Confession (Japanese: 告白, Hepburn: Kokuhaku) is a Japanese manga series written by Nobuyuki Fukumoto and illustrated by Kaiji Kawaguchi. It was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Young Magazine Uppers in 1998, with its chapters collected in a single tankōbon volume. A live-action film adaptation premiered in May 2024.

Confession
Tankōbon volume cover, featuring Asai (left) and Ishikura (right)
告白
(Kokuhaku)
Genre
Manga
Written byNobuyuki Fukumoto
Illustrated byKaiji Kawaguchi
Published byKodansha
English publisher
MagazineYoung Magazine Uppers
DemographicSeinen
Published1998
Volumes1
Live-action film
Directed byNobuhiro Yamashita
Written by
Music byMasa Takumi
StudioGaga Corporation
ReleasedMay 31, 2024 (2024-05-31)
Runtime76 minutes
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Plot

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The story follows two friends from the J University mountaineering club, Asai (浅井) and Ishikura (石倉), who are hiking the 3,200-meter peak of Mount Obari. When a storm hits, they become lost, and Ishikura falls and injures his leg. Believing he is about to die, Ishikura confesses to Asai that five years earlier, he murdered a fellow club member, Sayuri Nishida (西田さゆり, Nishida Sayuri), whose death was reported as an accident. Opportunely, Asai spots a nearby lodge and carries Ishikura there, ensuring their survival while they wait for help. However, Ishikura begins to regret his confession. Sensing this, Asai panics, fearing that he too may be killed for knowing Ishikura's crime.

Media

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Manga

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Written by Nobuyuki Fukumoto and illustrated by Kaiji Kawaguchi, Confession was serialized in Kodansha's seinen manga magazine Young Magazine Uppers in 1998.[3][4] Kodansha collected its chapters in a single tankōbon volume, released on July 9, 1999;[5] a shinsōban edition was released on January 23, 2001;[6] and a bunkoban edition was released on December 12, 2007.[7] A new edition was released on April 5, 2024.[8]

In March 2024, Kodansha USA announced that they had licensed the manga for print release, with the volume published on December 17 of the same year.[9][10]

Film

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In January 2024, it was announced that the manga would receive a live-action film adaptation, which premiered on May 31 of the same year. It was produced by Gaga Corporation [ja], directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita, with scripts by Shūji Yuki and Ryō Takada [ja], and music composed by Masa Takumi.[11] It stars Toma Ikuta and Yang Ik-june.[12][13][14] The film's theme song is "Satsui vs. Satsui (Kyohan: Ikuta Tōma) (殺意vs殺意 (共犯:生田斗真), "Murderous Intent vs. Murderous intent, with Accomplice Toma Ikuta"), performed by Maximum the Hormone.[15][16] It was screened at the 28th Fantasia International Film Festival on July 19, 2024.[17]

Reception

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Shuichi Oguro of Kono Manga ga Sugoi! Web wrote that the series "exquisitely matches the extreme situation and abnormal psychology", praising the psychological depiction in the story crafted by Fukumoto.[18] Ettore Gabrielli from Lo Spazio Bianco praised the series for its atmosphere and the tension between the main characters, commending as well Kawaguchi's artwork, recommending it to thriller fans.[19]

References

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  1. ^ 告白 CONFESSION. Mangapedia (in Japanese). Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  2. ^ "Confession". Kodansha USA. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Kokuhaku -CONFESSION-". Kodan Club. Kodansha. Archived from the original on April 19, 2008. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  4. ^ 告白~コンフェッション~ (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on June 18, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  5. ^ 告白 (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on August 17, 2003. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  6. ^ 告白(新装版) (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on August 17, 2003. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  7. ^ 告白 コンフェッション (in Japanese). Kodansha. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  8. ^ 福本伸行×かわぐちかいじ「告白」復刻版、閉ざされた山小屋が舞台の密室サスペンス. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 5, 2024. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  9. ^ Mateo, Alex (March 30, 2024). "Kodansha USA Licenses You Must Be This Tall to Propose!, Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan's Island, More Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 30, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2024.
  10. ^ "Confession". Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  11. ^ ざわ…ざわ…圧倒的に気まずい映画「告白」特別映像、ナレーションは立木文彦. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 13, 2024. Archived from the original on September 6, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  12. ^ 福本伸行×かわぐちかいじ「告白」実写映画化 生田斗真&ヤン・イクチュンがW主演. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 10, 2024. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  13. ^ Pineda, Rafael (January 9, 2024). "Nobuyuki Fukumoto, Kaiji Kawaguchi's CONFESSION Manga Gets Live-Action Film". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  14. ^ 映画「告白 コンフェッション」追い詰められていく浅井を捉えた新規場面写真. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 22, 2024. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  15. ^ 「告白」撮影後にヤン・イクチュンと奈緒が韓国で遊ぶ、生田斗真は「誘われてない…」. Eiga Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 30, 2024. Archived from the original on May 6, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  16. ^ Matsuda, Takuya (June 21, 2024). "In 'Confession,' Toma Ikuta and Yang Ik-june Try to Kill Each Other; But in Real Life They Get Along Like Old Friends". The Japan News. Yomiuri Shimbun. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  17. ^ "Confession". Fantasia International Film Festival. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  18. ^ Shuichi, Oguro (October 3, 2014). 10月3日は登山の日 『告白 コンフェッション』を読もう! 【きょうのマンガ】. Kono Manga ga Sugoi! (in Japanese). Takarajimasha. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  19. ^ Gabrielli, Ettore (June 25, 2015). "Confession – Kokuhaku (Fukumoto, Kawaguchi)". Lo Spazio Bianco (in Italian). Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
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