This was such an interesting story. I appreciated all the action and the romantic side plot. It made for a fun and engaging read. That said, there were moments when the story felt a bit rushed, with a lot happening all at once. Even so, I enjoyed the overall experience.

3.5/5 rounded down

Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards follows Akabane, the unknowing daughter of a Yakuza member, and her classmates, who are all hired as bodyguards to protect her from assassins after there becomes a debate on inheritance.

A very action packed volume that had me not wanting to put it down and needing the next volume. You do have to suspend an element of disbelief but the writing and art style is engaging and addictive.

I am interested into how the romance elements will develop in future volumes as well as the running narrative.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own .

Thought I would like this manga. Based on the premise. I found it more rushed than I would’ve preferred. I didn’t connect to any of the characters and found it a bit over the top. I’m not a huge fan of the art either, but I could see it appealing to other readers.

(Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha)

Review of Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards 1 by Masamitsu Nigatsu:
Premise and Genre:
Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards 1 by Masamitsu Nigatsu is a school-action manga that blends high-stakes suspense, comedy, and a dash of romance. The story centres on Arakuni Ibuki, a delinquent high schooler recruited to protect his childhood friend, Honeko Akabane-the secret daughter of a yakuza boss. The twist: assassins are constantly after Honeko, and Ibuki joins a whole classroom of bodyguards tasked with keeping her safe, all while she remains blissfully unaware of the danger and the elaborate operation surrounding her.
Strengths:
• Engaging Premise: The setup is reminiscent of Assassination Classroom and Nisekoi, mixing the "knight in shining armour" trope with school life and underworld intrigue.
• Pacing and Plot: The manga wastes little time getting to the action, with fights and threats coming fast. The story avoids stagnation, frequently shifting the status quo and introducing new twists to keep the reader engaged.
• Character Dynamics: Ibuki is a standout protagonist-boisterous, street-smart, and relatable. The ensemble cast of Class 3-4 is diverse, with each bodyguard bringing unique skills, though I wish I could have seen the supporting cast have more moments to shine.
• Art Style: The manga features classic, clean manga art with dynamic fight scenes and expressive character designs, making action sequences easy to follow and visually appealing.
• Tone and Nostalgia: The series delivers a nostalgic vibe, reminiscent of 90s anime where secret-keeping and double lives were central themes. T
Weaknesses:
• Honeko's Characterization: Honeko is too often kept in the dark, making her more of a plot device than a fully realized character. Her obliviousness, while a source of comedy and tension, can undercut her agency and depth. I hope future volumes will expand her character more.
• Predictability: While the story is fun, it follows familiar beats and tropes of the genre. The romance, though present, is not the focus and develops more quickly than in similar series.
• Supporting Cast: The spotlight tends to stay on Ibuki and a few others, leaving some of the bodyguards underdeveloped in the first volume.
Overall Impression:
Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards 1 is a lively, entertaining start to a series that promises action, humour, and a touch of romance. Its blend of school life and yakuza drama, combined with engaging art and a fast pace, makes it a strong recommendation for fans of shonen manga with ensemble casts and quirky premises. While it leans on familiar tropes, its execution and nostalgic charm set it apart, and the evolving dynamics keep the story fresh.
Recommended For:
Fans of Assassination Classroom, Spy x Family, and anyone who enjoys action-comedy manga with a school setting and a quirky, ever-changing plot.

For those looking for a wacky, fun story with action, romance, and bizarre moments... Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards is a great choice.

I think I've been reading this manga for a long time, and I had the chance to read it, and I don't regret it at all. It was super fun, the characters are incredibly unique and bizarre, but we also found a story full of action, mafia, romance, and hidden identities. I loved it!

Thank you so much, Kodansha Comics, for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Arakuni has been tasked by the bio father of Honeko to protect her against his enemies. Unbeknownst to Honeko, her Yakuza father had put her up for adoption at birth to protect her from the lifestyle. Unfortunately, someone within his ranks has leaked information about her existence. Her father plans on stepping down within two years, and people within and outside of his organisations want to annihilate because they believe she's the one who will be named heir of his criminal empire.
Arakuni has a longstanding crush on Honeko and swears to protect her from the onslaught of assassins.

This is a cutesy high school assassin rom-com.
I liked the pacing of the story. We get introduced to the characters and their plight rather quickly.
If you like Spy x Family and High School Assassin's, this story is right up your ally. There's humour and lots of blood, and Honeko is awfully oblivious about it all. The way the miscommunication trope is utilised in this story adds to the dynamic between Honeko and Arakuni. She senses that something is up but can't quite put her finger on it. Arakuni acts tough, but in front of her, transforms into the love sick teenager that he actually is. I found it cute.

Minor point of discontent: we get introduced to Honeko's brother. At some point, it's revealed that they have bound their chest with tape. At first, I hoped this was a bridge to let us know that they were enby or transmasc. After finishing the first volume, this doesn't seem to be the case. There is no explanation as to why they choose to introduce themselves as a man at first, and from the moment we as readers learn that they had breasts, that storyline is thrown in the bin and continues as a woman - both in appearance and how they're adressed - without further explanation. I feel like this was a missed opportunity to add more depth to her character. This is the first volume, so we might get the explanation as the story develops.

I liked it, is it the most thrilling thought provoking manga? No but it’s an enjoyable fun read. I like the art style and would be interested in reading the next in the series

Thank you for netGalley and Kodansha for the eARC.

Honeko Akabane's Boyguards 1 is the intro volume into the series full of hijinks and funny situations where Ibuki, a delinquent student, has to protect his old childhood friend Honeko from harm as she is the daughter of a yakuza. In fact, her entire class is full of quirky bodyguards, Ibuki being the newest recruit.

This volume was a great introduction to the premise and the amount of scenarios that the bodyguards find themselves while also not giving away their secret to Honeko. I found all of the characters funny and lovable, and most importantly relatable, although their circumstances could be anything but. The pacing and art was fun to read, and I was sad when I got to the end of the volume. I will be definitely keeping up with this series to see where it leads!

This is cute!

I adore the plot. This reminds me of the light-heartedness of Assassination Classroom, which made me so nostalgic. This is an adorable must-have yakuza comedy. I'm excited for the second volume!

I don’t normally read manga, but I stumbled on this while browsing NetGalley and thought I’d try something totally different. And wow… it was peculiar but in a fun, chaotic way that somehow worked.

The plot is completely off the rails: Honeko, the main girl, has no idea she’s the heir to a dangerous yakuza family, and her whole class is secretly assigned to protect her without her ever finding out. Like, her entire class. Talk about a secret mission. And the best part? Honeko is so oblivious to everything going on around her, it’s almost crazy, if you can get past how ridiculously unaware she is of the danger she's in.

Seriously, it’s borderline hilarious how little she notices. But it’s not in a frustrating way, it’s more like you can’t help but laugh at how “clueless” she is. I think it adds to the absurd fun of it all. The whole thing is just so over-the-top, it’s hard not to get caught up in the ridiculousness.

Ibuki, the grumpy protector, is a typical “I’m doing my job but secretly care” guy, and his reactions to Honeko’s total lack of awareness are gold. The whole class being so committed to their roles just adds to the chaos.

I’ll be honest, it’s probably not for everyone. If you prefer things a little more grounded, this could feel a bit much. But if you’re down for something lighthearted, absurd, and completely off the rails, it’s a fun ride. The pacing’s quick, the art’s easy to follow, and it’s just a good time if you don’t mind things getting a little silly.

Thank you Kodansha Comics for the drc via NetGalley which I have voluntarily read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The beginning of this manga felt a little abrupt but the pacing gets better as the story continues. The action scenes are fun and the art is very well done. I like the concept a lot and there are some good twists to keep the plot moving. Both of the main characters are a little immature but they're high schoolers and one has no idea what's going on so that felt natural to their characters -- though it's still over the top drama and action as it should be. There's a little bit of romance, mostly with the MCs clearly being interested in each other but either not accepting it or not knowing how to handle it. I enjoyed reading this one and will continue with the series. I'd recommend it to teens who like action comedies.

This manga was everything I needed and more. The plot was originally what possessed me to read this but once I picked it up, Inwas instantly pleased. The pacing of it was stellar and the characters were lovable. I can’t wait to see how the romance blossoms more in the next volume between Arakuni and Honeko!

The concept immediately caught my attention, it reminded me of Spy x Family but with a high school romance twist, which felt fresh and fun at first.
I did feel like some parts started to get a bit repetitive. The story sometimes loops around the same dynamics without much progression, and it honestly drained my interest. A little more development would make it even better.
The art style has that old-school manga charm, which adds to its nostalgic feel. I'd totally recommend this to everyone, especially younger teens around 13-15.
It’s lighthearted and fun .

Hilarious and kind of crazy but that was expected. Honeko is oblivious and so self righteous. Also I don't get why everyone is afraid of Ibuki when he's just existing but still love the dynamic.
Will be interesting to see who's the mole.

This clearly meant to be an action comedy with some hints of romance, but it just...doesn't do it for me? This story is roughly 90 percent action and about 10 percent actual plot. I feel like halfway through, they realized the plot of "a bunch of assassins trying to kill the mob boss's secret child" was too basic, so they had to add in a primary antagonist. The art is fantastic! The biggest thing about this series is that the art is so good. Clearly the artist excels at drawing action scenes, and that's why so much of the volume is action.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.


I had the pleasure of diving into Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards 1, and let me tell you-I'm hooked. This action-packed manga doesn't just deliver on suspense; it keeps you second-guessing everything.

Trying to avoid spoilers here, but the mystery at the core of the story is gripping. Every twist made me tilt my head, furrow my brow, and turn the page faster. Who is the bad guy? I need answers!

The blend of high-stakes action with a hint of romance adds just the right amount of emotional depth, keeping me fully invested. Needless to say, I'm already on my way to grab the next volumes to unravel all the lingering questions. Highly recommended for fans of pulse-pounding stories that refuse to let go

"I risk my life for Akabane... because she accepts me for me."

I was immediately drawn in with the more bold and action art-style of the drawings. I enjoyed the dynamic between Arakuni Ibuki and his childhood friend, Honeko Akabane. They had some cute moments, the highlight being the promise they made as kids and their library "date." Plus it was fun to see Ibuki act as a secret bodyguard to Honeko, whom doesn't know she's secretly the daughter of a yakuza leader. Not only that but all her class-mates are also there to help protect Honeko. It was entertaining seeing how different Ibuki is compared to the rest of class 3-4, whom have more experience and was raised for the sole purpose of protecting Honkeo. It added a more chaotic energy and different dynamic to the Manga since Ibuki is basically an rookie bodyguard.

In general, Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards was a fun read, there are a lot funny and ridiculous moments. Its very fast paced and there's never really a dull moment due to its more action packed nature. While, I wouldn't say it brought anything super new to the table, I did like its take on the bodyguard trope with it being more of a secret role. Futhermore, I enjoyed the mystery of trying to unravel the mole in Class 3-4, while dealing with Maschika Jingu, the Jingu Gang's heir.

Thank you to Kodansha Comics for the ARC.

Fun and action packed, the story made for a pleasant break from a hectic day. The dialogue was a little awkward at times, but I loved the concept and the art style, and I'm really intrigued by where the story will go and what the future holds for class 3-4. Really makes me want to dive deep into manga again!

Entertaining and comic, I enjoyed reading this manga. Cannot say it's a crazy good one, but it had it's own moments

This is a highly entertaining story with a lot of twists that I never expected. Absolutely love the art style and the cute dynamic of the two main characters. The only thing I didn’t care for was I felt like this comic slightly caters towards a male gaze due to the fact, the female lead underwear is shown at one point, and then another female character is shown in the shower. At no point do we see the reverse for a male character.