RuriDragon

RuriDragon (ルリドラゴン) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masaoki Shindo. It was originally a one-shot published in Shueisha's Jump Giga magazine in December 2020, before being serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump starting in June 2022. Following an indefinite hiatus, the series was moved to Weekly Shōnen Jump's digital version and the Shōnen Jump+ service in April 2024. Its chapters have been collected into a single tankōbon volume as of October 2022.

Premise
Ruri Aoki wakes up one day and notices that horns started growing from her head. When asked about it, her mother reveals that she is actually a half-dragon. Despite this revelation, Ruri tries to continue living a normal life, though it is more challenging than she thought.

Publication
Written and illustrated by Masaoki Shindo, RuriDragon was initially a one-shot published in Shueisha's Jump Giga magazine on December 28, 2020. It began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump on June 13, 2022. On August 1, 2022, Weekly Shōnen Jump announced that the series would go on indefinite hiatus due to Shindo's health. The first tankōbon volume was released on October 4, 2022.

On February 21, 2024, it was announced that RuriDragon would resume its serialization, publishing five chapters in Weekly Shōnen Jump from March 4 to April 1, before moving to a biweekly schedule in the magazine's digital version and the Shōnen Jump+ service starting on April 22.

Viz Media and Shueisha's Manga Plus platform are publishing the series digitally in English. In May 2024, Viz Media announced that it would release the manga in print format starting in Q2 2025.

Chapters not yet in tankōbon format
These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume.

Other media
A voice comic adaptation of the one-shot and the first three chapters was released, featuring Chiaki Omigawa as the voice of Ruri Aoki. In July 2022, a set of digital stickers based on the series was released in the instant messaging service Line.

Reception
By October 2022, RuriDragon had 200,000 copies in circulation. The first volume sold 74,874 copies during its first week of release, ranking seventh on Oricon's weekly manga chart. The manga ranked first in the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2023" survey answered by bookstore clerks in Japan, who described the series as "a warm story that accepts diversity without hesitation". RuriDragon was also nominated in the 2023 eBookJapan Manga Award. The series ranked ninth in the 2024 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga for male readers, tying with Suna no Miyako. It is nominated in the Web Manga category of the 2024 Next Manga Awards.

The first chapter received positive reviews from Japanese readers, who found the art "cute" and said that the story's loose atmosphere is not typical of a Jump manga. Brian Salvatore of Multiversity Comics praised the art and tone for approaching the juxtaposition between Ruri and her surroundings in a way that balances comedy and absurdity, adding that the way the story unfolds "seems natural to 'real' life". Chanmei of Real Sound (website) described RuriDragon as "a book that will make you want to think about the kindness and love of those around you". Writing for GamesRadar+, Austin Wood praised the manga for its "clean art and stellar expressions" and how it approaches its fantasy premise, adding that its setting, pacing, and main character are a stand out within Shōnen Jump's lineup.