is a Japanese manga series created by Natsuki Kizu. It ran in the bimonthly manga magazine Chéri+ from 2013 until 2023 and has been compiled into nine tankōbon volumes by Shinshokan.
The story follows four students who come together to form the amateur rock band Given, blending themes of music and emotional growth as their personal and romantic relationships evolve. At the core of the narrative is the developing relationship between electric guitarist Ritsuka Uenoyama and introverted vocalist Mafuyu Sato, while a parallel storyline delves into the deeper and more complex bond between bassist Haruki Nakayama and drummer Akihiko Kaji.
Exploring themes such as love, grief, and self-discovery, Given portrays how music becomes both an outlet and a connection point for its characters. The series has been adapted across several formats, beginning with an audio drama in 2016. An 11-episode anime television adaptation aired in 2019 on Fuji TV's Noitamina block, marking a milestone as the first boys' love (BL) anime featured in that programming slot. This was followed by a theatrical anime film in 2020 that expanded on the characters' relationships, and a live-action television drama that aired in 2021, introducing the story to a wider audience.
The English-language edition of the manga is licensed in North America by SuBLime, a joint imprint of Viz Media and Animate. The anime and film are distributed internationally by Crunchyroll, further boosting the franchise's global reach and fanbase.
Plot Given is structured around four major story arcs, each exploring different character dynamics and emotional developments. The first arc introduces the band's formation and focuses on Ritsuka Uenoyama and Mafuyu Sato's growing relationship. The second centers on Akihiko Kaji and Haruki Nakayama as the group prepares for its first music competition. The third shifts to Mafuyu's childhood friends, Hiiragi Kashima and Shizusumi Yagi, confronting their shared history and unspoken feelings. The final arc follows Mafuyu's personal journey as he searches for direction in life, while Ritsuka works to complete a song built around a demo left behind by Mafuyu's late boyfriend, Yuki Yoshida, an effort to give Mafuyu both closure and a way back to music.
Ritsuka and Mafuyu Ritsuka Uenoyama, a high school guitarist, plays in a band with college students Haruki Nakayama (bass) and Akihiko Kaji (drums). One day, he repairs the broken strings on a Gibson ES-330 owned by his quiet classmate, Mafuyu Sato, and reluctantly agrees to teach him guitar. Ritsuka soon discovers Mafuyu's extraordinary singing voice and invites him to join the band.
Over time, Ritsuka learns that the guitar once belonged to Yuki Yoshida, Mafuyu's childhood friend and former boyfriend, who died by suicide. As the band prepares for its first live show, Mafuyu struggles to write lyrics, eventually channeling his grief into a raw, emotional performance that leaves a lasting impression. The experience brings Ritsuka and Mafuyu closer, culminating in a backstage kiss and the start of their romantic relationship. The band decides on the name Given, symbolizing the "gift" of Mafuyu's voice and the fate that brought them together.
Akihiko and Haruki Following the success of their first live performance, Given gains attention online. They enter an amateur music competition, but creative progress is slowed by unresolved feelings, Haruki harbors unspoken love for Akihiko, who remains entangled in a complicated relationship with his ex, Ugetsu Murata. As tensions rise, Akihiko moves out of the apartment he shares with Ugetsu and confronts Haruki, acknowledging the feelings between them. The encounter is emotionally charged, leading to an intimate but ambiguous shift in their relationship.
Akihiko temporarily moves in with Haruki, and while they settle into a routine, their romantic tension remains unresolved. On the day of the qualifying concert, Akihiko breaks things off with Ugetsu. Though the band performs a new song written by Mafuyu, they fail to advance in the competition. Akihiko later moves out and begins focusing seriously on his music studies. Months later, after a violin competition, he confesses his feelings to Haruki, revealing that his efforts to grow were driven by a desire to be someone worthy of Haruki's love. The two officially begin dating.
Hiragi and Shizusumi The death of Yuki Yoshida casts a long shadow over his former bandmates Hiragi Kashima and Shizusumi Yagi, both of whom carry lingering guilt and unresolved emotions. As members of the band Syh, they continue with plans for a major debut, but the sudden loss of their guitarist leads them to eventually temporarily bring in Ritsuka, as their previous temporary player stepped back to attend university.
During this time, Hiragi struggles with guilt over Yuki's death and his role in it, while Shizusumi finds it difficult to articulate his own feelings. Their shared grief slowly brings them back together. As the emotional walls begin to break down, Hiragi confronts the feelings he's long kept buried and takes the first step toward a romantic relationship with Shizusumi.
Characters Main characters
A 16-year-old high school student and the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist of Given. He's never had formal training, but his voice is strikingly expressive, and he picks up guitar and songwriting with surprising ease. After the death of his boyfriend Yuki, Mafuyu shuts down emotionally, often coming across as distant or withdrawn. On stage, his grief and longing poured into every note. Offstage, he leads a quiet life and looks after his nine-month-old Pomeranian, Kedama.
A 16-year-old high school student and the lead guitarist of Given. He's been playing guitar since sixth grade, when his father gave him his first instrument, and his technical skill reflects years of practice. Despite his talent, Ritsuka had started to lose his passion for music after dealing with the disappointment of former bandmates quitting. That changes when he meets Mafuyu Sato, what starts as reluctant guitar lessons gradually pulls him back into music and sparks something deeper. Ritsuka is generally kind-hearted, but tends to come across as blunt or emotionally distant. As he grows closer to Mafuyu, he's forced to confront feelings he doesn't fully understand and begins to find his way back to the music he once loved.
A 22-year-old graduate student and the bassist of Given, as well as the band's de facto leader. Easygoing and sociable, he often plays the role of peacemaker, keeping the group grounded and helping balance out the stronger personalities around him. As the oldest member, Haruki takes the band's future seriously, both musically and personally and is the one most committed to keeping it all together. He's had quiet feelings for Akihiko Kaji for years, which eventually grow into a romantic relationship. While Haruki comes across as confident and laid-back, he sometimes struggles with insecurity, especially when comparing his playing to the more technically skilled musicians in the group. Outside of performing, he also handles the band's social media and public image, helping shape how they're seen beyond the stage.
A 20-year-old college student and the drummer for Given. A violin major, he's a multi-instrumentalist with strong technical skills on guitar, bass, and drums. His background in music is matched by his complicated history with relationships, Akihiko is experienced and often offers advice to others, though his own love life has been far from simple. He was previously involved in an on-and-off relationship with his ex-boyfriend, Ugetsu Murata, a talented violinist with whom he shares a long, painful past. As his feelings for bandmate Haruki Nakayama begin to surface, Akihiko finds himself torn between old habits and a desire to move forward. After a final, emotional breakup with Ugetsu, he moves in with Haruki. In time, Akihiko confronts his feelings and, after competing in a violin competition, confesses his love. Haruki returns those feelings, and the two begin dating, marking a turning point for Akihiko as he commits to growing both as a person and a partner.
(Japanese); Howard Wang(English) A childhood friend of Mafuyu Sato and Shizusumi Yagi, tied together by a complicated past, especially the loss of their mutual friend Yuki Yoshida. As the passionate guitarist and leader of the band Syh, which he started with Shizusumi and Yuki, Hiragi is determined to push the band toward their major debut. He pours his tangled emotions, mix of guilt and hope, into his music, using it as an outlet. Though he often comes off as confident and fiery, Hiragi struggles with opening up and showing his softer, more vulnerable side.
(Japanese); Joshua Waters (English) A childhood friend and former classmate of Mafuyu Sato. Alongside Hiiragi Kashima and Yuki Yoshida, he formed the band Syh during their senior high school years. After Yuki's tragic suicide, Shizusumi, like Hiragi, struggles with the weight of grief and unresolved emotions, channeling much of it into his music. Though quiet and reserved on the surface, Shizusumi is fiercely loyal and deeply supportive, especially toward Hiragi. Over time, their bond grows into a romantic relationship.
Supporting characters
Mafuyu's childhood friend and deceased boyfriend, who died before the manga began, appears only through flashbacks. He and Mafuyu grew up as latchkey kids, raised in single-parent homes, and eventually became romantically involved when they grew up. Their relationship fractured, leading Yuki into a moment heavy drinking and suicide by hanging. Before his death, Yuki was a guitarist in a band with his close friends Hiiragi and Shizusumi.
a world-renowned violinist known for his incredible technique and commanding presence on stage. As Akihiko's ex-boyfriend and former roommate, their relationship is complicated and often turbulent.
Ritsuka's older sister, who once harbored an unrequited crush on Akihiko, is rejected, and Yayoi enters a romantic relationship with Koji Yatake. She is a talented painter and a member of the art club. Eventually, she finds out about Ritsuka and Mafuyu's relationship, as well as Akihiko and Haruki's.
(Japanese); Greg Cote (English) Ritsuka's friend and classmate, Shōgo, who is a soccer striker recognized as a rising athlete in the Kanto region, has excellent motor skills and is thus skilled at other ball games, including basketball.
(Japanese); Stephen Fu (English) Ritsuka's friend and classmate, who plays center for the school basketball team.
(Japanese); Kellen Goff (English) Haruki's fellow classmate from college, who is a bassist and vocalist, as well as a video editor who helps promote bands. He later dates Yayoi.
(Japanese); Morgan Lauré Garrett (English) Mafuyu's co-worker at the concert venue where he works. Tsubaki appears only in the anime adaptation.
Media Manga Given has been serialized in the bimonthly magazine Chéri+ since April 2013. In Japan, the series has been collected into nine bound volumes published by Shinshokan. An English-language translation is published by Viz Media under their SuBLime imprint, with the first volume released in February 2020. The series ended serialization on March 30, 2023.
On January 30, 2024, a one-shot sequel, Given 10th Mix, premiered in the March 2024 issue of Chéri+. Its events take place 10 years after the conclusion of the original manga.
Given is the first multi-volume work produced by manga artist Natsuki Kizu, following her two previous single-volume series Yukimura-sensei to Kei-kun (Yukimura and Kei, 2013) and Links (2014).
Anime