Minato's Laundromat

Minato's Laundromat (みなと商事コインランドリー) is a Japanese manga series written by Yuzu Tsubaki and illustrated by Sawa Kanzume. It has been serialized on the website Gene Pixiv since December 7, 2019. A live-action television drama adaptation was broadcast from July 7, 2022, to September 22, 2022, with a second season set to premiere in July 2023.

Plot
Akira Minato, a man in his 30s, quits his office job in Tokyo and returns to his hometown to take over his grandfather's laundromat, Minato's Laundromat. When Shintaro Katsuki, a high school student, appears at the laundromat one day, Akira develops an odd friendship with him. However, when Akira accidentally reveals to Shintaro that he is gay, Shintaro begins to pursue him romantically.

Characters

 * Akira Minato (湊 晃)
 * Akira is a former salaryman in his 30s who returns to his hometown to take over his grandfather's laundromat.
 * Akira is a former salaryman in his 30s who returns to his hometown to take over his grandfather's laundromat.


 * Shintaro Katsuki (香月 慎太郎)
 * Shintaro is a second-year high school student.
 * Shintaro is a second-year high school student.


 * Sakurako Katsuki (香月 桜子)
 * Sakurako is Shintaro's younger sister.
 * Sakurako is Shintaro's younger sister.


 * Asuka Hanabusa (英 明日香)
 * Asuka is Shintaro's classmate. His family owns a fish shop that Akira frequents and has known him since childhood.
 * Asuka is Shintaro's classmate. His family owns a fish shop that Akira frequents and has known him since childhood.


 * Takayuki Sakuma (佐久間 孝之)
 * Mr. Sakuma is a former teacher at Keyaki High School and Akira's first love.
 * Mr. Sakuma is a former teacher at Keyaki High School and Akira's first love.


 * Shu Sakuma (佐久間 柊)
 * Shu is Mr. Sakuma's younger brother who teaches part-time at a cram school.
 * Shu is Mr. Sakuma's younger brother who teaches part-time at a cram school.

Manga
From April 1, 2019, through May 15, 2019, Kadokawa Corporation held a contest titled "Light-hearted Romance BL Manga Original Work" through Pixiv, where the winners would be able to have their work be adapted into a manga series. On April 6, 2019, Yuzu Tsubaki posted a story titled Wash My Heart! on Pixiv and submitted it to the contest. The entry won 2nd place, and it was later picked it up for a manga serialization under the title Minato Shōji Coin Laundry, with Sawa Kazume providing the illustrations. It has been serialized digitally on Gene Pixiv since December 7, 2019. The chapters were later released in four bound volumes by Kadokawa under the Gene Pixiv Series imprint.

On April 7, 2023, Yen Press announced at Sakura-Con that they had licensed the series for North American distribution in English.

Novels
Tsubaki's original novels were later compiled and given a physical release by Kadokawa, with Sanzume providing the novels' illustrations.

Drama CD
An audio drama adaptation was released onto CD, available as a bonus with the August 2021 issue of Weekly Comic Gene that was released on July 15, 2021. The audio drama stars Seiichiro Yamashita as Akira and Nobunaga Shimazaki as Shintaro.

Television drama
A live-action television drama adaptation of Minato's Laundromat was announced on March 21, 2022. The series premiered on July 7, 2022 on TV Tokyo and the streaming service Paravi. The first season was directed by Junichi Kanai, Hiroaki Yuasa, and Yuka Eda. Kanai also wrote the script with Subaru Yamashita and Rima Kitaki. Yukitoshi Komatsu was credited as the producer.

The drama adaptation stars Bullet Train member Takuya Kusakawa as Akira and Sho Nishigaki as Shintaro. The supporting cast includes Seiji Fukushi as Takayuki Sakuma, Yu Inaba as Shu Sakuma, Tomoya Oku as Asuka Hanabusa, and Hana Toyoshima as Sakurako Katsuki. Sayuri Inoue was later cast as Saki Machida, an original character for the TV drama who serves as Akira's former roommate and ex-girlfriend. The opening theme is "Gyutto" by Chō Tokimeki Sendenbu and the ending theme is "Tsuitachi" by Kaeri no Kai.

A second season was announced on April 23, 2023, and is set to premiere in July 2023. Kanai returned to direct the series, while Hitomi Yamashita and Ryo Kawasaki were added as new co-directors.

Reception
Minato's Laundromat was ranked 10th in the Web Manga General Election 2020. It was later ranked 1st in the 2023 edition.