"What on earth?!" Social media in an uproar over a unique magazine cover collaboration between a mermaid version of Danmitsu and Chiikawa, as manga artist Toru Seino announces the latest issue

On the official X account of manga artist Toru Seino, the cover image of the manga magazine Morning, released on July 2, has been revealed. The magazine's cover features a unique collaboration between the manga Danmitsu and Chiikawa, causing a huge stir on social media.

Seino posted an announcement stating, "Tomorrow's issue of Morning, out on July 2, features a collaboration cover with Chiikawa, a series that Danmitsu herself absolutely loves!!" He followed up by revealing, "Also, the latest 3rd volume of the manga will be released on Wednesday, July 22. A special edition including a photo & illustration book will be released on the same day." He then appealed to fans, "This volume also has a ton of bonus pages as manga perks, and it was super exhausting, so please 'buy it' and read it!"

The revealed cover image is a special visual tied to the upcoming Chiikawa movie scheduled for release in July. Along with the high-impact catchphrase "Something like a mermaid and Danmitsu," it depicts Danmitsu in an alluring mermaid form covered in pink scales. Gently cradled in her arms are Chiikawa, Hachiware, and Usagi, wearing lovely flower decorations on their heads. Furthermore, perched on Danmitsu's left shoulder is a kinkajou, an animal she is actually shown raising in the manga, and Kuri-Manju also makes an appearance holding an apple, making it a must-see design that exquisitely fuses the charm of both works.

Danmitsu is an essay manga series in which Seino depicts his daily life with his wife, television personality Danmitsu. Developed with a blend of the real-life Danmitsu's mysterious charm and Seino's own unique perspective and humor, it unfolds its distinctive style.

On the other hand, Chiikawa by Nagano is a manga that depicts the fun, bittersweet, and sometimes harsh daily lives of "Something Small and Cute"—commonly known as "Chiikawa." Contrasting with its adorable characters, its occasionally severe and absurd worldview has sparked conversations and garnered support from a wide range of generations. It is a highly popular series, with Chiikawa The Movie: The Secret of the Mermaid Island also scheduled for release on July 24.

In response to this unique collaboration post, numerous voices of surprise and amusement poured in on social media, such as "It's rare for Kuri-Manju to be in this kind of collaboration~", "What on earth?!", "I read it out of interest in Danmitsu as someone who takes care of a lot of animals," and "It seems like Chiikawa—or rather, Nagano-sensei—really likes Seino-sensei's work."

(C)nagano (C)ナガノ/ 2026「映画ちいかわ」製作委員会