Manga Index Version 14

This article has been translated from Japanese to English using generative AI; however, all the manga reviewed here were personally read by the author, and the reviews are entirely original.

Nanba MG5 manga cover art featuring main characters and key visual elements

Nanba MG5

Author: Toshio Ozawa
Publisher: Akita Shoten
Magazine: Weekly Shōnen Champion
Volumes: 18
Release Date: 2005-09-08
Age Rating: All Ages
Copyright: © Toshio Ozawa / Akita Shoten All Rights Reserved

Synopsis

The protagonist of Nanba MG5, Tsuyoshi Nanba, was the ultimate delinquent during his middle school days, leading 14 other schools. However, tired of constantly fighting and longing for an ordinary life, Tsuyoshi decides to enroll at Shirayuri High School, an academically-focused institution. Successfully admitted, he finally sees a chance for the peaceful life he's always wanted. But there’s one problem: Tsuyoshi comes from a hardcore delinquent family. His older brother once conquered the entire Kanto region as a delinquent, and his parents and younger sister are equally notorious. They fully expect Tsuyoshi to follow in their footsteps and conquer the entire nation as a high school delinquent. Unable to reveal to his family that he’s chosen a "normal" path, Tsuyoshi deceives them, claiming he enrolled in Ichimatsu High, the infamous delinquent school located next to Shirayuri High. Every day, Tsuyoshi leaves home dressed in his distinctive gang uniform (tokkoufuku), only to quickly change clothes and hairstyles in a nearby restroom before heading into his real school, Shirayuri. Due to the proximity of the schools, Shirayuri students often find themselves targeted by Ichimatsu’s delinquents. Tsuyoshi, driven by his strong sense of justice, secretly switches back to his gang attire to rescue his classmates, gradually making a legendary reputation for himself among Ichimatsu students and throughout the region. Keeping his dual identity hidden from both his family and classmates, Tsuyoshi leads a double life filled with challenges. Throughout various conflicts and incidents, themes of friendship, love, and family bonds unfold, driving an engaging narrative. This summarizes the essence of the manga series Nanba MG5 and its sequel, Nanba Dead End.

Rating Metrics

StoryCharactersArtworkWorld BuildingThemesPacing
Story
4.4
Characters
4.1
Artwork
3.6
World Building
3.8
Themes
3.9
Pacing
3.7

Editorial Reviews

This Manga Made Me Cry

Usually, I review trending manga, but today I'm reviewing something slightly older—Nanba MG5. Why? Simply because this manga made me cry my eyes out. Nanba MG5 is written by Toshio Ozawa, a veteran manga artist known for numerous delinquent (yankee) manga. Ozawa’s works typically blend humor with a lively depiction of delinquent life. Among all his manga, the most emotional and career-defining work is undoubtedly the Nanba MG5 series. The story consists of two parts: Nanba MG5 and its sequel, Nanba Dead End, both incredibly entertaining and moving. In particular, volume 13 of Nanba Dead End completely destroyed me emotionally. I know exactly what pushes me over the edge: stories involving "self-sacrifice" and "family bonds." The Nanba series excels at depicting family love and friendship beautifully. Without giving too much away, if your emotional triggers align with mine, I highly encourage you to read from Nanba MG5 through Nanba Dead End, all the way to volume 13. When Tsuyoshi’s older brother Takeshi finally reveals his true feelings and regrets to Tsuyoshi, the overwhelming coolness of the older brother combined with the genuine sincerity of the younger brother completely shattered my composure. Of course, this is purely my own emotional experience. So if you read it and think "Huh?" or "I don't get it at all," please don’t blame me! (lol) Even if my emotional breakdown moment doesn’t resonate with you, the Nanba series remains highly recommended. Ozawa’s skill in creating fresh and comedic yankee manga ensures it never feels dull.

July 10, 2025

Written by

hisa

I read over 3,000 manga every year across all categories. One of my special skills is listening to the manga others have read and recommending titles that perfectly match their tastes. I’m also a huge anime-loving otaku.

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