# Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards

Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards (Japanese: 赤羽骨子のボディガード, Hepburn: Akabane Honeko no Bodigādo) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masamitsu Nigatsu. It has been serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine from September 2022 to November 2024, with its chapters collected in twelve tankōbon volumes. A live-action film adaptation premiered in Japanese theaters in August 2024.

## Plot

Honeko Akabane and Ibuki Arakuni have been childhood friends since they were kids. Ibuki harbors feelings for Honeko and is fiercely protective of her, often leading to fights. Honeko always scolds him for his recklessness but is deeply grateful for his presence, as she feels safe around him. Ibuki's unwavering determination to protect Honeko stems from his knowledge of her true heritage. She is the daughter of a powerful yakuza organization and destined to be its next leader after her father's passing. Due to this, rival organizations are plotting to eliminate her, even hiring professional assassins. To keep Honeko safe, she was adopted by a lawyer's family, concealing her Yakuza connections. Ibuki became her bodyguard for a year, although he is not alone; all their friends and classmates were also assigned as Honeko's bodyguards. The story follows the daily lives of Class 3–4 as they protect Honeko without her knowledge, while also exploring the budding romance between Honeko and Ibuki.

## Characters
### Arakuni Ibuki (威吹荒邦, Ibuki Arakuni)

    Portrayed by: Raul

### Honeko Akabane (赤羽骨子, Akabane Honeko)

    Portrayed by: Natsuki Deguchi

### Sumihiko Somejima (染島澄彦, Somejima Sumihiko)

    Portrayed by: Daiken Okudaira

### Nei Togeya (棘屋寧, Togeya Nei)

    Portrayed by: Hikaru Takahashi

### Masachika Jingu (尽宮正親, Jingū Masachika)

    Portrayed by: Tao Tsuchiya

## Media
### Manga

Written and illustrated by Masamitsu Nigatsu, Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards was serialized in Kodansha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Magazine from September 21, 2022, to November 20, 2024. Kodansha collected its chapters in twelve tankōbon volumes, released from January 17, 2023, to January 17, 2025.
Kodansha has published the manga digitally in English through its K Manga digital service. In March 2024, Kodansha USA announced that they had licensed the manga for print release, with the first volume set to be published in January 2025.

#### Volumes

| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
| 1 | January 17, 2023 | 978-4-06-530272-9 | January 28, 2025 | 979-8-88877-354-3 |
| 1. "Arakuni Ibuki's Great Efforts" (威吹荒邦の奔走) 2. "Class 3-4's Doubt" (3年4組の疑心) 3. "Honeko Akabane's Struggles" (赤羽骨子の受難) 4. "Masachika Jingu's Frustration" (尽宮正親の焦燥) 5. "Arakuni Ibuki's 50 Minutes" (威吹荒邦の50分) |||||
| 2 | March 16, 2023 | 978-4-06-530932-2 | March 25, 2025 | 979-8-88877-355-0 |
| 6. "Masachika Jingu's Demise" (尽宮正親の終焉) 7. "The Traitor in Class 3-4" (3年4組の裏切り者) 8. "Sumihiko Somejima's Recommendation" (染島澄彦の推薦) 9. "Honeko Akabane's Concern" (赤羽骨子の屈託) 10. "Orpheus in the Underworld" (地獄のオルフェ) 11. "Nei Togeya's Longtime Foe" (棘屋寧の宿敵) 12. "Arakuni Ibuki's Oath" (威吹荒邦の宣誓) 13. "Kinugashima High School's Nonconformist" (鬼怒ヶ島高校の異端児) 14. "Masachika Jingu's Struggles" (尽宮正親の受難) |||||
| 3 | May 17, 2023 | 978-4-06-531561-3 | May 27, 2025 | 979-8-88877-356-7 |
| 15. "Honeko Akabane's Frustration" (赤羽骨子の焦燥) 16. "Class 3-4's True Strength" (3年4組の実力) 17. "Class 3-4's Envy" (3年4組の羨望) 18. "Arakuni Ibuki's Motto" (威吹荒邦の信条) 19. "Kunigashima High School's Counterattack" (鬼怒ヶ島高校の逆襲) 20. "Class 3-4's School Trip" (3年4組の修学旅行) 21. "The Traitor's Baptism" (裏切り者の洗礼) 22. "Class 3-4's Departure" (3年4組の出発) 23. "Moonlight" (月の光) |||||
| 4 | July 14, 2023 | 978-4-06-532189-8 | July 29, 2025 | 979-8-88877-357-4 |
| 24. "The Traitor's Secret Meeting" (裏切り者の密会) 25. "Honeko Akabane's Agreement" (赤羽骨子の承諾) 26. "Masachika Jingu's Journey Forward" (尽宮正親の往路) 27. "Arakuni Ibuki's End of Term Exam" (威吹荒邦の期末テスト) 28. "Kuran Shuto's Downfall" (首藤孔蘭の失墜) 29. "Class 3-4's Undercover Investigation" (3年4組の潜入捜査) 30. "The Hunting Dog Organization's Representative" (猟犬商会の代表) 31. "Jo Kagara's Step Forward" (嘉柄譲の前進) 32. "The Salvation Funeral Garden's Parent and Child" (救世葬苑の親子) |||||
| 5 | September 14, 2023 | 978-4-06-532896-5 | September 30, 2025 | 979-8-88877-358-1 |
| 33. "Yamihime Higure's Deep-Rooted Delusion" (日暮弥美姫の妄執) 34. "Class 3-4's Closing Ceremony" (3年4組の終業式) 35. "Yamihime Higure's Sword" (日暮弥美姫の剣) 36. "Class 3-4's Aspirations" (3年4組の憧憬) 37. "Arakuni Ibuki's Rage" (威吹荒邦の激情) 38. "The Puppies' Waltz" (子犬のワルツ) 39. "Farewell Song" (別れの曲) 40. "Class 3-4's Supporters" (3年4組の助っ人) Extra Story: "Masachika Jingu's Redemption" (尽宮正親の清算) |||||
| 6 | November 16, 2023 | 978-4-06-533548-2 | November 25, 2025 | 979-8-88877-359-8 |
| 41. "Arakuni Ibuki's Influence" (威吹荒邦の所為) 42. "The Traitor's Revealed" (裏切り者の種明かし) 43. "Sumihiko Somejima's Rematch" (染島澄彦の続き) 44. "The Salvation Funeral Garden's Traitor" (救世葬苑の裏切り者) 45. "Sumihiko Somejima's Shameful Behavior" (染島澄彦の醜態) 46. "Arakuni Ibuki Reveals His Tricks" (威吹荒邦の種明かし) 47. "Love's Greeting" (愛の挨拶) 48. "Honeko Akabane's Wild Chase" (赤羽骨子の奔走) 49. "Honeko Akabane's Attack" (赤羽骨子の強襲) |||||
| 7 | February 16, 2024 | 978-4-06-534575-7 | — | — |
| 50. "Arakuni Ibuki's Key Figure" (威吹荒邦の立て役者) 51. "Class 3-4's Swindler" (３年４組の詐欺師) 52. "Suzaku Umishiro's Farewell" (海代朱雀の決別) 53. "Masahito Jingu Tells All" (尽宮正人の開口) 54. "Masachika Jingu's Challenge Letter" (尽宮正親の挑戦状) 55. "Sosoji High School's New Semester" (錚々児高校の新学期) 56. "The Harassment of the Ex-Jingu Gang Members" (元尽宮組の嫌がらせ) 57. "Arakuni Ibuki's Negotiation" (威吹荒邦の懐柔) 58. "Honeko Akabane's Bodyguards" (赤羽骨子のボディガード) |||||
| 8 | April 17, 2024 | 978-4-06-535189-5 | — | — |
| 59. "Arakuni Ibuki's Scenario" (威吹荒邦のシナリオ) 60. "Kuran Shuto's Adlib" (首藤孔蘭のアドリブ) 61. "Interlude - Sakura Ibuki" (威吹桜の幕間) 62. "Tomoe Managami's New Beginning" (真名上朋恵の明転) 63. "Takeo Ibuki's Showstopper" (威吹丈夫のいぶし銀) 64. "The Three Sister's Finale" (三姉妹のフィナーレ) 65. "Honeko Akabane's Curtain Call" (赤羽骨子のカーテンコール) 66. "Love Dream" (愛の夢) 67. "Arakuni Ibuki's Strange Turn of Fate" (威吹荒邦の奇縁) |||||
| 9 | July 17, 2024 | 978-4-06-535803-0 | — | — |
| 68. "Soji Kodo's Obsession" (孤堂惣慈の拘り) 69. "The Kojo Family's 18th Son" (孤堂一家の十八男) 70. "Kuran Shuto's Call to Action" (首藤孔蘭の奮起) 71. "Kuran Shuto's Fierce Struggle" (首藤孔蘭の奮闘) 72. "Kuran Shuto's Warning" (首藤孔蘭の忠告) 73. "Kuran Shuto's Message" (首藤孔蘭の報告) 74. "Honeko Akabane's Confession" (赤羽骨子の告白) 75. "Ride of the Valkyries" (ワルキューレの騎行) 76. "Masachika Jingu's New Year's Greeting" (尽宮正親の迎春) |||||
| 10 | September 17, 2024 | 978-4-06-536779-7 | — | — |
| 77. "Masachika Jingu's Adolescent Period" (尽宮正親の青春) 78. "The Student Council Member's Grave Sin" (生徒会役員の大罪) 79. "Arakuni Ibuki's Sincerity" (威吹荒邦の本気) 80. "Honeko Akabane's Final..." (赤羽骨子の最後) 81. "Masahito Jingu Settles His Affairs" (尽宮正人の清算) 82. "Class 3-4's Fundraising" (３年４組の資金調達) 83. "Etsu Kodo's Chance Meeting" (孤堂悦の邂逅) 84. "Soji Kodo's Unforeseen Snag" (孤堂惣慈の暗礁) 85. "Sumihiko Somejima's Grand Filial Piety" (染島澄彦の孝行) |||||
| 11 | November 15, 2024 | 978-4-06-537438-2 | — | — |
| 86. "Class 3-4's Training Camp" (3年4組の強化合宿) 87. "Honeko Akabane's Rampage" (赤羽骨子の暴走) 88. "Kuran Shuto's Long-Held Desire" (首藤孔蘭の本懐) 89. "Class 3-4's Team Competition" (3年4組の紅白戦) 90. "Class 3-4's Future" (3年4組の行く先) 91. "Class 3-4's Raid" (3年4組のカチコミ) 92. "Yuma Kodo's Tenacity" (孤堂由真の執念) 93. "Class 3-4's Secret Techniques" (3年4組の必殺技) 94. "Shien Kodo's Tenacity" (孤堂紫炎の執念) |||||
| 12 | January 17, 2025 | 978-4-06-538048-2 | — | — |
| 95. "Sumihiko Somejima's Promise" (染島澄彦の約束) 96. "The Kodo Family's Full Score" (孤堂一家のフルスコア) 97. "Soji Kodo's Envy" (孤堂惣慈の羨望) 98. "Soji Kodo's Story" (孤堂惣慈の物語) 99. "Yuma Kodo's Devotion" (孤堂由真の献身) 100. "Yuma Kodo's Will" (孤堂由真の遺言) 101. "Arakuni Ibuki's Conclusion" (威吹荒邦の決着) 102. "Honeko Akabane's Address" (赤羽骨子の答辞) 103. "Arakuni Ibuki's Journey is Complete" (威吹荒邦の完走) |||||

### Live-action film

In February 2024, it was announced that the series would receive a live-action film adaptation. The film stars Raul as Arakuni Ibuki and is directed by Junichi Ishikawa, with scripts written by Hiroyuki Yatsu. It premiered in Japanese theaters on August 2, 2024.

## Reception

The series was nominated for the Next Manga Award in the print category in 2023.