Mr. Nietzsche in the Convenience Store Manga Ends After 12 Years
Mr. Nietzsche in the Convenience Store Manga Concludes After Long Run
The popular comedy manga, Mr. Nietzsche in the Convenience Store (Nietzsche-sensei: Konbini ni, Satori Sedai no Shinjin ga Maiorita), has officially come to an end. The 24th and final compiled book volume, published by Kadokawa, will be available this Friday, marking the culmination of a series that began its serialization back in August 2013. The manga itself concluded its run on January 23.
The Story Behind the Counter
Mr. Nietzsche in the Convenience Store revolves around the everyday experiences of convenience store workers. The story centers on Matsukoma, a seasoned late-night part-time employee, and Tomoharu Nii, a new recruit he is tasked with training. Tomoharu, nicknamed Nietzsche-sensei, is a university student studying Buddhism. His unique perspective and often philosophical responses to mundane situations create humorous and unexpected scenarios.
The "God is Dead" Moment
One particular incident sparks the entire premise of the manga. When a disgruntled customer angrily proclaims, "Customers are gods!", Tomoharu coolly retorts, "God is dead." This unexpected response, a direct reference to Nietzsche's famous philosophical statement, becomes Tomoharu's trademark and sets the stage for the many comical interactions that follow.
Baffling Customers and Coworkers
The manga thrives on the contrast between the ordinary setting of a convenience store and Tomoharu's extraordinary reactions. He consistently perplexes customers and coworkers alike with his unconventional behavior and philosophical pronouncements. The series explores the humor found in these interactions, highlighting the absurdity of everyday life through the lens of Nietzsche's philosophy.
From Twitter to Manga
The origins of Mr. Nietzsche in the Convenience Store are rather unique. The manga is actually an adaptation of a series of popular Twitter posts that chronicled real-life incidents experienced by convenience store employees. Matsukoma and Hashimoto transformed these anecdotes into a full-fledged manga series, capturing the relatable and often humorous aspects of working in the service industry.
Publication History
The manga initially launched in Kadokawa's Monthly Comic Gene magazine in August 2013. After a successful run, the series transitioned to Kadokawa's Comic Bridge website in January 2019, continuing to entertain readers with its quirky characters and comedic situations.
International Appeal
The manga's popularity extended beyond Japan. In June 2018, a bilingual English-Japanese version of the first volume was released, catering to both domestic and international audiences. This allowed fans from around the world to experience the humor and philosophical musings of Mr. Nietzsche in the Convenience Store.
Live-Action Adaptation on Crunchyroll
The manga's success led to a live-action television series adaptation, which premiered in Japan in January 2016. The series brought the characters and situations of the manga to life, further expanding the franchise's reach. Crunchyroll, a popular streaming service for anime and manga content, streamed the series as it aired in Japan, making it accessible to a global audience. This allowed international fans to enjoy the live-action adaptation of the comedic manga.
