Heisei Haizanhei Sumire-chan (平成敗残兵☆すみれちゃん) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Satomi U. It was originally published as a one-shot in March 2023, before beginning serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine in January 2024. The series has been compiled into four volumes as of December 2024.
Plot
The series follows Sumire Tōjō, a 31-year-old former idol who lives alone after leaving the entertainment industry. When her cousin Yūsei encourages her to become a doujin idol and sell a self-published photobook, she is initially hesitant. However, she decides to go along with his plan given how financially lucrative it could be.
Characters
Sumire Tōjō (東条 すみれ, Tōjō Sumire)
The title character. She is a 31-year-old former idol who lives alone in a run-down apartment. She was previously the gravure leader of the group First Lovers!, but left the industry due to the group's lack of success. She is an alcoholic and a heavy smoker who stays at home apart from working part-time at a snack bar. Because of her low income, her aunt Mika, who is Yūsei's mother, pays for her living expenses. She travels around on an old scooter.
Yūsei Izumi (泉 雄星, Izumi Yūsei)
A high school student and Sumire's cousin. He is aware of Sumire's past and even search for her old goods, believing her idol career's failure happened due to mismanagement rather than any fault of her own. He encourages her to become a doujin idol in order to earn more money.
A member of Sumire's idol group. After the group's disbandment, she became a doujin manga artist.
Publication
Heisei Haizanhei Sumire-chan is written and illustrated by Satomi U. It was originally published as a one-shot in March 2023,[2] before beginning serialization in Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine in January 2024. The series has been compiled into four tankōbon volumes as of December 2024.[3] A promotional video featuring Hiromi Igarashi voicing the character Sushi Karma was released in December 2024 to promote the fourth volume.[1] A collaboration manga chapter with the manga series Noa-senpai wa Tomodachi was released that same month.[4]
