# RuriDragon

RuriDragon (Japanese: ルリドラゴン, Hepburn: Ruridoragon) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Masaoki Shindo [ja]. It was originally a one-shot published in Shueisha's Jump Giga magazine in December 2020, before being serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump starting in June 2022. Following an indefinite hiatus, the series was moved to Weekly Shōnen Jump's digital version and the Shōnen Jump+ service in April 2024. Its chapters have been collected into three tankōbon volumes as of March 2025.

## Premise

Ruri Aoki wakes up one day and notices that horns started growing from her head. When asked about it, her mother reveals that she is actually a half-dragon. Despite this revelation, Ruri tries to continue living a normal life, though it is more challenging than she thought.

## Publication

Written and illustrated by Masaoki Shindo [ja], RuriDragon was initially a one-shot published in Shueisha's Jump Giga magazine on December 28, 2020. It began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump on June 13, 2022. On August 1, 2022, Weekly Shōnen Jump announced that the series would go on indefinite hiatus due to Shindo's health. The first tankōbon volume was released on October 4, 2022. As of March 2025, three volumes have been released.
On February 21, 2024, it was announced that RuriDragon would resume its serialization, publishing five chapters in Weekly Shōnen Jump from March 4 to April 1, before moving to a biweekly schedule in the magazine's digital version and the Shōnen Jump+ service starting on April 22.
Viz Media and Shueisha's Manga Plus platform are publishing the series digitally in English. In May 2024, Viz Media announced that it would release the manga in print format; the first volume was published on January 7, 2025.

### Volumes

| No. | Title | Original release date | English release date |
| 1 | Actually a Dragon Doragon Nandatte (ドラゴンなんだって) | October 4, 2022 978-4-08-883285-2 | January 7, 2025 978-1-9747-3831-1 |
| "It's Got Nothing to Do with the Horns" (ツノ関係ないじゃん, Tsuno Kankei Nai jan)"See You at School" (また学校でね, Mata Gakkō de ne)"Actually a Dragon" (ドラゴンなんだって, Doragon Nandatte) "Starbucks Is Scary" (スタバ怖い, Sutaba Kowai)"At Last, the Beast Is Slain" (やっと倒した, Yatto Taoshita)"Can't Blame Her" (仕方ないよ, Shikatanai yo) ||||
| 2 | Don't Need to Be Besties Nakaii Hitsuyō Nain da yo (仲良い必要ないんだよ) | September 4, 2024 978-4-08-884164-9 | — |
| "Dragon Crap" (ドラゴン絡み, Doragon-garami)"To Play Hard" (遊びに来たんだよ, Asobi ni Kitanda yo)"As Normal as Possible" (できる限りは普通のフリ, Dekiru Kagiri wa Futsū no Furi)"Put It to Use" (使い道, Tsukaimichi)"No Rest for High Schoolers" (高校生って多忙すぎない？, Kōkōsei tte Tabō Suginai?) "Making Something Fun for Everyone" (自分がみんなを楽しませてるみたいで, Jibun ga Minna o Tanoshimaseteru Mitai de)"Don't Need to Be Besties" (仲良い必要ないんだよ, Nakaii Hitsuyō Nain da yo)"I Wanna Learn About You, Maeda" (前田さんのことが知りたい, Maeda-san no Koto ga Shiritai)"Thanks for Waiting" (待っててくれてありがとう, Mattete Kurete Arigatō) ||||
| 3 | Kinda Gross Kimoi ne (キモいね) | March 4, 2025 978-4-08-884415-2 | — |
| "The Upsides of Dragonhood" (ドラゴンになってよかったこと, Doragon ni Natte Yokatta Koto)"Let's Draw Some Attention" (目立とうよ, Medatō yo)"Get People to Know You" (みんなに知ってもらうこと, Minna ni Shitte Morau Koto)"A NonHuman Substance" (人間が持たない成分, Ningen ga Motanai Seibun)"That Isn't Very Nice" (そういうのよくないっすよ, Sō Iu no Yokunaissu yo) "Nothing Wrong with Some Venom" (毒があっていい, Doku ga Atte Ii)"A Direct Hit" (直撃みたい…です, Chokugeki Mitai... Desu)"I'm a Dragon" (ドラゴンなんだから, Doragon Nanda kara)"Kinda Gross" (キモいね, Kimoi ne) ||||

### Chapters not yet in tankōbon format

These chapters have yet to be published in a tankōbon volume.
* "Was This Always on the Menu?" (そんなのあったっけ？, Sonna no Attakke?)
* "Is There a Matsuda from Class 4 Here?" (4組の松田さんいますか？, Yonkumi no Matsuda-san Imasu ka?)
* "Barely Weighs a Thing" (何か重くない, Nanka Omokunai)
* "Cold Karaage Is Nasty" (冷めたからあげって不味いよね, Sameta Karaage tte Mazui yo ne)
* "Walk on Eggshells" (余計な気, Yokei na Ki)
* "Aoki's Problem" (青木さんの問題, Aoki-san no Mondai)

## Other media

A voice comic adaptation of the one-shot and the first three chapters was released, featuring Chiaki Omigawa as the voice of Ruri Aoki. In July 2022, a set of digital stickers based on the series was released in the instant messaging service Line. A promotional video for the third volume, animated by Coalowl and featuring music by Zutomayo, was released on March 3, 2025.

## Reception

By October 2022, RuriDragon had 200,000 copies in circulation; it had over 850,000 copies in circulation (including digital versions) by March 2025. The first volume debuted at number seven on Oricon's weekly manga chart, with recorded sales of 74,874 copies; the second volume entered the chart at fourth place with 77,508 copies sold; the third volume debuted at seventh place with 72,514 copies sold. The manga ranked first in the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2023" survey answered by bookstore clerks in Japan, who described the series as "a warm story that accepts diversity without hesitation". RuriDragon was also nominated in the 2023 eBookJapan [ja] Manga Award. The series ranked ninth in the 2024 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga for male readers, tying with Suna no Miyako. It ranked second in the Web Manga category of the 2024 Next Manga Awards.
The first chapter received positive reviews from Japanese readers, who found the art "cute" and said that the story's loose atmosphere is not typical of a Jump manga. Brian Salvatore of Multiversity Comics praised the art and tone for approaching the juxtaposition between Ruri and her surroundings in a way that balances comedy and absurdity, adding that the way the story unfolds "seems natural to 'real' life". Chanmei of Real Sound [ja] described RuriDragon as "a book that will make you want to think about the kindness and love of those around you". Writing for GamesRadar+, Austin Wood praised the manga for its "clean art and stellar expressions" and how it approaches its fantasy premise, adding that its setting, pacing, and main character are a stand out within Shōnen Jump's lineup.