The manga, written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada, was first serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon on May 25, 2020. By 2021, the series had established itself in Japan, leading to the announcement and start of its digital English release by Kodansha USA on May 18, 2021. Manga Overview & 2021 Milestones
Release History: After its 2020 debut, the manga's first individual tankōbon volume was released on September 23, 2020. In 2021, the series gained significant traction, winning the Next Manga Award (Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taishō) in the print category.
Story & Reception: The series follows Inori Yuitsuka, a young girl determined to become a figure skater despite starting late, and her coach Tsukasa Akeuraji. It is highly regarded for its realistic portrayal of ice skating and emotional depth.
English Release: While the "raw" Japanese chapters were released monthly in Afternoon throughout 2021, the official English digital release through Kodansha began in May of that year. Reading "Raw" and Official Chapters
Official Raws: New Japanese chapters ("raws") are typically published on the 25th of each month in Monthly Afternoon.
Where to Read: You can find the latest official chapters on Kodansha's K MANGA platform. Community discussions and raw previews are often posted by fans on the r/Medalist subreddit.
" based on its status and content during its significant breakout year in 2021. The Ascent of " ": A 2021 Retrospective Introduction
Released by author Tsurumaikada in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon starting May 2020, "Medalist" rapidly transitioned from a newcomer to a critical darling in 2021. This year marked its international arrival, with Kodansha USA announcing digital English releases in March 2021. Narrative Core and 2021 Context
The story centers on Inori Yuitsuka, an 11-year-old girl often dismissed as "too old" to start professional figure skating, and Tsukasa Akeuraji, a coach whose own dreams of singles skating were shattered by the same late-start stigma. By 2021, the manga was noted for its:
Technical Realism: Unlike many stylized sports series, reviewers praised its grounded explanation of skating mechanics and choreography.
Protagonist Vulnerability: Inori was highlighted for her relatable struggles with school and social exclusion, using the ice as her sole sanctuary.
Visual Evolution: Readers noted the differences between the raw magazine serialization and the tankōbon (collected volume) releases, where the author refined paneling to bridge the gap between "comic and reality". Critical Standing and Impact
In mid-2021, "Medalist" was featured in major guides like The Spring 2021 Manga Guide, where it was hailed for its focus on mental health and perseverance. This year laid the groundwork for its subsequent major accolades, including winning the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award (January 2023) and the 48th Annual Kodansha Manga Award (May 2024). medalist raw manga 2021
🏅 MEDALIST RAW 2021 – CHAPTER [XX] 🏅
Just caught up with the raw of Medalist (2021) and wow — the ice never felt this intense. 💥⛸️
Tsukasa’s coaching and Inori’s determination keep raising the bar with every chapter. The raw panels capture the motion, the emotion, and the sheer weight of every jump and spin. No translation needed to feel that fight.
If you're sleeping on this figure skating manga, you're missing out on one of the most underrated sports series right now.
📖 Raw highlights this chapter:
Who else is reading the raws? Let’s talk — no spoilers, just vibes. 👇
#Medalist #MedalistManga #RawManga #FigureSkatingManga #TsukasaAndInori #Manga2021 #WeeklyShonenMagazine
For fans looking for the (メダリスト) manga as it appeared in 2021, the series was in its early high-growth phase following its 2020 debut. This guide covers how to access the original Japanese chapters (raws) and the specific milestones from that year. 1. Where to Read Official Japanese Raws
The "raw" version refers to the original Japanese publication. You can find these through the official publisher: Monthly Afternoon (Magazine) is serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon . New chapters typically drop on the 25th of each month Comic Days (Digital)
: You can read the latest Japanese chapters digitally on the Comic Days platform, which is Kodansha's official web manga service. : For those in the US, Kodansha’s K MANGA app
often provides chapters closer to the Japanese release schedule. 2. 2021 Serialization Milestones
If you are looking for chapters specifically released in 2021, the series covered roughly Volumes 3 and 4 during this time: JapanGoodz Volume 3 Release : Released early in 2021. Volume 4 Release : Released on October 21, 2021 , containing chapters 12 through 15. Major Award The manga, written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada, was
: In March 2021, the series was ranked 16th in the "Next Manga Awards," a precursor to it winning 1st place the following year. 3. English Release (Launched in 2021)
2021 was a landmark year for the series internationally as it officially entered the English market:
Since Medalist is a Japanese manga, and most official English releases lag behind the Japanese schedule (or were just beginning in 2021), a review for "Medalist raw manga 2021" refers to the chapters released in Japan throughout that year—specifically covering the middle portions of the Elementary Grand Prix Arc and the immediate aftermath.
For context, Medalist is written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada. It is a sports drama focused on figure skating, starring Tsukasa (a frustrated coach) and Inori (a passionate, late-blooming amateur).
Here is a review of the 2021 run of Medalist (roughly spanning volumes 4 through 7 in the tankobon releases).
In late 2021, rumors began circulating about an anime adaptation (which was officially confirmed in 2022). Fans who wanted to avoid spoilers but couldn't wait for official volumes began hunting for the raw Japanese files. The "2021 raw" specifically refers to the pre-anime-boom art style—a purer, grittier version of the manga before the anime's clean-up crew redesigned the characters.
Tsurumaikada’s art in 2021 underwent a massive transformation. Comparing the raw 2021 chapters to the 2020 debut, the difference is night and day. In the raw 2021 chapters, you can see the line work become sharper, the motion blur effects more dynamic, and the emotional facial expressions (specifically Inori’s terror and triumph) more nuanced. Raw scanners in 2021 preserved the original screentones and double-page spreads that sometimes get compressed or lost in digital western releases.
Medalist raw ch 10 2021Tsurumaikada Medalist raw vol 2Medalist 2021 raw Monthly Afternoon JulyMedalist raw manga 2021 zipIf you are considering tracking down the 2021 raw scans, weigh the pros and cons.
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manga, written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada , established itself in 2021 as a standout in the sports genre, praised for its intense emotional storytelling and dynamic artwork . Since its debut in Monthly Afternoon
in May 2020, it has transitioned from a promising newcomer to a multi-award-winning series that explores the high-stakes world of competitive figure skating. Core Narrative and Themes 🏅 MEDALIST RAW 2021 – CHAPTER [XX] 🏅
The story centers on two individuals who have been told it is "too late" for their dreams: Inori Yuitsuka
: An 11-year-old girl often overlooked and labeled as "useless" by those around her. Despite starting the sport late, she possesses a raw, unyielding passion for skating that she initially pursues in secret. Tsukasa Akeuraji
: A 26-year-old former ice dancer whose own ambitions were crushed by a late start and financial barriers. A Shared Goal
: Their partnership forms the heart of the manga. Tsukasa sees his younger self in Inori and vows to coach her to become an Olympic gold medalist, turning their individual failures into a singular, driving ambition. Artistic and Critical Reception (2021)
In 2021, the series gained significant traction and critical acclaim: : Reviewers on platforms like Anime News Network
highlight the "vibrant" and "intricate" artwork that captures the athleticism and agility of figure skating with cinematic intensity. Award Recognition : The manga ranked in the print category of the Next Manga Award 2021 Realism and Research
: Despite being Tsurumaikada's debut work, the series is noted for its technical accuracy. The author even enrolled in figure skating lessons and suffered an injury to better understand the physical demands of the sport. Why It Resonates
The year 2021 was a breakout period for , a figure skating manga that quickly distinguished itself from typical sports series through its raw emotional intensity and technical precision. Written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada, the series garnered significant critical acclaim in 2021, ranking in the top tier of major Japanese manga lists like the Next Manga Awards and Da Vinci magazine's Book of the Year. The Core Narrative: A Duo of Broken Dreams
Set against the grueling world of professional figure skating, the story follows Inori Yuitsuka, an 11-year-old fifth-grader who is considered "too old" by the industry to start serious training. Her journey is mirrored by her coach, Tsukasa Akeuraji, a 26-year-old former ice dancer who abandoned his own Olympic dreams after a series of setbacks.
Mutual Tenacity: The series explores how two people with "shattered dreams" find a second chance through each other. Tsukasa sees a reflection of his younger self in Inori's secret, self-taught practice and decides to guide her toward an Olympic gold medal.
The Weight of Expectations: Much of the early drama in 2021 centered on Inori’s family, particularly her mother, who was resistant to her daughter's skating career after Inori's older sister failed to succeed in the sport. Medalist (Manga) | Medalist Wiki | Fandom
In the vast ecosystem of sports manga, few titles have captured the raw, visceral beauty of athletic obsession quite like Medalist (メダリスト). Written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada, this series began its serialization in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon magazine in 2020. However, the year 2021 became a pivotal landmark for international fans. Why? Because 2021 marked the peak demand for the "Medalist raw manga" —the original, unpolished, untranslated Japanese chapters that fueled a growing global fandom hungry for the next glide, jump, and spin.
For collectors, speed-readers, and translation groups, accessing the Medalist raw manga in 2021 was a race against the clock. This article explores why the 2021 raw chapters are so sought after, the journey of the manga from page to screen, and how the raw version offers a unique experience that official translations sometimes miss.
