Boy's Abyss

Boy's Abyss (少年のアビス) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Ryō Minenami. It has been serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine since February 2020, with its chapters collected in 17 volumes as of July 2024. A television drama adaptation aired from September to October 2022.

Plot
Reiji Kurose lives with his brother, his mother, who works as a nurse, and his grandmother in a rural town. He is childhood friends with Sakuko Akiyama. One day, Reiji meets Nagi Aoe, a member of the idol group Acrylic who is working as a convenience store clerk. Nagi tells Reiji of a place in the town known as the "Lover's Abyss", which is claimed to be a place where lovers commit suicide. Reiji and Nagi attempt suicide but fail, and Reiji is rescued by his teacher Yuri Shibasawa, who then vows to protect him.

Characters

 * Reiji Kurose (黒瀬 令児)
 * The main character, who plans on leaving the town but is conflicted by the circumstances he is facing. He considers going to university in Tokyo.
 * The main character, who plans on leaving the town but is conflicted by the circumstances he is facing. He considers going to university in Tokyo.


 * Nagi Aoe (青江 ナギ)
 * A member of the idol group Acrylic, who had gone on hiatus and moved to Reiji's town, where she works as a convenience store clerk. She is married to Kosaku Esemori. Following her suicide attempt, she quits her job and returns to Tokyo to resume her idol activities.
 * A member of the idol group Acrylic, who had gone on hiatus and moved to Reiji's town, where she works as a convenience store clerk. She is married to Kosaku Esemori. Following her suicide attempt, she quits her job and returns to Tokyo to resume her idol activities.


 * Sakuko Akiyama (秋山 朔子)
 * Reiji's childhood friend who studies at a private all-girls' school and is aiming to go to university in Tokyo. She wants to be an author, in particular admiring Esemori's work, and is a fan of the idol group Acrylic. She is nicknamed Chako (チャコ) due to her chubby looks. She offers to be Esemori's editor but later ends the agreement after he attempted to sexually harass her.
 * Reiji's childhood friend who studies at a private all-girls' school and is aiming to go to university in Tokyo. She wants to be an author, in particular admiring Esemori's work, and is a fan of the idol group Acrylic. She is nicknamed Chako (チャコ) due to her chubby looks. She offers to be Esemori's editor but later ends the agreement after he attempted to sexually harass her.


 * Yuri Shibasawa (柴沢 由里)
 * Reiji's teacher who appears to have developed feelings for him and wishes to protect him, to the point of letting him stay at her house. She was a table tennis champion during her high school years.
 * Reiji's teacher who appears to have developed feelings for him and wishes to protect him, to the point of letting him stay at her house. She was a table tennis champion during her high school years.
 * Reiji's teacher who appears to have developed feelings for him and wishes to protect him, to the point of letting him stay at her house. She was a table tennis champion during her high school years.


 * Gen Minegishi (峯岸 玄)
 * Reiji and Sakuko's childhood friend, whose family owns and operates a construction company.
 * Reiji and Sakuko's childhood friend, whose family owns and operates a construction company.


 * Yuko Kurose (黒瀬 夕子)
 * Reiji's mother, who works as a nurse at the local hospital. She separated from Reiji's father prior to the events of the series, and is secretly having sex with Gen's father. She went to the same high school as Esemori and is implied to have had a romantic relationship with him.
 * Reiji's mother, who works as a nurse at the local hospital. She separated from Reiji's father prior to the events of the series, and is secretly having sex with Gen's father. She went to the same high school as Esemori and is implied to have had a romantic relationship with him.


 * Kosaku Esemori (似非森 耕作)
 * A popular author and Nagi's husband, who moved back to his hometown to take care of his mother. He is implied to have had a romantic relationship with Yuko, who went to the same school as him. His real name is Akira Nozoe (野添 旭).
 * A popular author and Nagi's husband, who moved back to his hometown to take care of his mother. He is implied to have had a romantic relationship with Yuko, who went to the same school as him. His real name is Akira Nozoe (野添 旭).

Manga
Written and illustrated by Ryō Minenami, Boy's Abyss began serialization in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump magazine on February 27, 2020. The series is set to end with the release its 183rd chapter. Shueisha has collected its chapters into individual volumes. The first volume was released on July 17, 2020. As of July 18, 2024, seventeen volumes have been released.

In June 2022, Viz Media announced that they licensed the series for English publication.

Drama
A television drama adaptation was announced in July 2022. It was directed by Misato Kato with scripts by Kyoko Inukai and Towa Araki performing the lead role. The series aired for eight episodes on MBS's Drama Tokku programming block from September 2 to October 21, 2022. RIM performed the opening theme "Inner Child" (インナアチャイルド), while SpendyMily performed the ending theme "Iris".

Reception
In 2021, the series was placed eleventh in the 7th Next Manga Award in the print category. By July 2022, the series has over one million copies in circulation.