Dear Boys

The Mizuho High School basketball team faces dissolution due to insufficient players after their coach departs following an altercation with Fujiwara. The team's fortunes change when Kazuhiko Aikawa transfers to the school, inspiring the remaining members through his passion for basketball. With only five players and no substitutes, they convince the girls' team coach to take on their training. Initially stern in her methods, the coach gradually develops a strong bond with the team. Through determined effort, the players work to overcome their numerical disadvantage and compete at the prefectural level. == Characters ==

; : :Aikawa reignites his teammates' love for basketball, with Mutsumi observing how he reminds them of the fun they once shared. Formerly the captain and pivotal player of Tendōji High's basketball team, he plays as a small forward. Though shorter than most, his remarkable leaping ability allows him to dunk. His talent grows with each game, marking him as a naturally skilled player. He is close friends with Masato Sawanobori, Tendōji's star point guard, and Fujiwara Takumi, the Mizuho team's captain. A source of encouragement during difficult games, he is also romantically involved with Mai Moritaka of the girls' team. ; : :Fujiwara, nicknamed "Taku" by friends, is a second-year Mizuho High student and captain of its basketball team, playing as point guard. He maintains a romantic relationship with Mutsumi Akiyoshi from the girls' team and a close friendship with Miura Ranmaru, his teammate since junior high. During his first year, an altercation led to him punching a coach, resulting in the coach's transfer and a one-year tournament ban for the team. An old knee injury from a game with Miura requires rehabilitation to improve flexibility for the prefectural tournament. Aikawa credits Fujiwara as his motivation to exceed limits, though denies Fujiwara equals Masato Sawanobori's skill. ; : :Miura, Fujiwara's longtime friend since middle school, maintains a calm and quiet demeanor. As Mizuho's shooting guard, he specializes in three-point shots and excels at stealing the ball, preferring scoring over playmaking. His signature move includes fadeaway three-pointers. During a match against Kadena Nishi, he attempts NBA-range three-pointers to secure victory but sustains an injury from Kenta Shimabukuro's foul, forcing him to miss the next game. Though he blames himself for Fujiwara's knee injury, the incident wasn't his fault. Keiko Ogami from the girls' team shows romantic interest in him. Fujiwara hopes Miura will regain his former unpredictable playstyle with precise passes and sharp shooting before the tournament begins. ; : :Ishii plays as power forward for the team, known for his explosive temper that often leads to fouls when provoked by opponents. Early matches show him frequently committing crucial fouls, but his skills and composure steadily improve as the team advances. He shares a close friendship with Dobashi, having been teammates since middle school at Takakura Junior High. His physical playing style earns him comparisons to a "big machine" due to his powerful presence on court. ; : :Dobashi serves as the team's center and its largest player. Despite his quiet demeanor and physical resemblance to Miura, he overcomes weaker leg strength to become an exceptional defender, rebounder, and ball thief. Ishii nicknames him "old man" due to his appearance, though he later changes his hairstyle before the prefectural championship. A Takakura Junior High alumnus, Dobashi grows into one of the team's defensive pillars—his absence due to injury noticeably weakens their performance as teammates rely heavily on his defensive presence. ; :Takashina first appears practicing alone before joining as the team's sixth member. A versatile player capable of any position, he demonstrates exceptional three-point shooting comparable to Miura's skill and strong rebounding ability. He previously attended middle school with Ayumi Fuse. ; : :Mutsumi Akiyoshi captains the girls' basketball team and plays as point guard. A close friend of Moritaka, she is romantically involved with Takumi Fujiwara, whose talent she once admired. During the quarter-finals, emotional distress led to multiple fouls and her benching. However, after a heartfelt conversation with Fujiwara before the finals, she returns to peak performance, helping secure Mizuho's victory. ; : :Mai Moritaka enters a romantic relationship with Kazuhiko Aikawa, who nicknames her "Pony" due to her distinctive ponytail. Though her official position remains unspecified, she develops into the team's most accurate three-point shooter after receiving personal training from Aikawa. ; : :Keiko serves as center for the girls' team, standing as their tallest player. She demonstrates romantic interest in Miura, notably giving him a victory sign and prompting Mutsumi to remark about potential jealousy when other girls congratulate him. ; : :Kazuhiko's best friend and another member of the boys' basketball team at Mizuho High school. ; : :The Mizuho team manager attended junior high with Fujiwara and Miura, being one year their junior. Once a star basketball player, a career-ending injury left her withdrawn and bitter, earning a reputation for harshness among players. She gradually softens over time, becoming a dedicated supporter of the team. ; : :Kyoko serves as both homeroom teacher and coach for Mizuho's girls' basketball team. She intervenes to prevent the boys' team's disbandment, arranging Kazuhiko Aikawa's transfer from Tendōji through her connection with his older sister, a former teammate. Though strict in her methods, she demonstrates genuine care for her players while pushing them to develop their potential. == Media ==

Manga Written and illustrated by Hiroki Yagami, Dear Boys was serialized in Kodansha's manga magazine Monthly Shōnen Magazine from June 1989 to January 1997. Kodansha collected its chapters in 23 volumes, released from 16 December 1989 to 17 March 1997. Other related series and sequels, published in the same magazine, have been released: • Dear Boys The Early Days :Serialized from February to May 1997; its chapters were collected in a single volume, released on 12 August of that same year. • Dear Boys Act II :Serialized from July 1997 to November 2008. • Dear Boys Act 3 :Serialized from 6 December 2008 to 4 December 2015. Its chapters were collected in 21 volumes, released from 17 June 2009 to 17 February 2016. • Dear Boys Over Time :Serialized from 5 February 2016 to 6 January 2017. Its chapters were collected in three volume, released from 17 June 2016 to 17 February 2017. • Dear Boys Act 4 :It started on 6 October 2018. The first volume was released on 15 March 2019. As of 17 November 2025, 21 volumes have been released. A six-volume prequel to Act 4, titled , set two years before the events of the story, was published digitally on 15 March 2019. Another video game, titled Dear Boys: Fast Break!, published by Konami for the PlayStation 2, was released on 18 September 2003. Anime A 26-episode anime television series adaptation, produced by OB Planning and animated by A.C.G.T, aired on TV Tokyo from 8 April to 30 September 2003. Da Pump performed the opening theme "Sound of Bounce", while (credited as Chris) performed the ending theme . In North America, the series was licensed by Bandai Entertainment in 2004. They released it under the title Hoop Days; episodes were partially released on two DVD sets on 28 June and 23 August 2005 and a "Complete Collection" was later released on 5 June 2006. The series was licensed in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment, who released a Complete Collection set on 6 September 2006. Medialink licensed the series in Southeast Asia and was broadcast on Animax Asia. Episodes == Reception ==

By March 2019, the overall Dear Boys manga series had sold over 45 million copies. In 2007, Dear Boys Act II received 31st Kodansha Manga Award in the category. == References ==