# Recommendations from Iwamoto-senpai
**Recommendations from Iwamoto-senpai** (岩元先輩ノ推薦, *Iwamoto-senpai no Suisen*; also rendered *Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto*) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Hiroshi Shiibashi, known for *Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan*. It is a supernatural historical mystery set in 1910s Japan, in which a middle-school student attached to the Army investigates paranormal incidents across the country and recruits the ability users he meets with letters of recommendation to his school.[1](https://us.oricon-group.com/news/7485/) • [2](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-892038-2) A television anime adaptation produced by [Studio Deen](https://www.edgepedia.org/studio-deen) began broadcasting in July 2026.[3](https://www.manganoshirabe.com/column/iwamoto-kanketsu/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Creator | Hiroshi Shiibashi, previously the author of *Nurarihyon no Mago* (*Nura: Rise of the Yokai Clan*)[3](https://www.manganoshirabe.com/column/iwamoto-kanketsu/) |
| Publication | One-shot on Shueisha's Shōnen Jump+ on March 30, 2020; serialized in the seinen magazine Ultra Jump from the March 2021 issue[1](https://us.oricon-group.com/news/7485/) • [3](https://www.manganoshirabe.com/column/iwamoto-kanketsu/) |
| Volumes | Fifteen tankōbon volumes as of September 2026; the series is ongoing and not yet concluded[3](https://www.manganoshirabe.com/column/iwamoto-kanketsu/) |
| Setting | Japan in the 1910s; the protagonist attends Seihou Middle School, directly under the Army[2](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-892038-2) |
| Anime | Announced January 16, 2026; broadcast from July 4, 2026 on TOKYO MX, Saturdays at 22:30; produced by Studio Deen, directed by Toshifumi Kawase[4](https://animedb.jp/en/2026/01/21766?range=3) • [5](https://animedb.jp/en/2026/06/21675?range=1) • [6](https://animekai.lv/anime/recommendations-from-iwamoto-senpai/) |
| Lead voice | Kodō Iwamoto is voiced by Taito Ban[3](https://www.manganoshirabe.com/column/iwamoto-kanketsu/) |
## Premise
The story takes place in the 1910s. Kodō Iwamoto, a student at Seihou Middle School, an institution directly under the Army, is ordered by military directive to investigate supernatural phenomena throughout Japan. In a village rumored to have falling "black snow," he meets a boy with special powers who believes his ability is an illness. Iwamoto shows him a use for the power, tells him they have something in common, and hands him a letter of recommendation to the school. Strange occurrences await Iwamoto at each destination, and the series unfolds as a "romantic strange tale" that decodes the characters' era.[2](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-892038-2)
The recommendation letters form the core of the story's structure: Iwamoto's mission is to seek out ability users across Japan, protect them, and hand them letters to enroll at Seihou Middle School under the Army.[1](https://us.oricon-group.com/news/7485/) A reviewer at the note platform describes the work as school suspense that borrows the form of a youth manga: the art and characters look light at first glance, but the story grows increasingly unsettling, piling up unease and leaving questions behind.[7](https://note.com/kind_prawn823/n/nada602969fec?hl=en)
## Manga
Shiibashi first published the series as a one-shot on Shueisha's Shōnen Jump+ service on March 30, 2020, before it began full serialization in Ultra Jump.[1](https://us.oricon-group.com/news/7485/) The first collected volume was released on July 16, 2021 as a 232-page B6 tankōbon under the Young Jump Comics imprint, priced at 693 yen including tax, with ISBN 978-4-08-892038-2; a digital edition appeared the same day.[2](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-892038-2)
The series runs in a monthly magazine, which shapes its pace: roughly twelve chapters advance per year, and a volume takes about half a year to a year to accumulate. Fifteen volumes had been published as of September 2026, more than five years into serialization, and no official announcement of the series' conclusion has been made.[3](https://www.manganoshirabe.com/column/iwamoto-kanketsu/) The fifteenth volume was described by a note reviewer as reaching a climax, with praise for Shiibashi's depiction of abstract concepts and existences of staggering scale through manga expression.[8](https://note.com/mikotocomic/n/n72b7cf77590d?hl=en)
## Anime adaptation
The television anime was officially announced on January 16, 2026, together with a teaser visual, a first promotional video, cast and staff details, and a celebratory illustration and comment from Shiibashi.[4](https://animedb.jp/en/2026/01/21766?range=3) A second promotional video followed, and broadcasting was set for July 2026.[5](https://animedb.jp/en/2026/06/21675?range=1) The series premiered on Saturday, July 4, 2026 on TOKYO MX in the 22:30 slot, with later announcements adding opening and ending theme information and additional cast.[5](https://animedb.jp/en/2026/06/21675?range=1) • [9](https://animedb.jp/en/2026/05/21690)
**Production.** [Animation](https://www.edgepedia.org/animation) is by Studio Deen, with Toshifumi Kawase as director and Hakuhodo DY Music & Pictures among the producers; the season is listed as Summer 2026.[6](https://animekai.lv/anime/recommendations-from-iwamoto-senpai/) The anime database lists the series composition as Keiichirō Ōchi.[5](https://animedb.jp/en/2026/06/21675?range=1)
## Reception and context
The anime drew viewers to the source manga, and searches about whether the original had concluded rose after the broadcast began; the answer is that it remains ongoing in Ultra Jump.[3](https://www.manganoshirabe.com/column/iwamoto-kanketsu/) Because Shiibashi's previous work *Nurarihyon no Mago* is complete, information about that earlier conclusion is easily confused with this series in search results.[3](https://www.manganoshirabe.com/column/iwamoto-kanketsu/) A review of the first volume in the French outlet Manga News notes the move from Shiibashi's earlier weekly context to Ultra Jump, a seinen magazine aimed at an older readership.[10](https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/critique/Iwamoto-Senpai/vol-1)
## References
1. [Recommendation from Mr. Iwamoto Anime Adaptation Announced, Original Work by Hiroshi Shiibashi of Nura Rise of the Yokai Clan, Oricon News](https://us.oricon-group.com/news/7485/)
2. [岩元先輩ノ推薦 1／椎橋寛, Shueisha Books](https://www.shueisha.co.jp/books/items/contents.html?isbn=978-4-08-892038-2)
3. [岩元先輩ノ推薦は完結した？ウルトラジャンプで連載中・単行本15巻までの現在地, Manga no Shirabe](https://www.manganoshirabe.com/column/iwamoto-kanketsu/)
4. ["Iwamoto Senpai's recommendation" has been made into a TV animation! Teaser visual, first PV, cast & staff, Anime Taizen](https://animedb.jp/en/2026/01/21766?range=3)
5. [TV animation "Recommendation of Iwamoto Senpai" key visual, 3rd PV, broadcast/distribution information, Anime Taizen](https://animedb.jp/en/2026/06/21675?range=1)
6. [Recommendations from Iwamoto-Senpai, Animekai](https://animekai.lv/anime/recommendations-from-iwamoto-senpai/)
7. ["Iwamoto-senpai's Recommendation"—Was it love that was "recommended," or madness? An unpredictable school suspense, note](https://note.com/kind_prawn823/n/nada602969fec?hl=en)
8. ["Iwamoto-senpai no Suisen 15" reaches its climax!, note](https://note.com/mikotocomic/n/n72b7cf77590d?hl=en)
9. [TV anime "Recommendation of Iwamoto Senpai" OP & ED information, additional characters & cast, Anime Taizen](https://animedb.jp/en/2026/05/21690)
10. [Critique Vol.1 Iwamoto Senpai, Manga News](https://www.manga-news.com/index.php/manga/critique/Iwamoto-Senpai/vol-1)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Literature and written works › Creative written works and worlds › Comics and sequential art › Comic-book series and issues › Japanese shōnen and seinen manga › Comedy and romance manga*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 18, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license