A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics

A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics (変人のサラダボウル) is a Japanese light novel series written by Yomi Hirasaka and illustrated by Kantoku. The story takes place in Gifu, where Hirasaka comes from. It began publication in October 2021 under Shogakukan's Gagaga Bunko imprint. As of July 2024, seven volumes have been released. A manga adaptation illustrated by Kōtarō Yamada has been serialized in Shogakukan's Sunday Webry website since September 2022, with its chapters collected into five tankōbon volumes as of June 2024. An anime television series adaptation produced by SynergySP and Studio Comet aired from April to June 2024.

Plot
When the Ofim Empire falls in a rebellion, Princess Sara Da Odin and her knight Livia Do Udis escape through a portal to Earth, but are separated. Sara is taken in by the detective Sōsuke Kaburaya while Livia becomes a homeless person. Sara assists Sōsuke in his cases with some eccentric clients.

Characters

 * Sōsuke Kaburaya (鏑矢 惣助)
 * A 29-year-old private detective who operates an agency in Gifu. Sara ends up living with him and assisting him in his work. His real last name is Kusanagi (草薙) and he is the son of Isao, a veteran private detective.
 * A 29-year-old private detective who operates an agency in Gifu. Sara ends up living with him and assisting him in his work. His real last name is Kusanagi (草薙) and he is the son of Isao, a veteran private detective.


 * Sara Da Odin (サラ・ダ・オディン)
 * A 13-year-old princess from another world who ends up living with Sōsuke. She can use magic. She becomes a fan of Case Closed. Over time she starts thinking of Sōsuke like a surrogate father, and eventually revealed to have fallen in love with him due to his kindness. Her new name is Sara Kusanagi (草薙 沙羅). She later transfers to an elementary school, much to her friend Yuna's chagrin since they would not be going to the same school.
 * A 13-year-old princess from another world who ends up living with Sōsuke. She can use magic. She becomes a fan of Case Closed. Over time she starts thinking of Sōsuke like a surrogate father, and eventually revealed to have fallen in love with him due to his kindness. Her new name is Sara Kusanagi (草薙 沙羅). She later transfers to an elementary school, much to her friend Yuna's chagrin since they would not be going to the same school.


 * Livia Do Udis (リヴィア・ド・ウーディス)
 * A knight who protected Sara in the other world. After finding herself in Japan, she initially lives a homeless life while trying to find Sara before becoming Noa's roommate. Here she is reunited with Sara. She reunites with Sara and lands a job as an assistant at Sosuke's agency, but is immediately fired after struggling. She gains a taste for eating grasshoppers. She would go on to join Puriketsu's reformed band as a guitarist.
 * A knight who protected Sara in the other world. After finding herself in Japan, she initially lives a homeless life while trying to find Sara before becoming Noa's roommate. Here she is reunited with Sara. She reunites with Sara and lands a job as an assistant at Sosuke's agency, but is immediately fired after struggling. She gains a taste for eating grasshoppers. She would go on to join Puriketsu's reformed band as a guitarist.


 * Puriketsu (プリケツ)
 * She is an aspiring musician who started out being the vocalist of the band Setsuko, That Ain't the Drop before it was disbanded. She formerly worked at a cabaret club that Livia briefly worked at before it was shut down. Later on, she reforms her band with Livia and Noa as members. Her real name is Asumi Yumisahi (弓指 明日美).
 * She is an aspiring musician who started out being the vocalist of the band Setsuko, That Ain't the Drop before it was disbanded. She formerly worked at a cabaret club that Livia briefly worked at before it was shut down. Later on, she reforms her band with Livia and Noa as members. Her real name is Asumi Yumisahi (弓指 明日美).


 * Noa Minakami (皆神 望愛)
 * A 22-year-old woman who is the leader of a cult. She develops an obsession for Livia after meeting her. She is also the songwriter for Puriketsu's reformed band. Her real name is Noa Kinoshita (木下 望愛).
 * A 22-year-old woman who is the leader of a cult. She develops an obsession for Livia after meeting her. She is also the songwriter for Puriketsu's reformed band. Her real name is Noa Kinoshita (木下 望愛).


 * Brenda Aisaki (愛崎 ブレンダ)
 * A lawyer who frequently works with Sōsuke. Despite her appearance, she is actually 34 years old, making her older than him. She is in love with Sosuke.
 * A lawyer who frequently works with Sōsuke. Despite her appearance, she is actually 34 years old, making her older than him. She is in love with Sosuke.


 * Yuna Naganawa (永縄 友奈)
 * A middle school student who becomes friends with Sara after she and Sosuke helped resolve her bullying problems.
 * A middle school student who becomes friends with Sara after she and Sosuke helped resolve her bullying problems.


 * Haruka Neya (閨 春花)
 * A detective who worked under Sosuke before he left the agency. She is in love with Sosuke.
 * A detective who worked under Sosuke before he left the agency. She is in love with Sosuke.


 * Isao Kusanagi (草薙 勲)
 * He is Sōsuke's father and a veteran detective.
 * He is Sōsuke's father and a veteran detective.


 * Takeo (タケオ)
 * A homeless delinquent who often tricks Livia into doing odd jobs, such as becoming a hostess and a scalper. His real name is Masatake Ozeki (尾關 正武). A public security policeman who pretends to be a well-connected gangster in the underworld. Investigate criminal organizations active in the city, and sometimes gain the trust of members as accomplices in crime.
 * A homeless delinquent who often tricks Livia into doing odd jobs, such as becoming a hostess and a scalper. His real name is Masatake Ozeki (尾關 正武). A public security policeman who pretends to be a well-connected gangster in the underworld. Investigate criminal organizations active in the city, and sometimes gain the trust of members as accomplices in crime.


 * Suzuki (鈴木)
 * A homeless man that Livia used to live with before she found her current community. His real name is Akira Suzukiri (鈴切 章).
 * A homeless man that Livia used to live with before she found her current community. His real name is Akira Suzukiri (鈴切 章).

Light novel
Written by Yomi Hirasaka and illustrated by Kantoku, A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics began its publication on October 19, 2021, under Shogakukan's Gagaga Bunko imprint. As of July 2024, seven volumes have been released.

Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Kōtarō Yamada began serialization on Shogakukan's Sunday Webry website on September 27, 2022. It also began serialization in Shogakukan's Monthly Sunday Gene-X magazine on November 17 of the same year. The first tankōbon volume was released on February 10, 2023. As of June 2024, five volumes have been released.

Anime
An anime television series adaptation was announced on July 6, 2023. It will be produced by SynergySP and Studio Comet and directed by Masafumi Satō, with scripts written by Yomi Hirasaka and Kenichi Yamashita, characters designed by Kazuhiro Fukuchi, and music composed by Misaki Umase, Tsugumi Tanaka, and Hanae Nakamura. The series aired from April 5 to June 21, 2024, on TBS and other networks. The opening theme song is "Gifu-ni-ted" (ギフにテッド), performed by Wanuka, while the ending theme song is "Konban no Kenka" (今晩の喧嘩), performed by Meiyo Densetsu. Crunchyroll licensed the series.

Reception
In the 2023 edition of Takarajimasha's annual light novel guide book Kono Light Novel ga Sugoi!, A Salad Bowl of Eccentrics ranked 22nd in the bunkobon category, and 11th in the new work category.