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adabana 徒花 #1
Adabana, Volume 1
A horrifying double murder and a shocking confession uncovers a dark secret in this suspenseful criminal drama manga.
A small town is shocked by the gruesome murder of a student and a ramen shop owner. Mizuki Aikawa, one of the victims’ best friend and classmate, confesses to the brutal crime. However, a local reporter and Mizuki’s public defenders are convinced there’s more to the story. As the truth unravels, a tale of class, exploitation, and the demands of family is revealed.
A small town is shocked by the gruesome murder of a student and a ramen shop owner. Mizuki Aikawa, one of the victims’ best friend and classmate, confesses to the brutal crime. However, a local reporter and Mizuki’s public defenders are convinced there’s more to the story. As the truth unravels, a tale of class, exploitation, and the demands of family is revealed.
200 pages, Paperback
First published August 19, 2020
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NoN
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
December 24, 2023
Haven’t read a manga this good since I read Blood on the Tracks last year.
It’s a story about two troubled girls who try to support each other in their darkest hour. Mizuki is a quiet girl dealing with the deaths of her brother and father while constantly being mistreated by her cold hearted mother. Mako puts on the facade of a cheerful perfect girl to hide the sexual abuse she’s experiencing from her own family and to hide that she’s the victim of an obsessive stalker. They both have sad and lonely lives, but they find comfort in defending and loving each other.
When Mako is believed to be found dead, Mizuki is launched into a dark and twisted murder mystery that slowly uncovers the gruesome truth about the whole situation and the sick secrets behind the culprits' motives who drove both girls to this point.
This was thrilling, shocking and emotional from beginning to end. It deals with some really sensitive subjects and criticizes the legal system for allowing this type of abuse and neglect toward children to happen and then letting them take the fall once they either die or turn to crime to set themselves free from their abusers.
There were quite a few twists I didn’t see coming and the way the stories of each character changed depending on the perspective you’re viewing them from really added to the dread and tragedy of uncovering the full truth of what really happened. Some characters are more selfless and heroic than they first appear while others turn out to be the complete opposite in the worst ways possible.
The two main girls were wonderfully written characters and the resolution to their heartbreaking story really hits where it hurts.
Dark, sad and oddly beautiful in some ways. Great ending.
It’s a story about two troubled girls who try to support each other in their darkest hour. Mizuki is a quiet girl dealing with the deaths of her brother and father while constantly being mistreated by her cold hearted mother. Mako puts on the facade of a cheerful perfect girl to hide the sexual abuse she’s experiencing from her own family and to hide that she’s the victim of an obsessive stalker. They both have sad and lonely lives, but they find comfort in defending and loving each other.
When Mako is believed to be found dead, Mizuki is launched into a dark and twisted murder mystery that slowly uncovers the gruesome truth about the whole situation and the sick secrets behind the culprits' motives who drove both girls to this point.
This was thrilling, shocking and emotional from beginning to end. It deals with some really sensitive subjects and criticizes the legal system for allowing this type of abuse and neglect toward children to happen and then letting them take the fall once they either die or turn to crime to set themselves free from their abusers.
There were quite a few twists I didn’t see coming and the way the stories of each character changed depending on the perspective you’re viewing them from really added to the dread and tragedy of uncovering the full truth of what really happened. Some characters are more selfless and heroic than they first appear while others turn out to be the complete opposite in the worst ways possible.
The two main girls were wonderfully written characters and the resolution to their heartbreaking story really hits where it hurts.
Dark, sad and oddly beautiful in some ways. Great ending.
March 21, 2026
EN I didn’t want to start any more manga series—I already have plenty ongoing—but sometimes there are works so magnetic that they’re hard to ignore, and this is clearly one of them. A shonen psychological thriller, exactly the kind of story I enjoy most.
The central character is Mizuki, who becomes involved in a series of crimes and even confesses to being the killer. Still, her account doesn’t convince the investigators. The manga unfolds as a reconstruction of events, attempting to determine whether she really is who she claims to be.
It’s a very engaging read that keeps you hooked, constantly turning pages to find out more.
We’ll see where it goes, but for now it’s off to a very strong start. I’m not entirely sure, but it seems to be a short series—around three volumes—which also makes it a fairly light commitment.
--
PT Não queria começar mais séries de mangá — já tenho imensas em andamento — mas há obras tão magnéticas que se tornam difíceis de ignorar, e esta é claramente uma delas. Um shonen thriller psicológico, exactamente ao estilo que mais aprecio.
A protagonista é Mizuki, que se vê envolvida numa série de crimes e chega mesmo a confessar ser a assassina. Ainda assim, a sua versão não convence os investigadores. O mangá constrói-se, então, como uma reconstituição dos acontecimentos, procurando perceber se ela é, de facto, quem diz ser.
A leitura flui muito bem, mantendo-nos presos à narrativa e constantemente a virar páginas para descobrir mais.
Resta perceber até onde isto vai, mas, para já, o arranque é bastante promissor. Não tenho a certeza absoluta, mas tudo indica que será uma série curta, com cerca de três volumes, o que também a torna um compromisso bastante acessível.
The central character is Mizuki, who becomes involved in a series of crimes and even confesses to being the killer. Still, her account doesn’t convince the investigators. The manga unfolds as a reconstruction of events, attempting to determine whether she really is who she claims to be.
It’s a very engaging read that keeps you hooked, constantly turning pages to find out more.
We’ll see where it goes, but for now it’s off to a very strong start. I’m not entirely sure, but it seems to be a short series—around three volumes—which also makes it a fairly light commitment.
--
PT Não queria começar mais séries de mangá — já tenho imensas em andamento — mas há obras tão magnéticas que se tornam difíceis de ignorar, e esta é claramente uma delas. Um shonen thriller psicológico, exactamente ao estilo que mais aprecio.
A protagonista é Mizuki, que se vê envolvida numa série de crimes e chega mesmo a confessar ser a assassina. Ainda assim, a sua versão não convence os investigadores. O mangá constrói-se, então, como uma reconstituição dos acontecimentos, procurando perceber se ela é, de facto, quem diz ser.
A leitura flui muito bem, mantendo-nos presos à narrativa e constantemente a virar páginas para descobrir mais.
Resta perceber até onde isto vai, mas, para já, o arranque é bastante promissor. Não tenho a certeza absoluta, mas tudo indica que será uma série curta, com cerca de três volumes, o que também a torna um compromisso bastante acessível.
March 10, 2026
Adabana Vol. 1 is a gripping start to a dark mystery, opening with a shocking confession and slowly unfolding the disturbing truth behind it; the tense courtroom framing, morally complex characters, and haunting art style make it incredibly engaging, even though the story still feels like it’s just setting up something bigger—overall a very solid four-star first volume. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
September 24, 2025
This book is fucking wild. The opening sequence alone is one of the most immediate and shocking hooks in manga. Picture this: A high school student, Mizuki Aikawa, is going through the motions of getting ready for school, her mother is nagging her about grades, she gets dressed, and heads out. But instead of the classroom, she ends up in a police station, drops a knife on the floor, and calmly tells them she cut off her best friend’s head. That sequence, setting the stage for a horrifying confession and a gruesome double murder, takes place in the first 15 pages or so and immediately seizes your attention.
The central mystery is established right away. Mizuki's best friend, Mako Igarashi, is dead, and the confessed killer is her only intimate connection. The rest of the volume operates as a dark, psychological flashback, driven by the testimonies of the confessed killer and the later conflicting evidence gathered by the defense team. As we dive into Mizuki’s past, the story meticulously unravels the grim circumstances the two girls faced. This is a story rooted in dark, current-day themes of exploitation and intense domestic pressure, from Mizuki's oppressive, academic-obsessed mother to Mako's impoverished life and her horrific abuse at the hands of her creepy uncle.
This manga is a great murder mystery, but it's far more than a simple whodunit. It's a suspenseful criminal drama that focuses on the human cost of neglect, where two high school girls, lacking any adult support, become each other's sole lifeline against a cruel world. The narrative brilliantly introduces elements that complicate Mizuki’s confession, from the role of a menacing stalker to the growing suspicion of her defense attorney, Yutaka Tsuji, who is convinced Mizuki is not telling the whole truth. This layering of secrets and the hint that Mizuki is a false narrator makes the case compellingly dark. This is absolutely not for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy visceral dark themes, psychological suspense, and complex murder mysteries, you need to check this out.
The central mystery is established right away. Mizuki's best friend, Mako Igarashi, is dead, and the confessed killer is her only intimate connection. The rest of the volume operates as a dark, psychological flashback, driven by the testimonies of the confessed killer and the later conflicting evidence gathered by the defense team. As we dive into Mizuki’s past, the story meticulously unravels the grim circumstances the two girls faced. This is a story rooted in dark, current-day themes of exploitation and intense domestic pressure, from Mizuki's oppressive, academic-obsessed mother to Mako's impoverished life and her horrific abuse at the hands of her creepy uncle.
This manga is a great murder mystery, but it's far more than a simple whodunit. It's a suspenseful criminal drama that focuses on the human cost of neglect, where two high school girls, lacking any adult support, become each other's sole lifeline against a cruel world. The narrative brilliantly introduces elements that complicate Mizuki’s confession, from the role of a menacing stalker to the growing suspicion of her defense attorney, Yutaka Tsuji, who is convinced Mizuki is not telling the whole truth. This layering of secrets and the hint that Mizuki is a false narrator makes the case compellingly dark. This is absolutely not for the faint of heart, but if you enjoy visceral dark themes, psychological suspense, and complex murder mysteries, you need to check this out.
March 5, 2024
Estuvo bien. Tenía ganas de leer algo psychological y este manga me vino de 10. La historia no me pareció la gran cosa la verdad, aunque el dibujo estuvo muy bueno. Tiene una trama que te atrapa desde el primer capítulo porque queres saber qué carajo pasó, pero siento que el final fue medio raro ¿? como que todo se resolvió demasiado rápido y fue todo muy conveniente como todo salió exactamente como la prota quería... pero bueno.
2.5 de 5 estrellas.
2.5 de 5 estrellas.
October 29, 2025
Review to come at end of series- volume three.
January 4, 2026
3.75⭐️
🔏: Nos encontramos ante un thriller con tintes bastante oscuros. Una adolescente, Mako, aparece 💀 mu3rta y, sorprendentemente, su mejor amiga se entrega en comisaría. Ya os aviso que tiene escenas bastante duras (agresi0n s€xual, descu4rtizar…). Tiene buen ritmo y momentos inesperados.
Aparece un personaje que te hace plantearte otras posibilidades (la verdad que no tengo ni idea de quién puede ser el culpable o cuál el motivo), e intuyo que se descubrirán en las siguientes entregas, ya que el abogado de Mizuki comienza a investigar al no cuadrarle el asunto.
Me ha parecido muy entretenido y adictivo, eso sí, teniendo en cuenta que aparecen temas MUY sensibles con escenas peliagudas. Tengo mil ganas de leer los siguientes y hacerme mis teorías 🤣
🔏: Nos encontramos ante un thriller con tintes bastante oscuros. Una adolescente, Mako, aparece 💀 mu3rta y, sorprendentemente, su mejor amiga se entrega en comisaría. Ya os aviso que tiene escenas bastante duras (agresi0n s€xual, descu4rtizar…). Tiene buen ritmo y momentos inesperados.
Aparece un personaje que te hace plantearte otras posibilidades (la verdad que no tengo ni idea de quién puede ser el culpable o cuál el motivo), e intuyo que se descubrirán en las siguientes entregas, ya que el abogado de Mizuki comienza a investigar al no cuadrarle el asunto.
Me ha parecido muy entretenido y adictivo, eso sí, teniendo en cuenta que aparecen temas MUY sensibles con escenas peliagudas. Tengo mil ganas de leer los siguientes y hacerme mis teorías 🤣
August 11, 2022
BOOK TRIGER WARNING: rape, pedo, suicide, sexual abuse, incest
Me parece muy fuerte que al principio del manga no haya un TW sobre lo que contiene este manga... me ha dejado con muy mal cuerpo porque no leí la contraportada ni nada, si no tenéis problema con ello, es una manga que atrapa y te deja con intriga hasta el final quieres saber como a sucedido todo.
El dibujo y la historia está bien pero si hubiera sabido de los TW no creo que la hubiera leido.
Me parece muy fuerte que al principio del manga no haya un TW sobre lo que contiene este manga... me ha dejado con muy mal cuerpo porque no leí la contraportada ni nada, si no tenéis problema con ello, es una manga que atrapa y te deja con intriga hasta el final quieres saber como a sucedido todo.
El dibujo y la historia está bien pero si hubiera sabido de los TW no creo que la hubiera leido.
May 29, 2024
TW : violence, tentative de viol sur mineur, harcèlement
Un manga thriller assez dur, soyez prévenu.e.s. Tout commence avec le meurtre d'une adolescente ; juste après, sa meilleure amie se livre à la police en avouant être sa meurtrière. Est-ce que c'est vrai ? Quelle est l'histoire ? Qu'est-ce qui peut pousser une jeune fille à un crime de ce type ?
J'ai accroché à l'histoire, j'ai hâte de savoir. Mention particulière pour les dessins, très fins et détaillés.
Un manga thriller assez dur, soyez prévenu.e.s. Tout commence avec le meurtre d'une adolescente ; juste après, sa meilleure amie se livre à la police en avouant être sa meurtrière. Est-ce que c'est vrai ? Quelle est l'histoire ? Qu'est-ce qui peut pousser une jeune fille à un crime de ce type ?
J'ai accroché à l'histoire, j'ai hâte de savoir. Mention particulière pour les dessins, très fins et détaillés.
January 15, 2026
Well... this is weird. I'm like 99% sure that I only kind of liked this, but by the end I really wanted more. hmm... *sigh*
December 6, 2025
Fangen wir mit den guten Punkten an:
Mir gefällt der Zeichenstil und auch das Erzähltempo scheint gut zu sein. Die Story selbst hat auf jeden Fall Potenzial richtig spannend zu werden.
Was ich aber sagen muss: der erste Band war‘s nicht so wirklich. 😅
Also wirklich: die Möglichkeit ist gegeben, aber bisher ist es einfach noch nichts besonderes. Obwohl ich nicht unerwähnt lassen möchte, dass bestimmt nicht alle Szenen für jeden geeignet sind 😅
Ich hoffe, das kommt in den nächsten beiden Bänden. Bis dahin ist es einfach ein solider Start. ☺️
Mir gefällt der Zeichenstil und auch das Erzähltempo scheint gut zu sein. Die Story selbst hat auf jeden Fall Potenzial richtig spannend zu werden.
Was ich aber sagen muss: der erste Band war‘s nicht so wirklich. 😅
Also wirklich: die Möglichkeit ist gegeben, aber bisher ist es einfach noch nichts besonderes. Obwohl ich nicht unerwähnt lassen möchte, dass bestimmt nicht alle Szenen für jeden geeignet sind 😅
Ich hoffe, das kommt in den nächsten beiden Bänden. Bis dahin ist es einfach ein solider Start. ☺️
August 10, 2022
Primo volume già super. Il thriller mi ha già agganciato, ma anche i disegni di NON sono stupendi! Non posso smettere.
December 21, 2024
Brutal.
December 28, 2024
pues muy bueno, buenísimo
November 1, 2022
Sort of OK. At first the inclusion of the stalker felt a bit desperate, and it kind of still is, but whatever. The mystery is interesting I guess, though everything is soaked in cliches you've seen a million times. But hey, one of these every once in a while...
Edit: I changed the rating based on the ending.
Edit: I changed the rating based on the ending.
November 22, 2022
3,5 étoiles
Assez affreux avec de gros TW (notamment une scène de tentative de viol plutôt graphique).
Bon premier tome, c'est très intriguant.
Les dessins sont très beaux mais je suis déçue de constater une espèce de fan service? Genre une planche sur les seins de l'avocate? L'utilité???
Assez affreux avec de gros TW (notamment une scène de tentative de viol plutôt graphique).
Bon premier tome, c'est très intriguant.
Les dessins sont très beaux mais je suis déçue de constater une espèce de fan service? Genre une planche sur les seins de l'avocate? L'utilité???
May 11, 2026
Adabana is a Japanese psychological crime thriller manga series. The story is excellent, and the artwork is stunning. The artist and writer, NON, uses delicate line work to bring the main protagonists to life. I loved this graphic novel and look forward to volume 2.
April 24, 2025
tw :
Un très grand oui.
Un très grand oui.
October 6, 2025
I'm not sure what to think of it but it has a distinct vibe for sure
June 22, 2025
VALORACIÓN: 5 estrellas
Reseña pendiente
Reseña pendiente
October 30, 2025
Very dark and compelling, definitely has that j-horror/noir feel but would be difficult to make into a film. Two more volumes to go, this certainly only feels like the beginning of the story and isn’t complete on its own. But well done as an installment.
November 9, 2025
Harrowing. Can't wait for the next volume.
April 23, 2026
This is such a great and fantastic manga! Just the first chapter was enough to left me on the edge and I had my jaw on the table! Can’t wait for the next volumes
Read
July 8, 20241er tome d'une trilogie. Lu en une traite. Hâte de poursuivre avec le 2 et le 3.
August 24, 2026
je mets 3 étoiles parce que wow c’est dur à lire
tw: v, agressions sexuelles, trafique sexuel, inceste, proxénétisme
tw: v, agressions sexuelles, trafique sexuel, inceste, proxénétisme
September 22, 2025
WOW, I really liked this manga! I actually came across this series completely by chance at a bookstore and decided to give it a shot because of the art and the blurb—which turned out to be a great choice, because the mangaka’s art is SUPERB. I especially love how she draws expressions 😍 And so far, the series handles some pretty heavy topics—like sexual assault, misogyny, stalking, and police negligence—surprisingly well. Also, I’m a sucker for any story focusing on girls’ close relationships (of any kind), so it’s nice to see the manga focus on that as it progresses.
That said, the pacing felt a bit uneven at times, particularly around how certain characters are introduced or developed. And while the story leans on some tropes that feel a little tired (even for a thriller manga), alas... I’m weak for almost everything I just mentioned, so I’ll definitely be checking out Volume 2 when it’s translated/released!
That said, the pacing felt a bit uneven at times, particularly around how certain characters are introduced or developed. And while the story leans on some tropes that feel a little tired (even for a thriller manga), alas... I’m weak for almost everything I just mentioned, so I’ll definitely be checking out Volume 2 when it’s translated/released!
April 22, 2024
Totalement zinzin
Giga trigger warnings sur plein de topics par contre 🥲
Giga trigger warnings sur plein de topics par contre 🥲
March 6, 2023
Mars 2023. Très intriguant ce premier tome. J’ai été happée par ce scénario troublant. Au point d’être mal à l’aise. C’est très prenant. La fin du tome donne terriblement envie de lire la suite.
Un petit quelque chose dans toute cette atmosphère m’empêche de donner un 5, mais c’était très bien.
Un petit quelque chose dans toute cette atmosphère m’empêche de donner un 5, mais c’était très bien.
June 19, 2023
Unexpectantly sad, tragic and shocking story. Good artwork.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews