. I’ll probably stick around to see where the next volume goes.
January 2, 2026
There is a specific joy to seeing the characters you loved in *Golden Camuy* now living as high school ice hockey players in 2010s Japan. The characters are original to the series, don’t get me wrong, but the fact that some of these characters have almost/completely the same faces (Rou = Koito, Haruna = Asirpa, Nihei = Nihei, Youta = Ogata, Kazutaka = Usami) surely is Noda’s pulling at the readers’ heart strings.
My favorite part is the creative choice of doing the narration through Dohin’s Niconico (Japanese video platform channel before YouTube) channel commentary and Haruna’s draft emails to her dead mother. The first one tells the reader about the town of Tomakomai and ice hockey’s significance to the town’s hearts and minds while the second gives a glimpse into Haruna’s smaller world as she watches her brother move on quickly from figure skating to ice hockey. As much as this is a story about Rou’s journey to becoming an ice hockey player, it’s also a story about Haruna when she lost her chance of vicariously living her dream of becoming an Olympic figure skater through Rou when he ended his figure skating career. Giving her the narration mic is a clever way to remind us of her presence when the spotlight, for better or worse, keeps shining upon Rou.
The series is a re-write of Noda’s older series written ten years ago, *Supinomarada!*. The improvement in storytelling pace (though this can easily be manipulated by external factors such as the series’s potential for a long run in the eyes of the editorial executives) and character density (everyone on the high school team has a distinct visual and character as opposed to only a couple in the original) is apparent. I love that the schools now bear memorable/wacky names (one of the rival schools, Sameoh, literally spells out as Shark King) as opposed to the realistic but basic names used in the original.
Most importantly, the highest compliment I give to *Dogsred* is that it’s highly re-readable. Some series are very good, even phenomenal, but too intense for me to read more than once, and even if I do, it might be specific volumes, not the entire series from start to finish. It might be because the series is still ongoing and there’s only been six volumes out yet, but, no kidding, I’ve been rereading this series for the last couple of days. Noda is hitting my sweet spot of gags, lovable characters, and sports drama.
My favorite part is the creative choice of doing the narration through Dohin’s Niconico (Japanese video platform channel before YouTube) channel commentary and Haruna’s draft emails to her dead mother. The first one tells the reader about the town of Tomakomai and ice hockey’s significance to the town’s hearts and minds while the second gives a glimpse into Haruna’s smaller world as she watches her brother move on quickly from figure skating to ice hockey. As much as this is a story about Rou’s journey to becoming an ice hockey player, it’s also a story about Haruna when she lost her chance of vicariously living her dream of becoming an Olympic figure skater through Rou when he ended his figure skating career. Giving her the narration mic is a clever way to remind us of her presence when the spotlight, for better or worse, keeps shining upon Rou.
The series is a re-write of Noda’s older series written ten years ago, *Supinomarada!*. The improvement in storytelling pace (though this can easily be manipulated by external factors such as the series’s potential for a long run in the eyes of the editorial executives) and character density (everyone on the high school team has a distinct visual and character as opposed to only a couple in the original) is apparent. I love that the schools now bear memorable/wacky names (one of the rival schools, Sameoh, literally spells out as Shark King) as opposed to the realistic but basic names used in the original.
Most importantly, the highest compliment I give to *Dogsred* is that it’s highly re-readable. Some series are very good, even phenomenal, but too intense for me to read more than once, and even if I do, it might be specific volumes, not the entire series from start to finish. It might be because the series is still ongoing and there’s only been six volumes out yet, but, no kidding, I’ve been rereading this series for the last couple of days. Noda is hitting my sweet spot of gags, lovable characters, and sports drama.
December 7, 2025
WHAT. A. BEGINNING.
I think Satoru Noda is one of the greatest living mangaka right now, and not enough people are talking about that. Golden Kamuy is truly one of the best manga ever created and I mean that without an ounce of exaggeration. So in many ways, finally picking up Dogsred felt a lot like coming home for me. The breathtaking art that is comedic, emotional, dynamic, full of flavor and expression -- the clearly meticulous research that goes into each background, each plot point... Noda-sensei is clearly someone who cares deeply about accuracy, both technical and historical, but still creates manga that is easy-to-read and human. He is a true master of his craft, all in terms of writing, art, and research.
And what a first volume this is. We're setting the stage in a similar way to Medalist, another figure skating manga that I love, but it retains some of the crass slapstick comedy, as well as the deep human emotion, of Golden Kamuy. The character designs are nothing short of fun... and I'm finally learning a thing or two about ice hockey, a sport I've been curious about for a while (as a complete sports novice).
All I can say is, I'm SO sat for "Rabid Prince" Rou's journey. As a protagonist, I ADORE him. I find it impossible not to adore every single character introduced in this volume. I'm so intrigued. On to volume two!!!
I think Satoru Noda is one of the greatest living mangaka right now, and not enough people are talking about that. Golden Kamuy is truly one of the best manga ever created and I mean that without an ounce of exaggeration. So in many ways, finally picking up Dogsred felt a lot like coming home for me. The breathtaking art that is comedic, emotional, dynamic, full of flavor and expression -- the clearly meticulous research that goes into each background, each plot point... Noda-sensei is clearly someone who cares deeply about accuracy, both technical and historical, but still creates manga that is easy-to-read and human. He is a true master of his craft, all in terms of writing, art, and research.
And what a first volume this is. We're setting the stage in a similar way to Medalist, another figure skating manga that I love, but it retains some of the crass slapstick comedy, as well as the deep human emotion, of Golden Kamuy. The character designs are nothing short of fun... and I'm finally learning a thing or two about ice hockey, a sport I've been curious about for a while (as a complete sports novice).
All I can say is, I'm SO sat for "Rabid Prince" Rou's journey. As a protagonist, I ADORE him. I find it impossible not to adore every single character introduced in this volume. I'm so intrigued. On to volume two!!!
April 4, 2025
2.5/5
I took a long time deciding myself if I wanted to buy this one because I’m a huge fan of hockey but the art style isn’t really my fav but when I found it at a thrift store for very cheap I just picked it up.
A young national figure skating hopeful, Rou Shirakawa just won a decisive tournament with the program his mother and coach prepared, before dying some time earlier in an car accident but seized by an inexplicable fit of violence in front of cameras all over Japan, he’s banned for life from the tournament.
The story is a bit cliché - a figure skater starts to do hockey all of a sudden after his career is finished - but from the resume it had a lot of potential. Sadly, I end up not really enjoying it that much, for me, the pacing broke everything, some moments felt very rushed and cut short while others are way too long and "boring". The characters felt a bit flat with no real personality or introduction.
The match was fun to read, some moments were well drawn and the best point is for the people that don’t know the hockey rules, it’s slowly explained while Rou Shirakawa discover them himself but it was the only part I really liked.
I will probably not continue this series (except if I found them in second hand)
I took a long time deciding myself if I wanted to buy this one because I’m a huge fan of hockey but the art style isn’t really my fav but when I found it at a thrift store for very cheap I just picked it up.
A young national figure skating hopeful, Rou Shirakawa just won a decisive tournament with the program his mother and coach prepared, before dying some time earlier in an car accident but seized by an inexplicable fit of violence in front of cameras all over Japan, he’s banned for life from the tournament.
The story is a bit cliché - a figure skater starts to do hockey all of a sudden after his career is finished - but from the resume it had a lot of potential. Sadly, I end up not really enjoying it that much, for me, the pacing broke everything, some moments felt very rushed and cut short while others are way too long and "boring". The characters felt a bit flat with no real personality or introduction.
The match was fun to read, some moments were well drawn and the best point is for the people that don’t know the hockey rules, it’s slowly explained while Rou Shirakawa discover them himself but it was the only part I really liked.
I will probably not continue this series (except if I found them in second hand)
October 22, 2025
Few things:
1. The title isn't explained (in this volume?), so it comes across as a racist translation of "dogsled"; it's about figure skating and ice hockey, though.
2. Sort of a Yuri!!! on Ice crossed with The Mighty Ducks?
3. Rou never explains why ? This bothered me through the whole book, to where he defers when asked directly—TWICE—and they just kind of leave it at that. Okay, just ruin your life and all, no big deal.
4. A high-schooler is really allowed to sub in at a junior-high game?
4a.
5. Art's good.
I don't know. It sort of stands on its own, in that if there is never a book 2, I think that would be "fine," but it's not really my jam, especially considering how much Rou grates on my nerves. I mean, he hates his grandfather's cat! BOO
1. The title isn't explained (in this volume?), so it comes across as a racist translation of "dogsled"; it's about figure skating and ice hockey, though.
2. Sort of a Yuri!!! on Ice crossed with The Mighty Ducks?
3. Rou never explains why ? This bothered me through the whole book, to where he defers when asked directly—TWICE—and they just kind of leave it at that. Okay, just ruin your life and all, no big deal.
4. A high-schooler is really allowed to sub in at a junior-high game?
4a.
5. Art's good.
I don't know. It sort of stands on its own, in that if there is never a book 2, I think that would be "fine," but it's not really my jam, especially considering how much Rou grates on my nerves. I mean, he hates his grandfather's cat! BOO
December 25, 2025
This is a relatively new sports manga about hockey/ice hockey and an enjoyable read. Our main character, Roli Shirakawa is a champion figure skater with sights set on the Olympics, but when his mother is killed in a car crash, Roli is left to compete without his coach, mentor, biggest supporter and parent. His rage and grief boil over and he trashes the venue, receiving a life time ban from the sport. Baffling that his recent bereavement is not taken into consideration or discussed in the book much at all - is denial of grieving a cultural thing? No idea, but it is a glaring omission.
Anyway, Roli and his sister have to move to live with their grandpa and join a new Junior High school. Through some nicely paced plotting, Roli ends up subbing for the school ice hockey team, a sport that he has never played, for the season closing match. Chaos ensues on the ice as he has no idea how to use a stick, of what the rules of the game are.
The book is completely male-dominated. His sister plays a very minor role, but for any manga hockey fans this has to be a hit.
Anyway, Roli and his sister have to move to live with their grandpa and join a new Junior High school. Through some nicely paced plotting, Roli ends up subbing for the school ice hockey team, a sport that he has never played, for the season closing match. Chaos ensues on the ice as he has no idea how to use a stick, of what the rules of the game are.
The book is completely male-dominated. His sister plays a very minor role, but for any manga hockey fans this has to be a hit.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2024
After the rollicking quest of ゴールデンカムイ 1 Golden Kamui 1 , Noda charges right in to another cold-weather tale, but one that's rather more modern. While some recent chapters are dragging a bit, the first bits of this were excellent and pulled me in and dragged me along, and I'm confident this will be another masterwork, given time.
Honestly, all you really need to know is this: Noda is a master of the absurd scene. But the absurd that is the perfect seasoning for fiction, the absurd that makes you glad books exist. There are too many stories that are either not creative enough or confident enough to have something really odd happen -- this is not one of them. These moments of madness are where characters shine.
Honestly, all you really need to know is this: Noda is a master of the absurd scene. But the absurd that is the perfect seasoning for fiction, the absurd that makes you glad books exist. There are too many stories that are either not creative enough or confident enough to have something really odd happen -- this is not one of them. These moments of madness are where characters shine.
August 21, 2025
It's a sports manga, but I had a little more fun reading it than a lot of other sports manga. That may partly be because I love both sports that feature here, figure skating and ice hockey. It may also be because the main character is deeply unserious in a very funny way, and he doesn't lack depth. It also helps that he isn't a total savant at hockey. His figure skating skills help, but he also has no idea what he's doing and that ignorance can be a real hindrance. The eventual flow of the story is pretty obvious, because it's still a sports manga, but I do appreciate that he doesn't come in and immediately get an incredible victory.
January 11, 2026
Banger. I wasn’t really drawn in too hard to the idea of the protagonist being kinda preppy but after he crashed out at a figure skating event I knew he was gonna have some fire to him. I got hooked when the local team said they weren’t going to be able to play hockey since the school was closing and now this figure skater transfers in and gives meaning to the team after their told they won’t be good. One goal to 55 goals in the last game of the season and now there’s a reason to play again. I’m hooked.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 23, 2024
När man letar efter en manga med hockey som tema och hittar en smått absurd en med de unika ögonbryn man kommit att känna igen från Golden Kamuy, Vol. 1 känner man att man hittat rätt.
Stilen är snygg och dramatisk och förklaringarna på begreppen inom sporten precis vad jag behöver. Det är en bra början och jag hoppas den växer på en.
Stilen är snygg och dramatisk och förklaringarna på begreppen inom sporten precis vad jag behöver. Det är en bra början och jag hoppas den växer på en.
April 9, 2025
3.5
I've heard the author's other story should be good, so I decided to give this one a try.
As for the story, it's pretty middle of the road/average sports manga story so far, hence why I would have loved to have given it my usual 3 volumes. Unfortunately my library only has the first one and the series at this point of time seems fairly newly published in English with only 4 or 5 volumes from what I rather quickly gathered.
I've heard the author's other story should be good, so I decided to give this one a try.
As for the story, it's pretty middle of the road/average sports manga story so far, hence why I would have loved to have given it my usual 3 volumes. Unfortunately my library only has the first one and the series at this point of time seems fairly newly published in English with only 4 or 5 volumes from what I rather quickly gathered.
October 27, 2025
88%
Oh hell yeah! I didn’t know Noda had the chops for a sports manga, but I guess he does. Now I know.
While some of the characters seem to have really similar designs to characters from Golden Kamuy (intentional or not), this has all the makings of a good sport manga for me. It’s about a sport I don’t know much about, the characters are likeable, and Noda knows how to create great hype moments. Excited to continue this one!
Oh hell yeah! I didn’t know Noda had the chops for a sports manga, but I guess he does. Now I know.
While some of the characters seem to have really similar designs to characters from Golden Kamuy (intentional or not), this has all the makings of a good sport manga for me. It’s about a sport I don’t know much about, the characters are likeable, and Noda knows how to create great hype moments. Excited to continue this one!
August 24, 2025
Sports manga is so crazy- mind you these are just middle schoolers with unresolved trauma and insecurities but every other page they say shit like, "If you fuck up this hockey game for me I will slice your head off with my ice skate and drag your lifeless corpse across the rink!!!"
Then again, I didn't play sports in middle school, so maybe this is an accurate experience idk.
Then again, I didn't play sports in middle school, so maybe this is an accurate experience idk.
January 3, 2026
This is my actual dream manga come to life, I’m a sports based anime and manga lover through and through but I haven’t seen and or read ANY with ice hockey in it especially an accurate depiction of the sport being played and the genuine love and passion for it. Yes it is this serious I love this sport, and I love media that loves it just as much as me.
August 26, 2025
I've never read a hockey Manga before and I love it. I like the asides and explanations as well as the fact that they mentioned Crosby and the Golden Goal. Great mangas for hockey fans and Satoru Noda fans.
September 15, 2024
A promising start to a fun sports manga. (On chapter 32)
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