# My Love Story!!
**My Love Story!!** (Japanese: **俺物語!!**, *Ore Monogatari!!*) is a Japanese shōjo romantic comedy manga with story by Kazune Kawahara (河原和音) and art by Aruko (アルコ), serialized in Shueisha's *Bessatsu Margaret* magazine from 2012 to 2016[1](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=14316) • [2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93). It follows a romance between a hulking high school boy and a small, cheerful girl, told from the boy's point of view, and it won both the 37th Kodansha Manga Award and the 61st [Shogakukan Manga Award](https://www.edgepedia.org/shogakukan-manga-award) in the shōjo category[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93). The series received a 24-episode anime by Madhouse and a live-action film in 2015, and it returned for new chapters in 2023 and 2024[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93) • [3](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title and creators | *Ore Monogatari!!* (俺物語!!), story: Kazune Kawahara, art: Aruko; genres comedy and romance[1](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=14316) |
| Serialization | One-shot in *Bessatsu Margaret Sister* (2011), then serialized in *Bessatsu Margaret* from the January 2012 issue to mid-2016; main story collected in 13 volumes, with a 14th in April 2024[3](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371) • [2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93) |
| Premise | Takeo Gouda, 2 meters tall and 120 kg, is rejected by girls in favor of his handsome best friend Sunakawa; saving a girl named Yamato from a harasser on a train changes his love life[4](https://www.viz.com/my-love-story) • [2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93) |
| Awards | First in the female ranking of *Kono Manga ga Sugoi!* 2013; 37th Kodansha Manga Award (shōjo, 2013); 61st Shogakukan Manga Award (shōjo)[4](https://www.viz.com/my-love-story) • [5](https://myanimelist.net/manga/36933/Ore_Monogatari) |
| Sales | Over 4 million copies in print at 9 volumes by the time of the 2015 film; past 4.5 million during 2015[6](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/sphone/pc/2015/10/my-love-story.html) • [7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E) |
| Anime | Madhouse, 24 episodes in two cours, April to September 2015 on Nippon TV and other stations[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93) |
| Live-action film | Released October 31, 2015; directed by Hayato Kawai, starring Ryohei Suzuki, Mei Nagano, and Kentaro Sakaguchi; grossed about 900 million yen[6](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/sphone/pc/2015/10/my-love-story.html) • [7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E) |
| English edition | Published as *My Love Story!!* by Viz Media under the Shojo Beat imprint; ANN reports all 13 volumes released in North America[5](https://myanimelist.net/manga/36933/Ore_Monogatari) • [3](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371) |
## Publication and creators
Kazune Kawahara made her manga debut in 1991 with *His Favorite Person*, began the series *Sensei!* in 1996 (later adapted into a 2017 live-action film), launched the acclaimed *High School Debut* in 2003, and started *Aozora Yell* in 2008[4](https://www.viz.com/my-love-story). Aruko is from Ishikawa Prefecture, and made her manga debut with *Ame Nochi Hare* (Clear After the Rain); her other works include *Yasuko to Kenji*[4](https://www.viz.com/my-love-story). On the series the division of labor is explicit: Kawahara writes the story and Aruko draws it[1](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=14316).
The work began as a 100-page one-shot in *Bessatsu Margaret Sister*; [Anime News Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/anime-news-network) places that debut in October 2011[3](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371), while the Japanese reference Mangapedia dates the one-shot to the November 2011 issue of the same supplement[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93). Serialization followed in the main *Bessatsu Margaret* from the January 2012 issue[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93). On the ending the sources differ slightly: ANN states the manga ended in July 2016[3](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371), and Mangapedia records the run through the August 2016 issue[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93). Sources also disagree on the chapter total: the Japanese database anibase counts 46 serialized chapters[7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E), while [MyAnimeList](https://www.edgepedia.org/myanimelist) lists 55 chapters[5](https://myanimelist.net/manga/36933/Ore_Monogatari).
Volume 1 shipped in March 2012, the main story concluded with volume 13, and a 14th volume was released in April 2024[7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E).
## Plot and characters
The protagonist is Takeo Gouda (剛田猛男), a high school student who stands 2 meters tall and weighs 120 kilograms[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93). VIZ Media's summary describes him as "a giant guy with a giant heart" whom girls reject because they prefer his good-looking best friend, Sunakawa; when Takeo saves a girl named Yamato from a harasser on the train, his love life takes an unexpected turn[4](https://www.viz.com/my-love-story). Comic Natalie's feature describes the series as a romantic comedy about the love of a gentle, rugged high schooler whose roughly 2 m, 120 kg build "stands out as unusual in the shōjo manga world"[8](https://natalie.mu/comic/pp/oremonogatari).
In the anime, Takeo is voiced by Takuya Eguchi, Rinko Yamato by [Megumi Han](https://www.edgepedia.org/megumi-han), and Sunakawa by [Nobunaga Shimazaki](https://www.edgepedia.org/nobunaga-shimazaki)[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93).
## Themes and style
The series is built on an inversion of the standard shōjo formula. anibase's editorial summary singles out the way it takes the familiar "handsome boy × plain girl" pattern and replaces it with "burly, imposing man × cute girl," played as a straightforward, wholehearted romantic comedy, a quality critics praised[7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E). A male protagonist's point of view within the genre is cited as a distinguishing feature[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93).
Reader commentary collected on MyAnimeList highlights two recurring readings: praise for the absence of toxic masculinity in a very masculine protagonist and emphasis on communication in relationships[5](https://myanimelist.net/manga/36933/Ore_Monogatari). A dissenting reader review calls the premise a basic shōjo romance template whose subversion "ends there" and criticizes the handling of a stalking subplot[5](https://myanimelist.net/manga/36933/Ore_Monogatari). This is reader opinion rather than established critical consensus.
## Adaptations
**Anime.** The TV anime aired from April to September 2015 on Nippon TV and other stations, ran two cours of 24 total episodes, and was animated by Madhouse[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93). anibase notes that it covers mainly early-to-mid manga episodes, and that episode 20 recorded a 3.4% household rating in the [Kantō region](https://www.edgepedia.org/kanto-region) despite a late-night slot[7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E). [Sentai Filmworks](https://www.edgepedia.org/sentai-filmworks) released the anime with an English dub[3](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371).
**Live-action film.** The film opened in Japanese theaters on October 31, 2015, directed by Hayato Kawai with a screenplay by Akiko Nogi and music by Taisei Iwasaki, starring Ryohei Suzuki, Mei Nagano, and Kentaro Sakaguchi[6](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/sphone/pc/2015/10/my-love-story.html). Suzuki played Takeo and gained 30 kg for the role[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93); it grossed approximately 900 million yen[7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E). Nippon TV credits the preceding TV anime with raising the work's popularity ahead of the film[6](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/sphone/pc/2015/10/my-love-story.html).
## By the numbers
At the time of the film's release, the manga had been serialized in 9 volumes with over 4 million copies sold[6](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/sphone/pc/2015/10/my-love-story.html); cumulative circulation passed 4.5 million copies during 2015[7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E). The anime's best recorded episode rating was 3.4% in the Kantō region[7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E). The film grossed about 900 million yen[7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E).
## Reception and awards
The series placed first in the women's section of Takarajimasha's 2013 *Kono Manga ga Sugoi!* rankings, the annual list of the year's most recommended manga voted by industry professionals[4](https://www.viz.com/my-love-story) • [6](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/sphone/pc/2015/10/my-love-story.html). It won the 37th Kodansha Manga Award in the shōjo category in 2013[4](https://www.viz.com/my-love-story), and the 61st Shogakukan Manga Award in the shōjo category; Mangapedia dates that award to 2016[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93), MyAnimeList to 2015[5](https://myanimelist.net/manga/36933/Ore_Monogatari). It also placed first in Comic Natalie's first Manga Autumn 100[7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E).
MyAnimeList records the English edition as running under [Viz Media](https://www.edgepedia.org/viz-media)'s Shojo Beat imprint from July 1, 2014 to March 4, 2025[5](https://myanimelist.net/manga/36933/Ore_Monogatari); ANN reports Viz published all 13 volumes of the manga in North America[3](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371).
## Later developments and Kawahara's other works
After the main story ended, the creative team reunited for a two-chapter manga titled "Uso ka Makoto ka Yume ka Koi" (Is This Love a Lie, the Truth, or a Dream?) in October 2022[3](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371). On November 13, 2023, ANN reported that the manga would return for two new chapters starting in *Bessatsu Margaret*'s January issue, on sale December 13, set during college winter break at a resort with a mysterious mansion[3](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371). These chapters, "Yukiyama Mystery!? no Maki," formed part of *Bessatsu Margaret*'s 60th-anniversary project and were published in two parts across 2023 and 2024[7](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E) • [2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93), and they were collected in the 14th volume released in April 2024[2](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93).
Within Kawahara's body of school romances, *My Love Story!!* sits alongside *High School Debut* (2003) and *Aozora Yell* (2008)[4](https://www.viz.com/my-love-story). Aruko's subsequent work includes *My Love Mix-Up!* (*Kieta Hatsukoi*), drawn with Wataru Hinekure, which ran in *Bessatsu Margaret* from June 2019 to June 2022 in nine volumes and received live-action series in Japan in 2021 and in Thailand, announced for 2024[3](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371).
## References
1. [My Love Story!! (manga), Anime News Network Encyclopedia](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/manga.php?id=14316)
2. [俺物語!!（漫画）, マンガペディア (Mangapedia)](https://mangapedia.com/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E%EF%BC%81%EF%BC%81-0502s1a93)
3. [My Love Story!! Manga Returns for 2 New Chapters, Anime News Network (November 13, 2023)](https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-11-13/my-love-story-manga-returns-for-2-new-chapters/.204371)
4. [The Official Website for My Love Story!!, VIZ Media](https://www.viz.com/my-love-story)
5. [Ore Monogatari!! (My Love Story!!), MyAnimeList](https://myanimelist.net/manga/36933/Ore_Monogatari)
6. [MY love STORY!!, Nippon TV](https://www.ntv.co.jp/english/sphone/pc/2015/10/my-love-story.html)
7. [俺物語!!, anibase](https://anibase.net/ja/anime/1qp8m/%E4%BF%BA%E7%89%A9%E8%AA%9E)
8. [「俺物語!!」特集 アルコインタビュー, コミックナタリー (Comic Natalie)](https://natalie.mu/comic/pp/oremonogatari)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Anime and manga › Manga titles, publishers, and magazines › Shōjo manga titles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license