# Classroom of the Elite

Classroom of the Elite (Japanese: ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ, Hepburn: Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e, lit. 'Welcome to the Classroom of Real Ability Supremacism'), abbreviated as Yōjitsu (よう実) in Japan, is a Japanese light novel series written by Shōgo Kinugasa, with illustration by Shunsaku Tomose. It was published from May 2015 to September 2019 under Media Factory's MF Bunko J imprint, a sequel Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ 2年生編, Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e Ninensei-hen, lit. 'Welcome to the Classroom of Real Ability Supremacism Second-Year Students Edition') was published from January 2020 to November 2024. Another sequel Classroom of the Elite: Year 3 (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ 3年生編, Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e Sannensei-hen, lit. 'Welcome to the Classroom of Real Ability Supremacism Third-Year Students Edition') began publishing in March 2025. A manga adaptation by Yuyu Ichino began its serialization in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive on January 27, 2016. A manga adaptation of the sequel light novel series illustrated by Shia Sasane began serialization in the same magazine in December 2021. An anime television series adaptation produced by Lerche aired with the first season in 2017. A second season aired from July to September 2022, and a third season aired from January to March 2024. A fourth season has been announced.
Set in the prestigious national high school 'Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School' established by the Japanese government, the story is about a dispute over 'Class A' whose members are destined to achieve any desired success after their graduation.

## Plot

The Japanese government has established the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School, dedicated to instruct and foster the generation of people that will support the country in the future. The students are given a high degree of freedom in order to closely mimic real life. The story follows the perspective of Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, a quiet and modest boy, who is bad at making friends and would rather keep his distance, but possesses unrivaled intelligence and incredible physical ability. He is a student of Class-D, which is where the school dumps its inferior students, widely considered "defective". After meeting Suzune Horikita and Kikyō Kushida, two other students in his class, the situation begins to change, and he gets involved in many affairs and his thought of an ideal normal high school life begins to get scattered, taking a toll on his sanity.

## Media
### Light novels
#### Classroom of the Elite

The series is written by Shōgo Kinugasa and illustrated by Shunsaku Tomose. Media Factory published eleven volumes, along with three short story volumes from May 25, 2015 to September 25, 2019, under the MF Bunko J imprint. Seven Seas Entertainment has licensed the series. On February 17, 2021, Seven Seas announced it released a new version of volume seven, due to the localization decisions in the original omitting several paragraphs.
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
| 1 | May 25, 2015 | 978-4-04-067657-9 | February 7, 2019 (digital) May 7, 2019 (physical) | 978-1-64-275137-6 |
| Chapter 1: The Structure of Japanese Society Chapter 2: Welcome to the School Life of Your Dreams Chapter 3: The Students of Class D Chapter 4: Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank You for Waiting Chapter 5: Friends Chapter 6: The End of Everyday Life Chapter 7: Classroom of the Elite Chapter 8: The Association of Failures Chapter 9: The Failures Mobilize Once Again Chapter 10: Midterm Exam Chapter 11: The Beginning Chapter 12: Victory Celebration |||||
| 2 | September 25, 2015 | 978-4-04-067778-1 | May 16, 2019 (digital) August 13, 2019 (physical) | 978-1-64-275139-0 |
| Chapter 1: Sakura Airi’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: The Sudden Beginning of Our Tumultuous Troubles Chapter 3: Weak Point Chapter 4: An Unexpected Witness Chapter 5: Each and Every Prediction Chapter 6: Truth and Lies Chapter 7: Only One Solution |||||
| 3 | January 25, 2016 | 978-4-04-068008-8 | July 18, 2019 (digital) November 19, 2019 (physical) | 978-1-64-275723-1 |
| Chapter 1: Chabashira Sae’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: The Boundary Between Heaven and Hell Chapter 3: Rivals on the Move Chapter 4: The Meaning of Freedom Chapter 5: The Quiet Outbreak of War Chapter 6: False Teamwork Chapter 7: The Curtain Rises |||||
| 4 | May 25, 2016 | 978-4-04-068338-6 | November 21, 2019 (digital) February 25, 2020 (physical) | 978-1-64-505197-8 |
| Chapter 1: Karuizawa Kei’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: The Gentle Days… Chapter 3: An Infinite Variety of Wishes Chapter 4: Double Question Chapter 5: Each and Every Difference |||||
| 4.5 | September 23, 2016 | 978-4-04-068629-5 | February 6, 2020 (digital) June 16, 2020 (physical) | 978-1-64-505437-5 |
| Chapter 1: Summer Vacation is Nearly Over Chapter 2: Ibuki Mio has Surprisingly Good Sense Chapter 3: Katsuragi Kōhei is Surprisingly Troubled Chapter 4: Dangers Lurk in Everyday Life Chapter 5: A Day of Girl Troubles and Disaster: A Devil Smiles Like an Angel Chapter 6: A Gathering Between Classes Chapter 7: Ike, Yamauchi, and Sudou’s Summer Vacation (Extra Stories) |||||
| 5 | January 25, 2017 | 978-4-04-069017-9 | May 14, 2020 (digital) July 21, 2020 (physical) | 978-1-64-505486-3 |
| Chapter 1: Sudō Ken's Soliloquy Chapter 2: The School Sports Festival Begins Chapter 3: Class D's Objective Chapter 4: Everyone's Calculations Chapter 5: There's a Reason for Their Relationship Chapter 6: The Curtains Rise Chapter 7: For Whose Sake? Chapter 8: What You and I Lack Chapter 9: The Turning Point |||||
| 6 | May 25, 2017 | 978-4-04-069231-9 | July 23, 2020 (digital) October 13, 2020 (physical) | 978-1-64-505751-2 |
| Chapter 1: Kushida Kikyo’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: The Changing Class D Chapter 3: The Paper Shuffle Chapter 4: Class C Makes Its Move Chapter 5: A Means of Escape Chapter 6: The Ayanokouji Group’s Formation Chapter 7: A Difference in Determination |||||
| 7 | October 25, 2017 | 978-4-04-069458-0 | October 29, 2020 (digital) January 19, 2021 (physical) | 978-1-64-505820-5 |
| Chapter 1: Ryūen Kakeru’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: The Sound of Footsteps in the Middle of Winter Chapter 3: Reunions and Farewells Chapter 4: Insanity Chapter 5: Time to Settle Things Chapter 6: Intersecting Thoughts Chapter 7: What Ryūen Wins and Loses |||||
| 7.5 | January 25, 2018 | 978-4-04-069675-1 | February 4, 2021 (digital) March 23, 2021 (physical) | 978-1-64-505975-2 |
| Chapter 1: First Winter Chapter 2: Love’s Arrow Chapter 3: Ibuki Mio’s Disastrous Day Chapter 4: How We Spend Our Time Chapter 5: The Turbulent Double Date Chapter 6: Where the Arrow Landed |||||
| 8 | May 25, 2018 | 978-4-04-069861-8 | May 27, 2021 (digital) June 22, 2021 (physical) | 978-1-64-827223-3 |
| Chapter 1: Horikita Manabu’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: A New Special Exam: Mixed Training Camp Chapter 3: Human Nature Put to the Test Chapter 4: A Premonition of Defeat Chapter 5: The First Half of the Girls’ Battle: Ichinose Honami Chapter 6: Ubiquitous Things Chapter 7: What Is Lost, What Isn’t Chapter 8: The Second Half of the Girls’ Battle: Horikita Suzune Chapter 9: Blind Spot |||||
| 9 | September 25, 2018 | 978-4-04-065157-6 | August 26, 2021 (digital) September 28, 2021 (physical) | 978-1-64-827261-5 |
| Chapter 1: Ichinose Honami’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: The Student Council President’s Inclination Chapter 3: Changing Relationships Chapter 4: Unchanging Intent Chapter 5: Ichinose’s Secret, Kamuro’s Secret Chapter 6: Rumors Running Rampant Chapter 7: Ambiguous Things Chapter 8: All the Tricks Chapter 9: Return |||||
| 10 | January 25, 2019 | 978-4-04-065506-2 | February 17, 2022 (digital) March 15, 2022 (physical) | 978-1-64-827321-6 |
| Chapter 1: Hirata Yōsuke's Soliloquy Chapter 2: The Calm Before the Storm Chapter 3: In-Class Voting Chapter 4: The Difficulty of Saving Chapter 5: Older Brother and Younger Sister Chapter 6: Good and Evil Chapter 7: Other Classes' Ideas Chapter 8: The Expelled Students |||||
| 11 | May 25, 2019 | 978-4-04-065739-4 | April 7, 2022 (digital) May 10, 2022 (physical) | 978-1-64-827361-2 |
| Chapter 1: Sakayanagi Arisu’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: The Teachers’ Battle Chapter 3: The Final Battle of The First Year Chapter 4: Opponents Chapter 5: What the Class is Lacking Chapter 6: Good and Evil Chapter 7: A Man’s Tears Chapter 8: Ayanokōji VS. Sakayanagi Chapter 9: Class B VS. Class D Chapter 10: The Line Between Winner and Loser |||||
| 11.5 | September 25, 2019 | 978-4-04-064007-5 | May 12, 2022 (digital) June 28, 2022 (physical) | 978-1-63858-102-4 |
| Chapter 1: A Girl Peering at Herself in the Mirror Chapter 2: Graduation Ceremony Chapter 3: Hiyori Date Chapter 4: Lost Lamb Chapter 5: From Older Brother to Younger Sister Chapter 6: Matsushita’s Suspicions Chapter 7: Adolescence About to Begin |||||

#### Classroom of the Elite: Year 2

A sequel light novel series titled Classroom of the Elite: Year 2 (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ 2年生編, Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e Ninensei-hen, lit. "Welcome to the Classroom of Merito-Supremacism: Second-Year Students Edition") was published under the MF Bunko J imprint from January 2020 to November 2024. The series concluded with twelve main volumes and three short story volumes, including volume 12.5 released on November 25, 2024. Seven Seas Entertainment has also licensed Year 2.
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
| 1 | January 24, 2020 | 978-4-04-064329-8 | June 9, 2022 (digital) July 19, 2022 (physical) | 978-1-63858-182-6 |
| Chapter 1: Operating Behind the Scenes Chapter 2: True Ability Chapter 3: A New Stage Chapter 4: These New First-Years are Nothing But Troublemakers Chapter 5: Ichika’s Test Chapter 6: Class D and Class D Chapter 7: Expulsion Approaches Chapter 8: A Deepening Mystery |||||
| 2 | June 25, 2020 | 978-4-04-064664-0 | July 21, 2022 (digital) August 30, 2022 (physical) | 978-1-63858-337-0 |
| Chapter 1: The White Room Student's Soliloquy Chapter 2: Changing School Life Chapter 3: Days Passing By Chapter 4: Approaching Summer, Premonition of a Fierce Battle Chapter 5: Battle of the First-Years and Third-Years Chapter 6: Invitation Chapter 7: The Calm Before the Storm |||||
| 3 | October 24, 2020 | 978-4-04-065942-8 | September 8, 2022 (digital) November 22, 2022 (physical) | 978-1-63858-642-5 |
| Chapter 1: Nanase Tsubasa's Soliloquy Chapter 2: Everyone Has Their Own Strategies Chapter 3: The Curtain Rises on the Uninhabited Island Exam Chapter 4: Traveling Companion Chapter 5: What It Means to Like Someone Chapter 6: Unseen Enemy Chapter 7: The Aloof Child Prodigy of Class 2-D Chapter 8: The First-Years on the Move Chapter 9: Identity Revealed Chapter 10: Seeds of Unrest |||||
| 4 | February 25, 2021 | 978-4-04-680166-1 | December 29, 2022 (digital) February 7, 2023 (physical) | 978-1-63858-817-7 |
| Chapter 1: Amasawa Ichika's Soliloquy Chapter 2: Secret Maneuvers Chapter 3: Just Keep Going and Keep Quiet Chapter 4: Fighting Against Solitude Chapter 5: Under Siege: Kouenji VS. The Free Groups Chapter 6: Each and Every Calculation Chapter 7: The Man Called Tsukishiro Chapter 8: Announcement of the Results |||||
| 4.5 | June 25, 2021 | 978-4-04-680516-4 | March 30, 2023 (digital) May 9, 2023 (physical) | 978-1-68579-639-6 |
| Chapter 1: The Curtain Rises on a Fun Summer Vacation Chapter 2: Ike and Komiya and… Chapter 3: The Beginning of a Short-Lived Vacation Chapter 4: Everyone’s Holiday Chapter 5: Everyone’s Growth Chapter 6: A Treasure Hunt of Girl Troubles Chapter 7: A Connection to the Past Chapter 8: When Hearts Touch |||||
| 5 | October 25, 2021 | 978-4-04-680846-2 | May 18, 2023 (digital) July 11, 2023 (physical) | 978-1-68579-653-2 |
| Chapter 1: Chabashira Sae’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: Signs of an Approaching Storm Chapter 3: Two Teachers and A Fated Special Exam Chapter 4: Dark Clouds Chapter 5: Ichinose Honami’s Choice Chapter 6: Ryuuen Kakeru’s Choice Chapter 7: Sakayanagi Arisu’s Choice Chapter 8: Horikita Suzune’s Choice Chapter 9: Farewell to the Past |||||
| 6 | February 25, 2022 | 978-4-04-681185-1 | June 15, 2023 (digital) October 3, 2023 (physical) | 978-1-63858-816-0 |
| Chapter 1: Akito Miyake’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: Signs of an Approaching Storm Chapter 3: An Unavoidable Path Chapter 4: Still, We Gotta Do It! Chapter 5: An Arrangement Chapter 6: The Second Sports Festival Chapter 7: The Guest Chapter 8: The Arrival Of Autumn |||||
| 7 | June 24, 2022 | 978-4-04-681477-7 | September 14, 2023 (digital) December 5, 2023 (physical) | 978-1-68579-947-2 |
| Chapter 1: Hasebe Haruka’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: Getting Ready for the Cultural Festival Chapter 3: The Signal Fire of Rebellion Chapter 4: A Love Letter Chapter 5: Meeting the Day Before the Cultural Festival Chapter 6: The Cultural Festival Chapter 7: What Airi Left Behind Chapter 8: Unseen Characters Chapter 9: Those Working Behind the Scenes |||||
| 8 | October 25, 2022 | 978-4-04-681833-1 | March 21, 2024 (digital) April 16, 2024 (physical) | 979-8-88843-430-7 |
| Chapter 1: Kanzaki Ryūji’s Soliloquy Chapter 2: Know Your Enemy, Know Yourself, and You Need Not Fear a Hundred Battles Chapter 3: Self-Explanatory School Trip Chapter 4: School Trip Day Two Chapter 5: School Trip Day Three Chapter 6: School Trip Day Four Chapter 7: A Light Shining at the End of the Darkness |||||
| 9 | February 25, 2023 | 978-4-04-682213-0 | July 4, 2024 (digital) August 6, 2024 (physical) | 979-8-88843-871-8 |
| Chapter 1: Nagumo Miyabi's Soliloquy Chapter 2: Signs of Momentum Chapter 3: A New Student Council Member Chapter 4: How to Spend Time With People in Ichinose's Class Chapter 5: How to Spend a Day Off Chapter 6: Approaching the Special Exam Chapter 7: The Expected and the Unexpected Chapter 8: A Tinge of Anxiety |||||
| 9.5 | June 23, 2023 | 978-4-04-682566-7 | November 7, 2024 (digital) December 10, 2024 (physical) | 979-8-89160-225-0 |
| Chapter 1: Irreplaceable Today Chapter 2: Song of Loneliness Chapter 3: Just A Hunch Chapter 4: Casing Each Other Out Chapter 5: Signs of Quiet Chapter 6: Remaining Time Chapter 7: Changing Relationships |||||
| 10 | October 25, 2023 | 978-4-04-682985-6 | February 27, 2025 (digital) March 25, 2025 (Physical) | 979-8-89160-754-5 |
| Chapter 1: Hashimoto Mashayoshi's Soliloquy Chapter 2: The Curtain Rises on the Third Semester of the Second Year Chapter 3: Survival and Elimination Special Exam Chapter 4: The Identity of the Sender Chapter 5: Advice Chapter 6: Game Changer Chapter 7: Quadrilateral of Offense and Defense Chapter 8: New Expulsion Chapter 9: Harbinger of Awakening |||||
| 11 | February 24, 2024 | 978-4-04-683349-5 | July 8, 2025 (Physical) | 979-8-89373-014-2 |
| 12 | July 25, 2024 | 978-4-04-683797-4 | — | — |
| 12.5 | November 25, 2024 | 978-4-04-684244-2 | — | — |

#### Classroom of the Elite: Year 3

A sequel light novel series titled Classroom of the Elite: Year 3 (ようこそ実力至上主義の教室へ 3年生編, Yōkoso Jitsuryoku Shijōshugi no Kyōshitsu e Sannensei-hen, lit. 'Welcome to the Classroom of Real Ability Supremacism Third-Year Students Edition') has been published under the MF Bunko J imprint since March 2025.
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
| 1 | March 24, 2025 | 978-4-04-684635-8 | — | — |

### Manga
#### Classroom of the Elite

A manga adaptation illustrated by Yuyu Ichino began serialization in Media Factory's Monthly Comic Alive magazine on January 27, 2016. It has been collected in twelve tankōbon volumes as of February 22, 2022. Seven Seas Entertainment has also licensed the manga and the first volume was released in February 2022.
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
| 1 | September 23, 2016 | 978-4-04-068550-2 | February 22, 2022 | 978-1-63858-130-7 |
| 2 | January 23, 2017 | 978-4-04-069039-1 | May 10, 2022 | 978-1-63858-242-7 |
| 3 | March 23, 2017 | 978-4-04-069120-6 | August 16, 2022 | 978-1-63858-599-2 |
| 4 | July 22, 2017 | 978-4-04-069303-3 | November 1, 2022 | 978-1-63858-772-9 |
| 5 | November 22, 2017 | 978-4-04-069532-7 | February 21, 2023 | 978-1-63858-964-8 |
| 6 | April 23, 2018 | 978-4-04-069747-5 | May 23, 2023 | 978-1-68579-511-5 |
| 7 | November 21, 2018 | 978-4-04-065321-1 | August 22, 2023 | 978-1-68579-548-1 |
| 8 | June 22, 2019 | 978-4-04-065704-2 | November 7, 2023 | 979-8-88843-038-5 |
| 9 | January 23, 2020 | 978-4-04-064297-0 | February 6, 2024 | 979-8-88843-210-5 |
| 10 | August 20, 2020 | 978-4-04-064789-0 | April 30, 2024 | 979-8-88843-344-7 |
| 11 | June 23, 2021 | 978-4-04-680382-5 | August 13, 2024 | 979-8-88843-847-3 |
| 12 | February 22, 2022 | 978-4-04-681125-7 | November 5, 2024 | 979-8-88843-848-0 |

#### Classroom of the Elite: Horikita

A spin-off manga illustrated by Sakagaki and featuring Suzune Horikita was serialized in Monthly Comic Alive from June 2017 to May 2018. Its chapters were collected in two tankōbon volumes. At Anime Expo 2022, Seven Seas Entertainment announced that they licensed the spin-off for English publication.
| No. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN |
| 1 | November 22, 2017 | 978-4-04-069642-3 | July 4, 2023 | 978-1-63858-850-4 |
| 2 | June 23, 2018 | 978-4-04-069825-0 | October 10, 2023 | 978-1-68579-934-2 |

#### Classroom of the Elite: Year 2

A manga adaptation of the sequel light novel series illustrated by Shia Sasane began serialization in the Monthly Comic Alive magazine on December 25, 2021. It has been collected in four tankōbon volumes as of January 2025.
| No. | Japanese release date | Japanese ISBN |
| 1 | June 22, 2022 | 978-4-04-681438-8 |
| 2 | April 21, 2023 | 978-4-04-682455-4 |
| 3 | February 22, 2024 | 978-4-04-683297-9 |
| 4 | January 22, 2025 | 978-4-04-683297-9 |

### Anime

An anime television series adaptation aired with the first season on AT-X from July 12 to September 27, 2017. Seiji Kishi and Hiroyuki Hashimoto directed the series at Lerche, Aoi Akashiro handled the series composition, Kazuaki Morita designed the characters, and Ryo Takahashi composed the music. The opening theme song is "Caste Room", performed by ZAQ, and the ending theme song is "Beautiful Soldier", performed by Minami. Crunchyroll streamed the series with subtitles and Funimation streamed the English dub. iQIYI added the series onto its platform, Q3, and the Thai dub in 2022.
On February 21, 2022, it was announced that a sequel was in production. The series was later revealed to have two seasons, with Lerche returning as the studio. The second season is directed by Yoshihito Nishōji, with Kishi and Hashimoto served as chief directors, Hayato Kazano replaced Akashiro as the screenwriter, and Morita returning as the character designer. Masaru Yokoyama and Kana Hashiguchi replaced Takahashi, and served as music composers. The second season aired from July 4 to September 26, 2022. The opening theme song is "Dance in the Game", performed by ZAQ, and the ending theme song is "Hito Shibai" (人芝居), performed by Mai Fuchigami. The third season was originally scheduled for 2023, but it was delayed to January 2024. The third season aired from January 3 to March 27, 2024. The third season's opening theme song is "Minor Piece", performed by ZAQ, and the ending theme song is "Konsei Dai Kakumei" (今世大革命, "The Great Revolution of this World"), performed by Yui Ninomiya.
A fourth season, covering the first semester of the Year 2 sequel light novel series, was announced during the "MF Bunko J Natsu no Gakuensai 2024" livestream event on September 1, 2024.