The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store

The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store (Japanese: 北極百貨店のコンシェルジュさん, Hepburn: Hokkyoku Hyakkaten no Konsheruju-san) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Tsuchika Nishimura [ja]. It was serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Big Comic Zōkan [ja] from February 2017 to November 2018, with its chapters collected into two tankōbon volumes. An anime film adaptation by Production I.G premiered in Japan in October 2023.

The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store
First tankōbon volume cover
北極百貨店のコンシェルジュさん
(Hokkyoku Hyakkaten no Konsheruju-san)
GenreFantasy[1]
Manga
Written byTsuchika Nishimura [ja]
Published byShogakukan
English publisher
MagazineBig Comic Zōkan [ja]
DemographicSeinen
Original runFebruary 17, 2017November 16, 2018
Volumes2
Anime film
The Concierge
Directed byYoshimi Itazu [ja]
Written bySatomi Ooshima
Music byTofubeats
StudioProduction I.G
Licensed by
ReleasedOctober 20, 2023 (2023-10-20)
Runtime70 minutes
icon Anime and manga portal

The series won the Excellence Award at the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2022.

Characters

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Akino (秋乃)
Voiced by: Natsumi Kawaida[2]
Eruru (エルル)
Voiced by: Takeo Ōtsuka[2]
Tōdō (東堂)
Voiced by: Nobuo Tobita[2]
Mori ()
Voiced by: Megumi Han[2]
Iwase (岩瀬)
Voiced by: Natsumi Fujiwara[2]
Maruki (丸木)
Voiced by: Eiji Yoshitomi[2]
Head Cook (給仕長, Kyūjichō)
Voiced by: Jun Fukuyama[2]
Tokiwa (トキワ)
Voiced by: Yuichi Nakamura[2]
Wally (ウーリー, Ūrī)
Voiced by: Kenjiro Tsuda[3]
Laughing Owl (Husband) (ワライフクロウ夫, Warai Fukurō Otto)
Voiced by: Dunshun Tatekawa[3]
Laughing Owl (Wife) (ワライフクロウ妻, Warai Fukurō Tsuma)
Voiced by: Sumi Shimamoto[3]
Sea Mink (Daughter) (ウミベミンク娘, Umibe Minku Musume)
Voiced by: Minako Kotobuki[3]
Sea Mink (Father) (ウミベミンク父, Umibe Minku Chichi)
Voiced by: Hiroshi Yanaka[3]
Male Peacock (クジャク, Kujaku)
Voiced by: Hiroki Nanami[3]
Female Peacock (クジャク彼女, Kujaku Kanojo)
Voiced by: Marika Kano[3]
Japanese Wolf (二ホンオオカミ, Nihon Ōkami)
Voiced by: Miyu Irino[3]
Female Japanese Wolf (二ホンオオカミ彼女, Nihon Ōkami Kanojo)
Voiced by: Kana Hanazawa[3]
Barbary Lion (バーバリライオン, Bābari Raion)
Voiced by: Ayumu Murase[3]
Female Barbary Lion (バーバリライオン彼女, Bābari Raion Kanojo)
Voiced by: Emiri Suyama[3]
Caribbean Monk Seal (カリブモンクアザラシ, Karibu Monku Azarashi)
Voiced by: Kyōko Hikami[3]
Paradise Parrot (ゴクラクインコ, Gokurakuinko)
Voiced by: Risa Shimizu[3]
Cat (ネコ, Neko)
Voiced by: Sumire Morohoshi[3]

Media

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Manga

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Written and illustrated by Tsuchika Nishimura [ja], The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store was serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Zōkan [ja] magazine from February 17, 2017,[1] to November 16, 2018.[4] Two tankōbon volumes were published on November 30, 2017, and October 30, 2020.[5][6]

In March 2024, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that it had licensed the series for English publication; the first volume was released on August 13.[7][8]

Volumes

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No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
1 November 30, 2017[5]978-4-09-189763-3August 13, 2024[8]979-8-89160-286-1
  1. "Smiling Guest" (笑うお客様, Warau Okyakusama)
  2. "Beautiful Guest" (美しいお客様, Utsukushii Okyakusama)
  3. "Faltering Guest" (ひるむお客様, Hirumu Okyakusama)
  1. "Overboard Guest" (越えるお客様, Koeru Okyakusama)
  2. "Taciturn Guest" (寡黙なお客様, Kamoku na Okyakusama)
2 October 30, 2020[6]978-4-09-860337-4December 3, 2024[9]979-8-89160-287-8
  1. Chiisana Okyakusama (小さなお客様)
  2. Kodawaru Okyakusama (こだわるお客様)
  3. Sosogu Okyakusama (注ぐお客様)
  1. Uso no Okyakusama (嘘のお客様)
  2. Wakaranai Okyakusama (わからないお客様)

Anime film

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An anime film adaptation was announced on April 25, 2023.[10] It is produced by Production I.G and directed by Yoshimi Itazu [ja], with the screenplay written by Satomi Ooshima, character designs handled by Chiyo Morita, who also served as chief animation director, and music composed by Tofubeats.[2][11] The film held its world premiere at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on June 12, 2023.[12][13] It was then released in Japan on October 20 of the same year by Aniplex. Myuk [ja] performed the theme song "Gift".[14] Crunchyroll screened the film in North American theaters on September 11, 2024, under the title The Concierge.[12][15]

Reception

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The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store ranked fourth in Freestyle magazine's "The Best Manga 2019 Kono Manga o Yome!" list, tying with Areyo Hoshikuzu and Sore wa Tada no Senpai no Chinko;[16] it ranked 14th in the 2021 list.[17] The series won the Excellence Award in the manga division of the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2022.[18]

The anime film adaptation won the Silver Audience Award for Best Animated Feature at the 27th Fantasia International Film Festival.[19]

References

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  1. ^ a b 西村ツチカのファンタジー新連載、あらゆる動物がお客様の百貨店が舞台. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 17, 2017. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Pineda, Rafael Antonio (June 1, 2023). "The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store Anime Film's Teaser Reveals Cast, More Staff". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 12, 2023). "The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store Anime Film Reveals 14 More Cast Members". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 12, 2023. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Nishimura, Tsuchika [@tsuchikamanga] (November 9, 2018). ビッグコミック12月増刊号(11/16発売)に『北極百貨店のコンシェルジュさん』最終回が載ります。 (Tweet) (in Japanese). Retrieved April 25, 2023 – via Twitter.
  5. ^ a b 【11月30日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. November 30, 2017. Archived from the original on January 14, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  6. ^ a b 【10月30日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. October 30, 2020. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  7. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 28, 2024). "Seven Seas Adds The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store, More Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Mateo, Alex (August 15, 2024). "North American Anime, Manga Releases, August 11-17". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 15, 2024. Retrieved September 11, 2024.
  9. ^ "The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store Vol. 2". Seven Seas Entertainment. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
  10. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (April 24, 2023). "The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store Manga Gets Anime Film by Production I.G". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  11. ^ 『北極百貨店のコンシェルジュさん』アニメーション映画化 制作はProduction I.G. Oricon (in Japanese). April 25, 2023. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Rubin, Rebecca (October 5, 2023). "Sony's Crunchyroll Buys Anime Film 'The Concierge' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on October 5, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  13. ^ "The Concierge". Annecy International Animation Film Festival. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  14. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 21, 2023). "The Concierge Anime Film's Full Trailer Reveals Myuk's Theme Song, More Staff, October 20 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  15. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (July 31, 2024). "Crunchyroll Holds 1-Day Screenings of The Concierge, trapezium Films in N. America in September". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  16. ^ 「このマンガを読め!」1位は「メタモルフォーゼの縁側」、このマンに続き. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 19, 2018. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  17. ^ 「このマンガを読め!」1位は近藤ようこ「高丘親王航海記」、和山やまは2作ランクイン. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  18. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (March 13, 2022). "Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, Sonny Boy, Oddtaxi, More Win Media Arts Awards". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  19. ^ 映画「北極百貨店」10月20日公開、おもてなしに奮闘する秋乃捉えた予告&ポスターも. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 22, 2023. Archived from the original on August 25, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
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