Ashibe

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Lore & Background

Ashibe Ashiya is close friends with his classmate Sugao Anan. However, his father accidentally starts a fire in a house under construction, forcing him and Ashibe to move into an apartment in another area; Ashibe also has to transfer schools. Shortly after moving, Ashibe is walking down the street when a white object falls out of a passing truck. They initially thought it was a fish, but later found out it was a baby seal, which they decided to name 'Goma-chan' and keep as a pet.

In Their Own Story

The manga *Shōnen Ashibe* was serialized in Shueisha's seinen manga magazine *Weekly Young Jump* from 1988 to 1994, with its chapters collected in eight tankōbon volumes. It received a six-episode original video animation (OVA) adaptation in 1991, which led to a 37-episode anime television series adaptation aired on TBS in that same year; a second season of 25 episodes aired from 1992 to 1993. A second manga series, titled *ComaGoma*, which depicts Ashibe as a second grade student, was serialized in *Weekly Young Jump* from 2000 to 2004, with its chapters collected in six volumes. A second anime television series adaptation, titled *Shōnen Ashibe Go! Go! Goma-chan*, was broadcast for four seasons on NHK Educational TV from 2016 to 2019. Another manga series illustrated by Shōhei, titled *Seishōnen Ashibe*, depicts an older Ashibe as a freshman in high school, serialized from 2017 to 2024. In 2020, Morishita started another manga series, titled *Shō 3 Ashibe QQ Goma-chan*, which depicts Ashibe as a third grade student. A short anime television series adaptation of *Shō 3 Ashibe QQ Goma-chan* premiered in April 2026.

Reader's Guide

Ashibe is the protagonist of the *Shōnen Ashibe* manga and anime series. The original manga, written and illustrated by Hiromi Morishita, was serialized in *Weekly Young Jump* from 1988 to 1994 and collected in eight tankōbon volumes. The series follows Ashibe's daily life after his father accidentally starts a fire, forcing them to move and Ashibe to transfer schools. Shortly after moving, a baby seal falls from a truck, and Ashibe names it Goma-chan. The story focuses on Ashibe, his family, and his friends, including his classmate Sugao Anan. The manga has sold 20 million copies. Sequels include *ComaGoma* (Ashibe as a second grader, 2000–2004), *Shō 3 Ashibe QQ Goma-chan* (Ashibe as a third grader, starting 2020), and *Seishōnen Ashibe* (Ashibe as a high school freshman, 2017–2024). An anime adaptation began with a six-episode OVA in 1991, followed by a 37-episode TV series in 1991 and a 25-episode second season from 1992 to 1993. A second anime series, *Shōnen Ashibe Go! Go! Goma-chan*, ran for four seasons from 2016 to 2019. A short anime adaptation of *Shō 3 Ashibe QQ Goma-chan* premiered in April 2026. An adventure video game based on the manga, *Shōnen Ashibe: Nepal Daibōken no Maki*, was released for the Nintendo Famicom in 1991.

Did You Know?

• The original *Shōnen Ashibe* manga was serialized in Shueisha's *Weekly Young Jump* from 1988 to 1994, with its chapters collected in eight tankōbon volumes.
• The manga has sold 20 million copies.
• A six-episode original video animation (OVA) adaptation was released in 1991, which led to a 37-episode anime television series on TBS that same year.
• A second manga series, *ComaGoma*, depicts Ashibe as a second grade student and was serialized from 2000 to 2004.
• A short anime television series adaptation of *Shō 3 Ashibe QQ Goma-chan* premiered in April 2026.