The manga The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity has surpassed 10 million copies in cumulative circulation, Kodansha announced on the 22nd. The milestone marks a near doubling in just six months, driven largely by the impact of its anime adaptation.

Rapid Growth Driven by Anime Adaptation

As of July, the series stood at 5.6 million copies in circulation. Following the broadcast of the anime, sales surged to nearly twice that figure within half a year. The series has been popular since its debut, and when Volume 1 was released in March 2022, it immediately went into reprint. Initial sales reached 150 percent of expectations, prompting a Kodansha sales representative to comment that such a large scale reprint was highly unusual for a debut series.

The representative also noted strong interest from bookstores seeking prominent in store displays, highlighting that the manga has been selling well among both male and female readers, particularly younger audiences. At the time, there was already optimism that the series had further growth potential and could become a strong contender in future manga award competitions.

From Award Recognition to Explosive Sales

That early optimism proved accurate. The series was subsequently nominated for top positions in numerous manga awards. Circulation figures continued to rise steadily, reaching 3.5 million copies at the time of the anime adaptation announcement in September 2024, 5.6 million copies when the anime began airing in July 2025, and now 10 million copies. The anime, which aired from July through September, contributed significantly to sales, adding 4.4 million copies in just five months.

Reflecting on this growth, the editorial department explained that 2025 became a breakthrough year for the series. Following the anime broadcast, circulation exceeded 8 million copies by October 2025 and reached 10 million copies by December.

Thank You Project for Readers

The editorial team expressed gratitude to readers, stating that the series could not have reached this point without their continued support. As a token of appreciation, a special thank you project has been launched. Prior to the announcement, fans were invited via social media to share messages and personal episodes expressing their gratitude.

Selected messages from readers will be displayed on the Shinjuku Unica Vision, while a promotional video will be shown on the Umeda HEP Front Vision from the 22nd through the 28th.

Story Overview

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity has been serialized on the manga app Magazine Pocket since October 2021. Set in a town where the low ranked all boys Chidori High School stands beside the prestigious all girls Kikyo Girls School, the story follows the delicate and distant relationship between Rintaro Tsumugi, a tough looking student from Chidori High, and Kaoruko Waguri, a student at Kikyo Girls School. Together, they weave a heartfelt youth and school life story centered on two people who are close in distance yet far apart.

Source : ORICON NEWS