Todai Revengers (Tōdai Revengers)

Next, I’d like to introduce Todai Revengers. Pay close attention—I’ll repeat: This isn’t Tokyo Revengers, it’s Todai Revengers. In Todai Revengers, our protagonist isn't Takemichi but Michitake, a former student of the University of Tokyo ("Todai"). After discovering that the woman he's loved for years has married someone from another university, Michitake, driven by frustration, leaps back seven years into his university days. It's an outright parody of Tokyo Revengers, with numerous scenes humorously paying homage to the original. Before diving deeper into this review, let's first talk briefly about the University of Tokyo and the Japanese university system: Todai is Japan’s most prestigious university, famous for educating many of Japan’s top government bureaucrats, researchers, and Nobel laureates. Getting into a university—especially Todai—is extremely difficult, to the extent that many students spend years as "ronin," retaking entrance exams annually until they succeed. However, unlike in the U.S., once you’re admitted, graduating is relatively easy, and nearly everyone successfully finishes their degree. With that explanation done, let’s continue reviewing Todai Revengers: If you’ve already seen Tokyo Revengers, I guarantee you’ll find yourself laughing throughout this manga. Various iconic scenes and serious moments from the original are brilliantly parodied in the most absurd and hilarious ways. However, don’t look for emotional depth or a profound storyline here. Todai Revengers is strictly a parody gag manga created solely for the sake of laughter.

June 12, 2025

In recent years, an increasing number of international students have come to study at Japanese universities—including Todai. By reading Todai Revengers, you’ll get a humorous yet genuine glimpse into what life is like at Todai and gain a broader sense of Japanese university culture. Perhaps similar quirks and relatable scenarios exist at Harvard or other elite institutions around the world. Comparing your experiences to the comic’s scenarios might make you realize that "smart people are the same everywhere!"

June 12, 2025