Journal with Witch

The series follows Makio Kōdai, a reclusive novelist, and Asa Takumi, her orphaned niece who she takes in. A live-action film adaptation was released in June 2024. A 13-episode anime television series adaptation produced by Shuka aired from January to March 2026. The anime adaptation received overwhelmingly positive reviews, with praise for its writing, production value, and exploration of emotional themes; several critics named it as the best series of the season.

Makio Kōdai is a 35-year-old novelist who dislikes social contact. Asa Takumi is Makio's 15-year-old niece left orphaned after her parents die in a car accident. While Makio had a strained relationship with Asa's mother, she takes Asa in after becoming frustrated with how the rest of their extended family treats her as a burden. The two soon begin living together, and although Asa's friendly personality clashes with Makio's reserved nature, they adjust to their new life as Asa works through her grief and Makio tries socializing for the first time in years. At Makio's suggestion, Asa keeps a journal about her daily life and feelings.

Makio Kōdai (高代 槙生, Kōdai Makio) Voiced by: Miyuki Sawashiro Portrayed by: Yui Aragaki A 35-year-old writer who lives alone. She is deeply introverted, and has not communicated with her relatives for a long time due to arguments with her mother and sister. Asa Takumi (田汲 朝, Takumi Asa) Voiced by: Fuko Mori Portrayed by: Ikoi Hayase Makio's teenage niece. She is left without any immediate family to take care of her after the death of her parents. Nana Daigo (醍醐 奈々, Daigo Nana) Voiced by: Eriko Matsui Portrayed by: Kaho Makio's best friend. She has been friends with Makio since their teenage years. Emiri Nara (楢 えみり, Nara Emiri) Voiced by: Sumire Morohoshi Portrayed by: Rina Komiyama Asa's classmate and best friend. They have known each other since elementary school, but briefly lose touch due to Asa's family problems. Asa eventually learns that Emiri is a lesbian and that Emiri is dating a girl who attends the same preparatory classes. Shingo Kasamachi (笠町 信吾, Kasamachi Shingo) Voiced by: Junichi Suwabe Portrayed by: Kōji Seto Makio's former boyfriend. They encounter each other again after Asa moves in. Kyōko Kōdai (高代 京子, Kōdai Kyōko) Portrayed by: Guin-Poon-Chaw Makio's mother and Asa's grandmother. Minori Kōdai (高代 実里, Kōdai Minori) Voiced by: Sayaka Ohara Portrayed by: Yūko Nakamura Asa's mother and Makio's older sister. She and her partner, who never legally married, died in a car crash, leaving Asa orphaned. Kazunari Tōno (塔野 和成, Tōno Kazunari) Voiced by: Takashi Kondō Portrayed by: Shota Sometani A legal representative who oversees Makio's guardianship duties. He appears clumsy and insensitive, but genuinely cares for others. Mimori (三森) Portrayed by: Erika Takizawa A first-year student who attends the band club at Asa's high school. She was picked to perform with the band at a concert while Asa was absent. Chise Morimoto (森本 千世, Morimoto Chise) Portrayed by: Himena Irei A first-year student acquainted with both Asa and Emiri, who aspires to be a doctor. She discovers a scandal involving the medical school she was applying to, and reacts angrily.

Makio's relationship with Asa was the subject of substantial commentary. Yamashita, the manga's author, stated that a theme of the story was how people can never truly understand each other. Yuko Hasada of Quick Japan Web argued that the story depicts Asa becoming more expressive with her feelings, even when they are not necessarily understood. Hasada referenced a scene where Makio affirms Asa's right to feel as she does despite her emotions conflicting with societal norms. Writing for Real Sound, Tomariko suggested that Makio and Asa are connected by their shared separation from society—Makio by choice and Asa by circumstance. Tomariko argued that Makio's role lies not in understanding Asa's feelings, but rather accepting them, and concluded that one of the series's central themes is acknowledging the independence of individuals. Hidekazu Yuki of Nobody Magazine opined that the story differs from other stories regarding different personalities because it respects the characters' mutual differences, rather than depicting them easily getting along or adapting to each other. Similarly, author Hirano Yū felt that the series emphasizes the importance of respecting boundaries and not imposing values on others, as shown by interactions where Makio tries to make Asa understand that feelings are not meant to be judged. In regards to Makio and Asa's dynamic, Caitlin Moore of Anime News Network (ANN) regarded its portrayal as "intertwined, one informing the other, greater than they are individually". Sylvia Jones of the same site argued that the narrative's "big picture" was about the importance of emotional bonds between women in ordinary life.

The story's treatment of grief was widely discussed by critics. Tomariko observed that Asa's initial emotion following her parents' death is anger rather than sadness, attributing this to her complicated relationship with them and newfound need to find her own path in life. Similarly, Shosuke Tanihara of Book Asahi, from the Asahi Shimbun, noted that the narrative focuses on Asa's difficulty processing her emotions in the wake of loss, and argued that the series addresses the challenges of understanding contradictory or unfamiliar feelings. Allyson Johnson of In Between Drafts opined that the anime adaptation's approach provides a deeply intimate depiction of grief, stating that it "capture[s] [the] sensation of murky, clumsy self-realization" that "there are no neat ends". She supported this through the analysis that the story deliberately avoids creating "breakdowns or breakthroughs" solely for "narrative convenience". James Beckett of ANN concurred, arguing that the story is realistically depicted and sidesteps "melodrama" or "showy displays".

Written and illustrated by Tomoko Yamashita, Journal with Witch was serialized in Shodensha's josei manga magazine Feel Young from June 8, 2017, to June 8, 2023. Shodensha collected its chapters in 11 tankōbon volumes, released from November 8, 2017, to August 8, 2023. In July 2026, Penguin Random House's imprint, Inklore, announced during its panel at Anime Expo that it had licensed the manga for English release in North America, with the first volume set to release in Q3 2027.

An anime television series was announced in May 2024. It is produced by Shuka and directed by Miyuki Oshiro, with scripts written by Kōhei Kiyasu, characters designed by Kenji Hayama, and music composed by Kensuke Ushio. It was broadcast from January 4 to March 29, 2026, on BS Asahi's Anime A programming block and other networks. The opening theme song is "Sonare" (ソナーレ), performed by Tomoo, and the ending theme song is "Kotozute" (言伝; lit. 'Hearsay'), performed by Bialystocks. Crunchyroll is streaming the series. Plus Media Networks Asia licensed the series in Southeast Asia and broadcasts it on Aniplus Asia.

In 2019, the manga was nominated for the 12th Manga Taishō and ranked fourth with 45 points; in 2020, it was nominated for the 13th award and ranked tenth with 31 points. On Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga of 2019 for female readers, the series ranked fourth; it ranked tenth on the 2020 list; and fifth on the 2024 list. It ranked 17th in the 2019 Next Manga Award in the print category. The series topped the 2023 "Book of the Year" list by Da Vinci magazine. The series was nominated for the 28th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2024. The anime series won one of the four monthly Galaxy Awards for March 2026.