First Love Monster

• Name — First Love Monster • Ja Kanji — 初恋モンスター • Ja Romaji — Hatsukoi Monsutā • Genre — Romantic comedy

• Type — manga • Author — Akira Hiyoshimaru • Publisher — Kodansha • Magazine — * Aria (28 January 2013 – 28 November 2016) • Pixiv Comics (3 March 2017 – present) • First — 28 January 2013 • Last — present (on hiatus) • Volumes — 8

• Type — tv series • Director — Takayuki Inagaki • Producer — * Suzuki Renta • Yohei Ito • Writer — * Deko Akao • Sayuri Ooba • Takashi Aoshima • Music — Go Sakabe • Studio — Studio Deen • Network — AT-X, Tokyo MX, KBS, Sun TV, BS11 • First — 2 July 2016 • Last — 17 September 2016 • Episodes — 12 + OVA

• Type — novel • Author — Makoto Nohara • Illustrator — Akira Hiyoshimaru • Publisher — Kodansha • Imprint — KC Deluxe • Published — March 2, 2017 First Love Monster is a Japanese manga series written by Akira Hiyoshimaru. It was first published in Kodansha's manga magazine Aria from 2013 to 2016 and later on the Pixiv Comics starting in 2018. An anime television adaptation aired from July to September 2016.

The story follows 15-year-old Kaho Nikaidō as she leaves home to live in a high school dormitory. Almost getting hit by a truck, she is saved by a boy named Kanade Takahashi. She falls in love with him, only to discover that he is her landlord's son and a fifth grader.

• Kaho Nikaidō: • The main protagonist of the series. Kaho is a 15-year-old girl and falls in love with Kanade after he saves her from an accident. As the spoiled daughter of an elderly rich couple, she has found it difficult to make friends. Whilst she is a perfectly pleasant person she is used to never being criticised or spoken to harshly due to everyone in her home kneeling her family. This is why making true friends not those just interested in her status was hard for her. She is attracted to Kanade initially as he very loudly and angrily tells her off for her carelessness at nearly being run over. This took her aback as it had never happened before. She is not at all boastful despite her wealth and tries to live as normally as possible. • Kanade Takahashi: • A fifth grader and the object of Kaho's affections. He is 10 years old, but looks significantly older. Although he mostly behaves his age, he at times shows mature behaviour, passed on from his deceased mother who serves as his role model. • Tomu Kaneko: • One of Kanade's friends and a delinquent. Like Kanade he's also considerably tall for his age. • Ginjirō Sannomiya: • A grade schooler and another of Kanade's friends. Like Kanade he's also considerably tall for his age. His father is an OB/GYN where he is groomed to follow his father's profession. • Kazuo Noguchi: • Another of Kanade's friends, but of normal size. Contrary to his age, he is far more mature, level-headed and insightful than his peers, to the point that it surprises Kaho and Kanade's circle consider him their leader. He disapproves of their relationship due to their age difference and believing that Kanade only clings to her out of lack of a maternal figure. Despite this he still addresses Kaho respectfully. Since he has a butler it is hinted he comes from a rich family. • Jōji Takahashi: • Kanade's cousin. He has a strong kansai dialect and is one year older than Kanade. Both him and Kanade get along very well. He has an interest on Kaho. • Kōta Shinohara: • A first-year high schooler who was in love with Kaho. He's one of the residents of Kaho's dorm. Due to being a shy individual he's often the victim of many of Kanade's circles stunts, as well as being teased frequently by Chiaki due to his crush on Kaho and his inability to act and being easily scared on several matters. He hides an effeminate face under his bangs. • Atsushi Taga: • A college student and Kaho's rival. He bears an extremely hostile attitude towards Kaho. He claims to be interested in Kanade though as the anime progresses he seems to develop feelings for Kaho. • Arashi Nagasawa: • Kaho's strange neighbor. He likes and collects cute things and is a hardcore fan of the idol Renren. He dates Chiaki who accepts him as he is, although she is often annoyed with his otaku fanaticism. • Daikoku Nikaidō: • Kaho's older brother. He went to America for some time. Despite calling himself a "doting brother" he in fact has a morbid obsession with Kaho, going as far as collect items she has used (such as chopsticks or leftovers) and place them in a plastic bag. • Chiaki Yokōchi: • One of the residents at Kaho's dorm. She is serious and level-headed and often serves as a voice of reason. She finds the relationship between Kaho and Kanade to be amusing and frequently teases Shinohara for his personality. She dates and accepts Arashi despite his weird tendencies. • Mafuyu Hayashi: • One of the residents at Kaho's dorm. While she tends to be composed on the outside, deep down she has a morbid obsession with Shūgo, going as far as stealing his underwears and sniffing them. When noticed or denied her fetish by others, she can enter into a frenzy where she demonstrates animalistic behavior, which cannot be stopped unless she gets what she wants. When provoked she speaks on a deeply foul language. • Shūgo Takahashi: • Kanade's father and the landlord of the dorm. • Yuki Fukaya: • One of Kanade's classmates, who has a crush on him. • Munemitsu Makurazaki: • A butler for Kazuo. • Renren: • An androgynous boy, who is also a cross-dressing idol. He's the object of fanaticism by Arashi, much to Chiaki's chagrin.

First Love Monster is written by Akira Hiyoshimaru, who began publishing the manga in Kodansha's shōjo magazine Aria on 28 January 2013. Its last chapter in the magazine was published on 28 November 2016. On 3 March 2017, the manga started publishing on Pixiv Comics. The manga is licensed for English release in North America by Yen Press.

The limited edition versions of volumes three, four, and five include an audio drama CD.

An anime adaptation of the series was announced in the August issue of Aria. The cast of the audio dramas reprised their roles for the anime. The series aired from July to September 2016. Studio Deen produced the anime, with Takayuki Inagaki directed the series and Mariko Oka designed the characters. The anime has been licensed by Funimation and by Madman Entertainment for streaming. Medialink licensed the series in South and Southeast Asia and streaming this anime in their YouTube channel. The anime ran for 12 episodes, released over 6 Blu-ray and DVD volumes. An OVA episode was bundled with the manga's 8th volume and released on 17 February 2017.

A novel adaptation written by Makoto Nohara and with illustrations and supervision done by Akira Hiyoshimaru, was published by Kodansha on March 2, 2017. The novel also includes the short story Omae no Koto ga Suki Nan Da by doujin author Baku Yumemakurasaki.

A stage play adaptation ran in Shinagawa Prince Hotel's Club eX from March 3 to March 12, 2017. Keita Kawajiri served as director and scriptwriter. The play featured Kokoro Okuda as Kaho Nikaidō, Yoshihiko Aramaki as Kanade Takahashi, Daiki Sagawa as Tomu Kaneko, Yūki Kamisato as Ginjirō Sannomiya, Shane as Kazuo Noguchi, Yūtarō as Kōta Shinohara, Kento Ono as Atsushi Taga, Ryōsei Tanaka as Arashi Nagasawa, Yūta Hoshino as Daikoku Nikaidō, and Naoya Goumoto as Shūgo Takahashi.