A special chapter of Alice-san Chi no Iroribata (Beside the Hearth at Alice-san’s House) has been released to celebrate the live-action adaptation of the series. This oneshot, published in the February issue of Shueisha’s Ultra Jump magazine on January 20, 2025, serves as a prequel to the manga’s final chapter, providing fans a glimpse into the events leading up to the original story’s conclusion.
Created by Bunta Kinami, Alice-san Chi no Iroribata follows Alice, a woman who returns to her rural childhood home after spending a decade in Tokyo. Her home features a traditional sunken hearth, which she loves using for cooking. Upon her return, Alice reconnects with her childhood friend Harumi, and their relationship begins to rekindle. The manga touches on themes of nostalgia, personal growth, and rediscovered connections, resonating deeply with readers.
The live-action adaptation premiered earlier this month, debuting across several networks. It first aired on BS-TBS and TV Kanagawa on January 7, 2025, followed by RKB Mainichi Broadcasting and KBS Kyoto on January 11, and subsequent broadcasts on CBC TV and HBC on January 12 and 13, respectively.
The original manga was serialized in Ultra Jump from October 2020 to March 2023, with Shueisha publishing a total of four volumes, the final one released in May 2023. In addition to Alice-san Chi no Iroribata, Kinami is also known for RWBY: The Official Manga, which ran on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ platform between December 2018 and June 2020, spanning three volumes.
Fans of Alice-san Chi no Iroribata can enjoy this exclusive prequel chapter while watching the live-action series, which adds an extra layer to the touching narrative. The cultural and emotional depth of the story continues to captivate audiences in both its manga and live-action forms.