, or, is a 2009 Japanese novel by Natsumi Iwasaki. It follows high school girl Minami Kawashima who manages her school's baseball team using Peter Drucker's Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices to rally her dispirited teammates. A 10-episode anime television series by Production I.G aired between April and May 2011. A live-action movie was released in Japan on June 4, 2011.
Plot
The story follows Minami Kawashima who, as a favor to her childhood friend, Yuki Miyata, takes over as manager for the Hodokubo High School Baseball team when Yuki is hospitalized with an illness. With no previous experience managing a team, Minami ends up picking up a copy of Peter Drucker's business management book, Management: Tasks, Responsibilities, Practices, and starts to manage the baseball team like one would manage a business, with the goal of reaching the nationals.
Characters
; Minami Kawashima ; Yuki Miyata ; Makoto Kachi ; Keiichirō Asano ; Jirō Kashiwagi ; Ayano Hōjō ; Jun Hoshide ; Masayoshi Nikai ; Fumiaki Kutsuki ; Yūnosuke Sakurai ; Daisuke Niimi He's the team's secondary pitcher. He often lacks physical strength. He is portrayed by Shota Matsushima in the film. ; Hanae Chin
Media
Novel
The original novel, written by Natsumi Iwasaki with illustrations by Yukiusagi and Bamboo, was published by Diamondosha and released in Japan on December 4, 2009. The novel sold 1.81 million copies during its first year and became the year's bestselling novel in Japan.
Manga
A manga adaptation was launched in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine Super Jump on December 22, 2010. After Super Jump ceased publication in 2011, the manga was transferred to Grand Jump Premium on December 21, 2011. The most recent chapter of the series was published in the magazine's October 2012 issue, published on September 26. The series has been suspended since then. Shueisha compiled the series into three tankōbon volumes, released from May 2, 2011
Anime
In October 2010, the Japanese public broadcasterNHK announced that a 10-episode anime television series based on the novel would begin airing on its network starting in March 2011. Due to the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, the series was delayed from its original airdate and aired between April 25, 2011 and May 6, 2011 instead. Aimed at men and women in their 30s and 40s, the anime series is produced by Production I.G under the direction of Takayuki Hamana. The series' screenplay is by Jun'ichi Fujisaku while Jun Sato composes the music. The opening theme is "Dream Note" performed by azusa and the closing theme is "I Love You" performed by momo.
Episode list
No.
Title
Original air date
Live-action film
A film adaption starring actress Atsuko Maeda as the lead role of Minami Kawashima was released in Japanese theatres on June 4, 2011. Over 30 companies bid for the novel's film rights. It debuted on the 4th position in the Japanese box office with a total gross of US$2,232,675 on its debut weekend. The original soundtrack was released by Sony Music Entertainment on June 1, 2011.
