Alice, Doko Made mo

Name: Alice, Doko Made mo
Rating: 3.9 (89 reviews)
Author: Kiko Urino

3.9

Author: Kiko Urino

Publisher: Shogakukan

Magazine: Weekly Big Comic Spirits

Volumes: 4

Release Date: 2024-08-30

Age Rating: All Ages

Alice, Doko Made mo Synopsis

Alice, Doko Made mo is a coming-of-age drama that follows Asahida Alice, a girl struggling with language barriers and loneliness, as she sets her sights on becoming Japan’s first female spaceship captain. Although Alice is beautiful and seemingly popular, she carries a deep inner struggle. Raised in a bilingual household, she was taught both Japanese and English from a young age. However, after losing her parents, she was left with an incomplete grasp of either language—making her a “semi-lingual.” This leaves her unable to fully understand her lessons or communicate effectively, leading to a sense of isolation and frustration. Labeled cruel names like “idiot” or “baby” by her peers, Alice begins to lose confidence in her abilities and future. But everything changes when she meets Inuboshi Rui, a brilliant and enigmatic boy who sees her hidden potential. Declaring, “I’ll make you smart,” Inuboshi becomes her mentor and partner, sparking Alice’s determination to pursue her dream of becoming an astronaut. With the support of Inuboshi, her best friend Minato, and her caring teacher Ms. Saeki, Alice embarks on a path of hard work, resilience, and self-discovery—reaching ever closer to the stars.

Alice, Doko Made mo Rating Metrics

Story

4.4

Characters

4.2

Artwork

3.2

World Building

4.0

Themes

3.7

Pacing

3.8

Alice, Doko Made mo Editorial Reviews

The Journey of Alice to Become a Space Commander

Have you ever heard of the term semilingual? A semilingual is someone who speaks multiple languages but does not have full proficiency in any of them. This often happens in bilingual education when a child doesn’t fully develop their native language before being introduced to a second one, resulting in limited ability in both. While this issue is less common in English-speaking countries like the U.S., it’s becoming more noticeable in Japan, where children are increasingly exposed to both Japanese and English from an early age. The manga Alice, Doko Made mo follows Alice, a girl grappling with this very issue, as she sets her sights on becoming a spaceship commander—Japan’s first female astronaut to lead a crew. Alice’s journey is one of overcoming adversity. Despite struggling to express herself and connect with others at school, she gradually finds her place and purpose. The manga delicately portrays her growth as she confronts social challenges and builds confidence in herself. The key turning point in Alice’s story comes with the arrival of Inuboshi, a genius boy who recognizes Alice’s hidden potential. Under his mentorship, the two embark on a journey of mutual growth. Their relationship is the emotional core of the series—and its biggest strength. While the artwork may not be the most polished, the story is rich in emotional nuance, highlighting Alice’s inner struggles and her quiet perseverance. Having won the 2025 Manga Taisho (Grand Prize), Alice, Doko Made mo comes highly recommended.

July 28, 2025

Aspiring Astronauts—Read This Manga!

One of the most impressive aspects of Alice, Doko Made mo is its deep research. The manga includes detailed and accurate depictions of the astronaut selection process, training qualifications, and real-life procedures. Beyond space science, it’s filled with fascinating insights into Japanese culture and trivia, making it both entertaining and educational. As of 2025, with Elon Musk’s SpaceX pushing the Artemis program toward the Moon and Mars, the age of space tourism may be just around the corner. It’s likely that the number of aspiring astronauts will rise in the coming years. So if you’ve ever dreamed of becoming an astronaut—start by reading Alice, Doko Made mo!

July 28, 2025