Land of the Lustrous | |
宝石の国 (Hōseki no Kuni) | |
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Genre | |
Manga | |
Written by | Haruko Ichikawa |
Published by | Kodansha |
English publisher | |
Magazine | Monthly Afternoon |
Demographic | Seinen |
Original run | October 25, 2012 – present |
Volumes | 12 |
Anime television series | |
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Land of the Lustrous (Japanese: 宝石の国, Hepburn: Hōseki no Kuni, lit. "Country of Jewels") is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Haruko Ichikawa. It is published by Kodansha in Monthly Afternoon magazine since October 2012, with its chapters collected in twelve tankōbon volumes as of November 2022. Set in a world inhabited by "jewel people", it chronicles their efforts to find the place where they belong and defend their way of life. A 3D anime television series adaptation by Orange aired between October and December 2017.
Land of the Lustrous is set in a far, distant future where the Earth had been struck six times by meteorites, ravaging it in the process. All of the remaining land was reduced to a single coast, whereas nearly all life was destroyed. Over vast stretches of time, a new race of sentient lifeforms emerged; immortal jewels that take the form of people. Phosphophyllite (Phos) is weak (with one of the lowest hardnesses) and considered useless by their peers. Phos asks their aloof but wise colleague Cinnabar for help after they receive an assignment to create a natural history encyclopedia, thus beginning their friendship and personal growth. Meanwhile, the "jewel people" are at war with the Lunarians (Moon people) who want to take advantage of their luxury value.
Written and illustrated by Haruko Ichikawa, Land of the Lustrous started in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Monthly Afternoon magazine on October 25, 2012.[4] In December 2020, it was announced that the manga would enter on hiatus.[5] The series resumed publication in June 2022.[6][7] In October 2023, it was announced that the series would enter on hiatus again until 2024.[8] Kodansha has collected its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was released on July 23, 2013, with a promotional video by Studio Hibari released on the same day.[9][10] As of November 22, 2022, twelve volumes have been released.[11]
Kodansha Comics announced during their 2016 New York Comic Con panel that they have licensed the manga in North America in English.[12] The first volume was released on June 27, 2017.[13]
Main article: Land of the Lustrous (TV series) |
An anime television series adaptation aired in Japan between October 7 and December 23, 2017.[42][3][43] Takahiko Kyōgoku directed the series at the Orange CG animation studio. Toshiya Ono wrote series scripts and Yōichi Nishikawa created the concept art.[44] Asako Nishida designed the characters. The opening theme is "Kyōmen no Nami" (鏡面の波, The Waves on the Mirror's Surface) by Yurika[45] and the ending theme is "Kirameku Hamabe" (煌めく浜辺, Sparkling Beach) by Yuiko Ōhara.[46] Sentai Filmworks have licensed the series and streamed the anime on Anime Strike.[47] MVM Films has licensed the series in the UK.[48] The series ran for 12 episodes, which was released across six DVD and Blu-ray sets in Japan.[49]
Land of the Lustrous was number 10 on the Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of top 20 Manga for Male Readers in 2014.[50] It was number 48 on the 15th Book of the Year list by Da Vinci magazine in 2014;[51] and 46 on the 20th edition in 2020.[52] It was nominated for the eighth Manga Taishō award in 2015.[53] The series ranked 19th in the first Next Manga Award in the print manga category.[54]
By October 2017, Land of the Lustrous had over 1.4 million copies in circulation.[55] By April 2018, the manga had over 1.8 million copies in circulation.[56] The first volume of the manga series reached the 47th place on the weekly Oricon manga chart and, as of July 27, 2013, has sold 21,204 copies;[57] volume 2 reached the 35th place;[58] and, as of February 2, 2014, has sold 44,511 copies;[59] volume 3 reached the 30th place;[60] and, as of August 31, 2014, has sold 56,765 copies.[61]