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Kikuri Hiroi can be one of those scene-stealing characters in both the Bocchi the Rock anime and manga adaptations. While the series tends to focus on Kessoku Band like Hitori, Ikuyo, Nijika, and Ryo, this funny and flawed ing cast member with moments of depth is a standout too. Though since she is an alcoholic and has plenty of vices, the enjoyment someone gets out of the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary spin-off manga will vary depending on how much you like her and the original series.

Editors Note: There will be some mild spoilers for early parts of volume 1 of the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary manga.  1x4170

While the original Bocchi the Rock is a four-koma series that gradually builds on the story of Kessoku band in strips that also can sometimes stand on their own, the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary side story manga follows a more traditional format as it looks at Sick Hack’s singer and bass player. While it starts by bringing up Kikuri’s talents and how adept bandmates Eliza Shimizu and Shima Iwashita are, it also quickly establishes she is no angel and shows a copy trying to reason with her when she’s in a full drunken “incorrigible alcoholic”moment. 

It’s a stark introduction to two facets of her personality, and the first chapter continues to emphasize that. She gets so drunk after a sold-out Yokohama Arena show that she winds up blackout drunk in Kanazawa. While Eliza and Shima clearly respect her talents enough to perform and be in Sick Hack with her, neither is going to come and pick her up and they also definitely knew she probably wouldn’t make the fireworks show they were going to go to. People in the bar she winds up in think she’s exaggerating about her indie band being popular and talents, due to the fact she walks in drunk and keeps drinking. But then actual fans recognize her, ask to meet her, and her story. Kikuri gets carried away and offers to cover folks’ tabs, blowing through her money and winding up alone and broke at a shrine with a stray cat and huge bottle of cheap booze. 

What I appreciate is that Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary sort of feels like a different type of slice-of-life manga. It’s still going through an indie rocker’s daily life. We get a different perspective. But it doesn’t lock the story into a comedic or dramatic tone, and it establishes that from the outset. Because while this chapter starts out funny, as we see her deal with her drunkenness, not being able to convince people for a ride, and come to with spending almost all of her money as she’s carried away on fan adoration, that quickly turns darker. By the end of the chapter, she’s entered her infamous Spiral of Happiness, which sees her dealing with any discomfort or pain by getting so drunk that she gets “happy” and numb. 

And we see this continue throughout this spin-off. Kikuri reaches a high point, usually a performance of sorts or something dealing with her talents resulting in a win for Sick Hack or her personally. But then something happens to swiftly bring her down. It could be recklessly spending money that could have ed her for a month or longer. Maybe it’s getting so carried away in the moment that she trashes expensive equipment that belonged to a club. While we see people around her, such as Eliza and even Shima, do care in their own ways and offer different sorts of s, there’s a constant cycle that makes it both occasionally amusing and a fascinating analysis of her as a character. However, because Kikuri is a drunk, I could see it being painful or difficult for some people to read, especially when it can seem like she isn’t thinking about consequences or considering others.

So if someone really likes the original series or is interested in the character, I feel like the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary manga can be interesting supplemental reading. But if someone has experiencing being in a role like Shima or being around someone like that, I think it might be a difficult read. Especially when moments come up when Kikuri or other people do get serious.

Volume 1 of Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary is available now, and Yen Press will release volume 2 of the manga on September 23, 2025. The company also handles the Bocchi the Rock manga. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post Bocchi the Rock Side Story Manga Is Great for Kikuri Hiroi Fans appeared first on Siliconera.

All of the volumes of the Bocchi the Rock manga so far have been good at chronicling the development of both Hitori Gotoh and Kessoku Band! Entries have been funny and touching in equal measure. However with volume 4 of Bocchi the Rock, it really feels like the anticipation and potential is growing beyond what we — or our heroines — expected ahead of Unidentified Riot. 

Editor’s Note: There will be some minor spoilers for volume 4 of the Bocchi the Rock manga below.  585i5s

When you think about it, Bocchi the Rock features a ton of development in very few volumes. The first one focuses on Hitori meeting Ikuyo, Nijika, Ryo. The four end up vibing together and becoming Kessoku Band. To think by the end of the third volume, they’re already candidates for the Unidentified Riot music festival. It’s a lot! So when the fourth volume rolls around, it’s a bit of a mystery for those who might not be following the anime or spoiling themselves. Will they make it? Are they already good and popular enough? Will it instead be a harsh lesson? It’s a lot to consider! 

Especially since, as this volume of the Bocchi the Rock manga begins, everyone is a bit uncertain of themselves. Hitori is even considering her more popular to promote Kessoku, but decides against it. It’s only after an encounter with SIDEROS’ and playing with them that her, and perhaps our view as a readers, changes. Which means by the next few pages, they’ve jumped up to 28th place and placed high enough in the online poll. We get to revel in their success, and then savor the girls also enjoying themselves by bonding, shopping, and hanging out together. It’s such a lovely pay-off. 

Which honestly, I felt put me in an even better for the trial show portion of this story arc. Because again, there’s this stress and anxiety. How will they do during the trial? Will the crowd and judges like them? Do they make it to the finals? It’s an exciting and tense volume, to be sure. But the thing is, due to the brisk nature of the series, fun personalities coming together, and great development as we see everyone interact, it never feels bad or uneasy. Like if the best happens, we know Kessoku Band deserved it. If not, then because of the build up throughout this volume and previous ones, we know Hitori, Ikuyo, Nijika, and Ryo are getting strong enough as individuals and a group to take it and keep moving forward.

Like for those of us who have been following Bocchi the Rock for a while, both the anime and manga, we know the successes that lie ahead for Hitori, Ikuyo, Nijika, Ryo, and Kessoku Band. But there’s still something so special about these early stages. We’re seeing how much people believe in them! We’re understanding even the early impressions their performances have on fans! It’s exciting to see their hard work begin to pay off, as well as lead to hints about what could lie in their future. 

Bocchi the Rock volume 4 is available now, and Yen Press will release the fifth installment of the manga on November 19, 2024. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post The Bocchi the Rock Manga Excels at Building Excitement appeared first on Siliconera.

Onkyo will start selling Japanese sake (Onikoroshi to be precise) featuring Kikuri Hiroi from Bocchi the Rock. The sake was matured while listening to SICK HACK’s “Watashi Dake Yuurei,” which was an insert song from the anime series.

You can get an Onikoro Cup Sake set for 2880 JPY ($18.90). This set will come with a 300 ml cup of sake that “listened” to “Watashi Dake Yuurei,” a 180 ml carton of normal Onikoroshi, and a cloth bag featuring Kikuri. Onkyo included two different types of Onikoroshi sake so you can compare the tastes. Something you want to keep in mind is that sake from a carton and sake from a cup already taste different. So if you think that the Bocchi the Rock sake tastes better, you should also consider the different container you're drinking from.

According to Onkyo, a banana-like fragrance emerged from the sake during the fermentation process. This was quite interesting to them, as the yeast they used shouldn't produce that kind of flavor. The end product has a sharp bitter flavor, yet remains refreshing. It believes that this is all thanks to the vibration technology it used during the process.

Other items you can get are:

• Apron: 3000 JPY
• Face towel: 1500 JPY
• Masu: 1000 JPY
• Tokkuri & ochoko (flask and small sake cup): 3000 JPY
• T-shirt: 2000 JPY

All of the items will appear on sale from August 2, 2024. While Onkyo does offer international shipping, you need to check to make sure if alcohol can even make it out of Japan and to your country.

Onkyo is a brand that specializes in lifestyle goods and alcohol. It’s known for its gimmick of aging alcohol while letting it “listen” to music. In the past, for example, it sold wines that listened to the soundtrack of NieR Automata Ver1.1a. The idea is that the soundwaves traveling through the liquid will impart a different depth or flavor profile.

Bocchi the Rock is readily available to watch on Crunchyroll. The sake that "listened" to "Watashi Dake Yuurei" from Bocchi the Rock will be available for purchase from August 2, 2024.

The post Sake That Listened to Bocchi the Rock Song Features Kikuri appeared first on Siliconera.

Crunchyroll announced more people will be able to see the Bocchi the Rock Cloverworks anime series on a bigger screen, as the two recap movies are heading to North American theaters. There’s no release window for Bocchi the Rock: Theater Compilation Re: or Bocchi the Rock! Theater Compilation Re:Re: yet. However, Crunchyroll did note it will offer new insights at Anime Expo 2024 alongside other announcements.

There are no dates or further details about when they’ll appear. However, part of this could be due to the fact that these Bocchi the Rock movies that cover what happened in the anime haven’t aired in Japan yet. These summarize the events of the series, with the first part launching on June 7, 2024. Presumably, that covers Hitori Gotoh finally getting to Kessoku Band. The second part, which debuts in Japan on August 9, 2024, will likely go over more of her journey with bandmates Nijika Ijichi, Ikuyo Kita, and Ryo Yamada.

For an idea of how that will look, here’s the trailer from when the anime adaptation launched.

As for the other Crunchyroll Anime Expo 2024 announcements and appearances regarding shows. Some s involve episode premieres or early looks at footage, while others offer insights into development or other news. Here’s what to expect and when:

• After-school Hanako-kun episode 5 early premiere - 8:30pm PT on July 4, 2024
• Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian season 1 episode 1 early screening - 7:15pm PT on July 4, 2024 
• Arifureta season 3 episodes 2-4 previews - 10am PT on July 5, 2024
• Black Butler: Public School Arc - 2pm PT on July 6, 2024
• Bocchi the Rock - 8pm PT on July 5, 2024
• Jujutsu Kaisen - 10am PT on July 7, 2024
• MF Ghost season 2 episode 1 early premiere - 8:30pm PT on July 4, 2024
• Narenare: Cheer for You season 1 episode 1 early premiere - 8:30pm PT on July 4, 2024
• No Longer Allowed in Another World season 1 episode 1 early screening - 7:15pm PT on July 4, 2024
• One Piece Egghead Arc episodes 1090 and 1091 English dub premiere - 11:30am PT on July 5, 2024
• Overlord: The Sacred Kingdom - 10:30am PT on July 6, 2024
• Quality Assurance in Another World season 1 episode 1 early premiere - 8:30pm PT on July 4, 2024
• Re:Zero season 3 episode 1 premiere - 5pm PT on July 5, 2024
• Senpai is an Otokonoko episode 1 early premiere - 10am PT on July 4, 2024
• To Be Hero X special premiere - 6:45pm PT on July 4, 2024
• Tower of God season 2 episode 1-2 premiere - 5:45pm PT on July 6, 2024
• Trigun Stampede - 4pm PT on July 4, 2024
• Witch Hat Atelier - 5:30pm PT on July 4, 2024 

Bocchi the Rock: Theater Compilation Re: and Bocchi the Rock! Theater Compilation Re:Re: will come to movie theaters in North America. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll. Yen Press handles the manga outside Japan. Anime Expo 2024 runs July 4-7, 2024.

The post Bocchi the Rock Recap Movies Head to North America Theaters appeared first on Siliconera.

We’ve seen how manga about bands go before. Typically, the first volume will focus on the group’s foundation. It might be more of an ensemble situation, where everyone gets their moment, or one where a specific character stands out. While volume 1 of Yen Press’ Bocchi the Rock manga does include introductions to fellow like Nijika Ichiji, Ryo Yamada, and Ikuyo Kita, Hitori “Bocchi” Gotoh is the star, and you never forget it as you go through the yonkoma collection. 

Of course, there are many reasons why it feels like the first volume is all about understanding and growing to appreciate Hitori. We’re introduced to her when she’s a middle schooler and sees music as a way to get close to people and connect, even if they are introverted and dealing with anxiety. We watch as she practices with her father’s guitar and gradually becomes an actually irable guitarist. So much so that she posts covers under the name Guitar Hero online and has a sizable fanbase. 

However, she has issues connecting. Early s show her loading herself up with merchandise and carrying her guitar, hoping it will inspire other people to approach her since she’s too shy to do so herself. Except in some cases, it inspires an opposite situation and puts people off. So much so that when the situation she wanted to happen — someone approaching her because she was carrying a guitar and asking her to be in their band — she’s speechless. Her own anxiety gets to her, even though Nijika Ichiji is perfectly friendly. Fortunately, because Nijika is the kind of person she is, she basically takes Hitori’s silence as a “yes,” which in turn gives her the chance to make her dream come true. 

Once Hitori Gotoh meets Nijika and Ryo, things essentially cascade. However, even when Nijika and Ryo Yamada are in the picture and leading things along, “Bocchi” essentially captures all the attention in the Bocchi the Rock manga. Even though she’s getting a chance to play for the first time with them, for example, her hiding in the “burnables” trash and calling it her home makes you focus on her reactions, her identifiable anxieties, and responses. When she performs with Kessoku Band for the first time, it is from inside a Ripe, Juicy Mangoes box, which is distracting. 

It also helps that, even in the first volume of the Bocchi the Rock manga, we see Hitori Gotoh make progress when it comes to dealing with people and being in public. It’s because of her that Ikuyo Kita is brought into the band. Ikuyo ends up approaching her in sort of the same way Nijika did and for the reasons Bocchi always wanted in the introduction. She saw her playing and approached her. She ends up being drafted into helping Ikuyo learn guitar, even, and brings her back into Kessoku after Ikuyo lied and ran away. By the end, we’re even seeing her busking, managing to sell tickets, and performing, something that might have seemed unlikely for her at the beginning of the volume.

Throughout the initial installment of Bocchi the Rock, we’re being encouraged to root for Hitori Gotoh. We see her dream. We watch her work toward it. We see her get the chance she dreamed of, then gradually grow closer to people who can help her become part of a band and connect in the way she always wanted. Each 4-koma shows her growth and getting outside of her comfort zone, sometimes with humorous results, and it almost made me feel like I was ing her as I read along.

Volume 1 of Bocchi the Rock is available via Yen Press, and volume 2 comes out on January 23, 2024. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll. 

The post Hitori Gotoh Is a Delight in the Bocchi the Rock Manga appeared first on Siliconera.

Among the many WonHobbyG 2023 Spring announcements from Good Smile Company were Bocchi the Rock Nendoroids and figures. We already saw the Hitori Gotoh Nendoroid appear. She’ll be ed by her bandmates, Seika Ijichi, and Kikuri. There will also be scale figures of all four of the main characters.

First, here are the photos for all three unpainted prototypes of Nijika Ijichi, Ikuyo Kita, and Ryo Yamada.

#WonHobbyG 2023 Spring Figure Update!

Good Smile Company
Bocchi the Rock!
Nendoroid Nijika Ijichi

WonHobbyG Info: https://t.co/LI9nUpFwC0

*Photo gallery opens May 27 at 9:30JST#BocchiTheRock #nendoroid #goodsmile pic.twitter.com/b6nSWBqFTH

— GoodSmile_US (@GoodSmile_US) May 26, 2023

#WonHobbyG 2023 Spring Figure Update!

Good Smile Company
Bocchi the Rock!
Nendoroid Ikuyo Kita

WonHobbyG Info: https://t.co/3GMXlk9qXi

*Photo gallery opens May 27 at 9:30JST#BocchiTheRock #nendoroid #goodsmile pic.twitter.com/bvzVzvoaB8

— GoodSmile_US (@GoodSmile_US) May 26, 2023

#WonHobbyG 2023 Spring Figure Update!

Good Smile Company
Bocchi the Rock!
Nendoroid Ryo Yamada

WonHobbyG Info: https://t.co/PNVry7E1mX

*Photo gallery opens May 27 at 9:30JST#BocchiTheRock #nendoroid #goodsmile pic.twitter.com/BY2Vy92M8w

— GoodSmile_US (@GoodSmile_US) May 26, 2023

As for the Seika and Kikuri Bocchi the Rock Nendoroids, there are no prototypes or preliminary designs for them.

#WonHobbyG 2023 Spring Figure Update!

Good Smile Company
Bocchi the Rock!
Nendoroid Seika Ijichi
Nendoroid Kikuri Hiroi

WonHobbyG Info: https://t.co/YkiPZyw949

*Photo gallery opens May 27 at 9:30JST#BocchiTheRock #nendoroid #goodsmile pic.twitter.com/ai0hzhIR

— GoodSmile_US (@GoodSmile_US) May 26, 2023

Of the three Bocchi the Rock scale figures on the way, only the Hitori one is far enough along to show it off. Its unpainted prototype appeared.

／
スケールフィギュア化決定
＼
￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣
◆後藤ひとり ˗ˋˏ 原型初公開ˎˊ˗
◆伊地知虹夏
◆山田リョウ
◆喜多郁代
＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

新作ねんどろいど一挙解禁動画、
【 #ねんどろいどFUNS 】公開中！
🎬https://t.co/aqcmUuHrfR#ぼっち・ざ・ろっく #結束バンド#goodsmile… pic.twitter.com/Ulda6rbX5s

— カホタン＠グッスマのすみっこ (@gsc_kahotan) May 26, 2023

And here’s the scale figure announcement showing how Nijika, Ryo, and Ikuyo might look.

#WonHobbyG 2023 Spring Figure Update!

Good Smile Company
Bocchi the Rock!
Scale Figure Nijika Ijichi
Scale Figure Ryo Yamada
Scale Figure Ikuyo Kita

WonHobbyG Info: https://t.co/Ah6xxSAsP4

*Photo gallery opens May 27 at 9:30JST#BocchiTheRock #goodsmile pic.twitter.com/hH77N5LWRV

— GoodSmile_US (@GoodSmile_US) May 26, 2023

There are no release dates for any of the Bocchi the Rock Nendoroids or scale figures yet. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll, and Yen Press will localize the manga.

The post Bocchi the Rock Nendoroids and Figure Announced appeared first on Siliconera.

Aniplex announced that a movie adaptation of Bocchi the Rock will appear in theaters in Japan some time in Spring 2024. Though there aren’t many details about the movie, it appears to be a compilation film. That means that it will retread episodes and events that the show has covered. We don't have a worldwide release date for it yet. [Thanks, 4Gamer!]

[gallery columns="1" ids="964348" link="file"]

Even if the movie is a recap film, there might still be some new content for fans who watched the show. For example, it might have new songs or scenes. Kerorira, who is the character designer and chief animation director, was the one who drew the key visual for the Bocchi the Rock film. It features the titular Bocchi along with the other of Kessoku Band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKbfk7vXmc4

The announcement trailer for the Bocchi the Rock movie sounds like a normal preview for the next episode. But the girls aren’t in unison so they decide to try again. Afterwards, they announce the compilation movie.

Bocchi the Rock is a manga and anime series that follows the Hitori Goto, who is very anxious and socially awkward. Despite these issues, she dreams of becoming a rock musician and make new friends. After Nijika Ijichi invites her to Kessoku Band, she gets the chance to fulfill her lifelong dreams. The series is incredibly popular and in January 2023, Manga Time Kirara Max announced that there are a million physical copies of the manga in circulation.

The Bocchi the Rock movie will come out some time in Spring 2024. Aside from the movie, the new single from Kessoku Band, “Into The Light,” will come out on Ma 24, 2023. Genki Fujimori from Sakanamon is both the composer and the lyricist.

The post Bocchi the Rock Recap Movie Will Come Out in 2024 appeared first on Siliconera.

The Bocchi the Rock manga will finally appear outside Japan, as Yen Press announced an English release. It confirmed it during its Sakura-con 2023 , alongside 27 other acquisitions. It has a tentative Fall 2023 release window, though there’s no exact release date yet.

Here’s Yen Press’ official announcement of the Bocchi the Rock manga English release. The tentative cover art shown in it is based on the Japanese one. Like series like Azumanga Daioh and Lucky Star, it is a four-koma series.

NEW MANGA ANNOUNCEMENT: Bocchi the Rock!

Bocchi takes the stage and she’s brought her best friend—crippling anxiety! After bringing her guitar to school provokes zero interest, Hitori’s ready to shrivel up and die—until Nijika begs her to fill in for her band’s live performance! pic.twitter.com/CA7TK0xzzS

— Yen Press (@yenpress) April 8, 2023

This comes after the Japanese version ed a million copies in circulation and got a reprint.

Here’s the full list of all the Yen Press and Ize Press art books, light novels, manga, manhwa, and light novels announced at Sakura-con 2023. All of them fall into the general Fall 2023 release window.

• Aidairo Illustrations: Toilet-bound Hanako-kun Artbook 2
• Bocchi the Rock
• Cheerful Amnesia
• CLAMP Collection Tokyo Babylon
• Days with My Stepsister
• The Deer King manga
• The Deer King novel
• The Ephemeral Scenes of Setsuna’s Journey
• Glitch
• Honey Trap Shared House
• I May Be a Guild Receptionist, But I’ll Solo Any Boss to Clock Out on Time
• Jungle Juice
• The Lawyer in Shizuku-ishi Sleeps with a Wolf
• Maiden of the Needle
• Minato’s Laundromat
• Monthly in the Garden with My Landlord
• One More Step, Come Stand by My Side
• Only I Know the Ghoul Saved the World
• Overgeared
• The Red Thread
• Sasaki and Miyano Official Comic Anthology
• See You in My 19th Life
• The Shiunji Family Children
• Stray Cat & Wolf
• Unholy Blood
• When I Became a Commoner, They Broke Off Our Engagement
• Yana Toboso Artworks Black Butler 3
• Your Letter

The Bocchi the Rock manga English release will happen in Fall 2023 through Yen Press. The anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post Yen Press Picks Up Bocchi the Rock Manga for an English Release appeared first on Siliconera.

Good Smile Company revealed its Bocchi the Rock Hitori Gotoh Nendoroid, and the figure will feature as many expressions as the heroine herself. In addition to a more stoic portrayal, it acknowledges her social anxiety with extra face plates. It will appear in Japan in August 2023. Then, a North American release will follow in October 2023. It will cost ¥5,800/$43.99.

There are multiple posing options for Hitori. She can be posed with her guitar, both holding it or preparing to play. She also can look focused. Her two other face plates can make her look anxious or like she is crying. There are also additional parts to let her curl up with a blanket.

Here are official Good Smile Company images showing some of the different options.
[gallery columns="5" size="full" ids="950424,950425,950426,950427,950428" link="file"]
This is the company's first figure based on Bocchi the Rock. However, Sega has already released some prize figures based on the series in Japan.

The Bocchi the Rock Hitori Gotoh Nendoroid will appear in August 2023 in Japan and in October 2023 in North America. Pre-orders are open until March 23, 2023. People can stream the anime on Crunchyroll. There’s no official English localization of the manga yet, however over a million copies are in circulation in Japanese.

The post Bocchi the Rock Hitori Gotoh Nendoroid Seems Anxious appeared first on Siliconera.

As of January 2023, there are a million copies of the Bocchi the Rock manga in circulation. This number does not include digital copies and is for the entire series. So far there are five volumes, along with a comic anthology. Due to its success, there will be a second major reprint of all five volumes. [Thanks, Manga Mogura RE!]

There have been multiple reprints so far for the Bocchi the Rock manga, even prior to the second major one that will happen soon. The first three volumes have had around ten each, with Volume 1 at eighteen reprints. The comic anthology has had seven.

Bocchi the Rock, which runs in Manga Time Kirara Max, is not the first major success from the magazine. Other Kirara comics that have sured a million copies sold include Yuru Camp, Is the Order a Rabbit?, and K-On!.

https://twitter.com/mangatimekirara/status/1616398447556591623?s=20&t=xUf_oMaf-Wtg2RrXjerE3A

Bocchi the Rock is a 4-koma manga series. Aki Hamaji both writes and illustrates it. It follows the story of Hitori Goto, who is an anxious and socially awkward girl who wishes to become a rock musician and make friends. She s the Kessoku Band after Nijika Ijichi invites her to do so. The genre is comedy and slice of life, and the anime series for it ran from October to December 2022.

Bocchi the Rock will get a second major reprint in Japan. The anime is available on Crunchyroll.

The post Over a Million Copies of Bocchi the Rock in Circulation appeared first on Siliconera.