“A novelist becomes guardian to her orphaned teenage niece, and they learn to live together while processing grief and finding themselves.”
Journal with Witch
違国日記
Would You Love or Hate This?
AI-powered analysis tailored to your taste
Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
A novelist becomes guardian to her orphaned teenage niece, and they learn to live together while processing grief and finding themselves.
Thirty-five-year-old novelist Makio Koudai never had a good relationship with her older sister Minori, who always berated her for being different. Due to this, Makio is not stricken with grief upon hearing the news that Minori and her husband die in a car crash. But when Makio is asked to identify their bodies, she runs into her 15-year-old niece, Asa Takumi, whom she has not seen in years. As Asa struggles to process her parents' death, Makio reassures her that her complicated feelings are valid and suggests that the teenager start writing in a diary as a way to cope with the loss. Upon learning that no other relatives wanted to take in Asa, Makio decides to become her guardian despite her lack of experience. In a world full of uncertainty, the novelist and teenager must learn to live with each other while figuring themselves out.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 9 sampled reviews
What 9 readers settled on.
Polarized
σ 2.18 · split reception
—
Not enough recommend signal yet
↓ 2.11
Running avg · Jan 2021 → Mar 2026
- 10 “Ikoku Nikki is a deeply relatable masterpiece that features incredibly realistic characters and masterful paneling that effectively conveys complex emotions. While the art style itself is not...”
- 9 “Ikoku Nikki is a perfect, modern classic that masterfully explores grief through striking art, soulful dialogue, and a deeply engaging dynamic between Makio and Asa. I have almost no complaints,...”
- 10 “Journal With Witch is a masterfully executed coming-of-age story that beautifully explores the complexities of empathy and human connection through the evolving relationship between Asa and her...”
Read Order & Related
A self-contained story.
No sequels, spin-offs or alternate tellings — Journal with Witch begins and ends here.
Cast
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A Manga Publication
- Format 56 × 11 ch × vol
- Total read 7h 28m approx
- Published Jun 2017 – Jun 2023
- Source Manga media type
- Ref. BS-M50286 catalog