The Long Summer Of August 31 Vol. 1 - Manga Review

Kerstin (lostinmanga.de) Manga
06/15/2025 12:00pm 4 minute read

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The Long Summer of August 31 is a Japanese manga series by Ikkado Ito, which has been published since March 2023 in Kodansha’s seinen magazine Morning. An English version is being released through Kodansha’s K Manga app. Additionally, the series has been licensed by Seven Seas Entertainment for an English-language print release.

Another series by the same author, I’m Not Meat, was also published by Seven Seas and is complete with three volumes.

How is The Long Summer of August 31?

The Long Summer of August 31 throws us straight into a time loop that revolves around nothing less than the end of summer vacation. Or more precisely, a single endlessly repeating day, August 31. It sounds like a nightmare for students, but for Takaya Suzuki and Kana Takagi, the only two teenagers who remember each repetition, this day becomes the stage for an absurd, charming mix of coming-of-age, romantic comedy, and a touch of light science fiction.

One positive aspect that stands out immediately is that the story does not begin at the start of the time loop, but about a month after it has already begun. This avoids the often tedious "What’s going on here?" phase and allows the manga to dive directly into the main plot. Suzuki and Takagi have already adapted to the basic rules, in which no one except them remembers the previous days. Everything starts fresh each day, and no one knows why.

Suzuki, however, believes he knows the answer. Summer is stuck because he has not completed his "mission" of finding a girlfriend and losing his virginity. Does that sound embarrassing and clichéd? It is. But that is part of the charm.

Suzuki is a character you can easily clash with. At first, he comes across as a generic image of an awkwardly overenthusiastic student from an all-boys school. A bit too pushy, a bit too blunt, with a sense of purpose that quickly drifts into cringe territory. But the manga does not leave him at that. Suzuki is aware that he sometimes goes too far, and this self-awareness ultimately makes him more likeable. He tries to improve. And that is a quality that deserves recognition.

Takagi, in contrast, is harder to pin down. She is quick-witted, confident, and plays along. She clearly shuts down the topic of sex, but at the same time flirts with small gestures, glances, and moments of closeness, and gradually falls in love with Suzuki. The interaction between the two feels wonderfully authentic. Sometimes one step forward, sometimes two steps back. Just like real teenage life.

The manga does not rely on a fast-moving plot. Not much actually happens over the course of the volume. The external action remains limited, but the dynamic between the characters steadily evolves. Suzuki and Takagi grow closer, drift apart, and reconnect. All of this takes place within the constant repetition of the same day.

Particularly effective and memorable are the recurring panels at the beginning of each chapter. The same pose, the same dialogue. They serve as a creative framework and a reminder that time functions differently here. It is a narrative device used cleverly and with humor.

The illustrations are of high quality, and the characters are appealing without being exaggerated. The art style emphasizes the emotional closeness of the protagonists and helps reveal subtle nuances in their interactions. The dialogue is sharp, and the playful exchanges between Suzuki and Takagi often bring a smile, even if not every joke lands.

The Long Summer of August 31 is neither a typical romantic comedy nor a classic time travel drama. Instead, the story paints an atmospheric portrait of two teenagers who are literally stuck in the moment and must learn to deal with it. Yes, Suzuki is not immediately likeable. Yes, the plot takes its time. But that is exactly what gives it its charm. The feeling of the time loop is not just told, it is made tangible.

The series is being published by Seven Seas in the publisher’s standard paperback format. The beginning of the volume includes several color pages.

Is The Long Summer of August 31 worth reading?

Anyone who enjoys unusual romantic comedies with quirky premises and authentically imperfect characters will find a lot to like here. The Long Summer of August 31 shows a lot of potential in my opinion, provided the series does not fall into repetition and continues to develop the relationship between the two in a believable and dynamic way.

The humor is certainly not for everyone, but it sets itself apart nicely from classic gag manga. It is more grounded, more subtle, and often closer to real situational comedy.