Afro Tanaka

Afro Tanaka (アフロ田中) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masaharu Noritsuke. It follows a 24-year-old Afro-haired young man named Hiroshi Tanaka who falls in love for the first time. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Big Comic Spirits since 2001, spawning six series. A live action film adaptation premiered in February 2012.

Manga
The Afro Tanaka series, written and illustrated by Masaharu Noritsuke, has been serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Big Comic Spirits since December 3, 2001. It has been divided into seven parts:
 * Kōkō Afro Tanaka (高校アフロ田中) (2001–2004, 10 volumes)
 * Chūtai Afro Tanaka (中退アフロ田中) (2004–2007, 10 volumes)
 * Jōkyō Afro Tanaka (上京アフロ田中) (2007–2010, 10 volumes)
 * Sasurai Afro Tanaka (さすらいアフロ田中) (2010–2013, 10 volumes)
 * Shiawase Afro Tanaka (しあわせアフロ田中) (2015–2018, 10 volumes)
 * Kekkon Afro Tanaka (結婚アフロ田中) (2018–2021, 10 volumes)
 * My Home Afro Tanaka (マイホーム アフロ田中) (2022–present)

Film
A film directed by Daigo Matsui, based on Jōkyō Afro Tanaka story was released on February 18, 2012, by Showgate. The theme song of the film is "Yoru wo Koete" by Tsuru. Afro Tanaka was released in DVD and Blu-ray by Happinet on August 2, 2012. The film also spawned a spin-off, a 10-episodes mini-drama entitled Hōkago Afro Tanaka.

Reception
The Afro Tanaka manga has sold 3.6 million units in Japan as of May 2013. In 2008, the third manga series, Jōkyō Afro Tanaka, was nominated in the manga category at the 12th Japan Media Arts Festival Awards. The film debuted at number 10 in Japanese theaters. Afro Tanaka grossed over $1.8 million in Japan.