Cross Game

Description

From Viz:
A moving drama that is heartfelt and true, yet in the brilliant hands of manga artist Mitsuru Adachi, delightfully flows with a light and amusing touch. The series centers around a boy named Ko, the family of four sisters who live down the street and the game of baseball. This poignant coming-of-age story will change your perception of what shonen manga can be.

Note: Won the 54th Shogakukan Manga Award for Shounen in 2009.

Type

Manga

Related Series

N/A

Associated Names

クロスゲーム

크로스 게임

Groups Scanlating

Manga Downloads

Null

Latest Release(s)

c.160 (end) by MangaDownloads 16 years ago

c.159 by Manga Downloads 16 years ago

c.158 by Manga Downloads 16 years ago

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Status in Country of Origin

17 Volumes (Complete)
9 Volumes (2014)

Completely Scanlated?

Yes

Anime Start/End Chapter

Starts at Vol 1, Chap 1

Ends at Vol 17, Chap 170

User Reviews

N/A

Forum

8 topics, 43 posts

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User Rating

Average: 8.8 / 10.0 (930 votes)

Bayesian Average: 8.72 / 10.0

39%

26%

22%

Last Updated

March 30th, 2025 11:28am PDT - 6 months ago

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Genre

Comedy Drama School Life Shounen Slice of Life Sports
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Categories

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Category Recommendations

Usagi Yojimbo

Touch

Liu Yao: The Revitalization of Fuyao Sect (Novel)

Kinjo no Tsuntsun Imouto to Muhyoujou Ane ni Semarare Ecchi

Inbi Houman na Juumin-tachi ~Omorashi Shoujo, Shikamo Shojo~

Recommendations

Author(s)

Artist(s)

Year

Original Publisher

Shogakukan

Serialized In (magazine)

Shuukan Shounen Sunday (Shogakukan)

Licensed (in English)

Yes

English Publisher

Viz (8 Vols - Complete)

Activity Stats (vs. other series)

Weekly Pos #809 (No change)

Monthly Pos #1681

(-100)

3 Month Pos #3119

(-2)

6 Month Pos #3610

(-497)

Year Pos #4463

(+181)

List Stats

On 965 reading lists

On 848 wish lists

On 2219 completed lists

On 64 unfinished lists

On 425 custom lists

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Forum Posts Click to view the forum

Pokemon~

12 years ago

His next work

13 years ago

In cross game who do you think Koh will end up with?

16 years ago

Anime or Manga?

16 years ago

Mitsuru Adachi Ends Cross Game Sports Manga Next Week

16 years ago

User Comments [ Order by usefulness ]

Adachi's masterpiece

by 狂気
5 hours ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

This comment has not yet been moderated. It may contain spoilers or foul language.

I recently re-read this, I think for a second time, and I've just got to admit this is absolutely perfect. It's all Adachi. The recycled character designs, the usual stereotypes, the slapstick humour, the 4th wall breaks, the cameos, the tragedy, the completely predictable storyline, the happy ending. And it works.

Adachi has written many high school baseball/romance manga but the structure has stayed pretty much the same since Nine, published 27 years before he began writing this. And shortly after Nine he started with what many consider his masterpiece—Touch. Touch's cultural impact and recognition even today is big. Can't say the same for Cross Game. The timing of Touch's publication was better. It came at just the right time to be a big hit. In some ways it was also better. The tragedy was more well timed and more impactful. There was more character development and it was more gradual. The characters were more unique and memorable. But it was also more serious in tone. Cross Game is lighter and doesn't take risks like Touch did. It's also a lighter read, which is what you'd expect when picking up an Adachi manga.

But Cross Game is where Adachi's lifetime of experience came together. This is what he failed to achieve in Nine, H2 and even Touch. And later with Mix, which unfortunately doesn't live up to Touch (which it's based on). It's not a perfect manga by any means, but perfect Adachi. And one of the most realistically depicted tsundere love interests in manga.

Cross Game is definitely Adachi's best work. I'd still say Touch is my favourite but that might be in part because I read it earlier and during a time in my life when it had a bigger impact. Definitely recommended reading.

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Disappointing

by yuri999
5 years ago

Rating: 4.0 / 10.0

In Cross Game Adachi relies way too much on fourth wall breaks and similar gags to handwave away cliches, plot contrivances or explanations and Cross Game suffers a lot from it's overuse. He was always a fun of fourth wall breaking but over here it looks as if he either just doesn't give a toss or is too lazy to show regular plot progression. A majority of the the time the jokes overshoot their mark and end up as dead space. The pacing was really off in the entire manga and events that needed some more time were jossed over while others that didn't were given too much time.

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It's really a good manga

by k3ltfalcon
5 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

I enjoy this manga. His art, his style and his humor are quite good. I start to learn baseball rules because I want to understand more of this manga. Sometimes, I get lost because I'm not familiar with baseball. In my country, baseball is unpopular, I don't think we have a baseball team in my country. Everyone talk about soccer and of course I love soccer. But beside that, I love this manga. I really enjoy his storytelling. I feel the love from KO with Aoba, even they don't have to tell. I am an asian, so I understand asian culture. We don't expression the love like the way in USA. In last chapter, I want KO said he love Aoba. But with his ending, I feel love even more. He just holding her hand and wait for a train. It's so touching. When Aoba said he is the people she hate the most in the world. He just talk: she a good liar. So touching in many level.
When I read it, I listen with Chinese music, this feeling even is stronger. If you try to read it for the first time, you should read it and listen to chinese music, such as "reverse (live version)". You can feel the story even more.

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Pretty damn good

by nail80
11 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

I was very surprised with Cross Game when I read it a year ago, behind the cool art I was expecting a bit of a shallow story.
Boy was I in the wrong, it turned out that Cross Game was high on drama and excitement. It didn't really play like I predicted, and that means it is good. That characters while simplistic get good development and the pace of the story was nice.
Probably one of the greatest manga I've read.

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ADACHI's Best Work Yet !!!

by Bleach-No1-Manga
13 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

Another Manga from Adachi and another Hit from him, it's surprising to Note that he first entered the realm of being a Mangaka 30 years ago (u read it right) 30 years ago....and 3 decades later he is still going strong....adachi Rocks!!!!!

Touch, H2 and Cross Game are all very similar in both Character Designs and Relationship and that odd bount of sport called "Baseball" but each story of his has unique Twist to differentiate it from one another and create a Classic Tale out of it

Seriously Adachi knows how to write an engaging story like no other, probably the Best Sports mangaka coupled with Rom-Com factor ever

Look forward to more of his Future work coz remember Adachi NEVER DISAPPOINTS....EVER!

... Last updated 13 years ago

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Near perfection

by Verix
14 years ago

Rating: 9.5 / 10.0

Probably my favorite Adachi manga, and overall definitely one of my favorite manga. I liked the anime even more. ONE complaint: could have had a juicier ending. After all that you'd expect some more love in the air. Oh well, one can have some imagination. Oh, and I also found the doppelganger girl a bit unnecessary. Nothing too annoying, though.

The feelings this manga conveys right from the start volume 1 are definitely one of a kind. Not too many manga manage to have you entirely attached to the main characters in such a short time span. The character development is amazing, too. Highly recommended to either read or watch Cross Game at least once.

... Last updated 14 years ago

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Amazing!

by jackblk
14 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

The artwork is simple, first when i looked at it, i just ignored it because i don't like the way he draws manga. But that changed!

I'm surprised at everything. I changed my mind, all of it.

The ending i think, is a kind of the open ending. I'd love to read more and more about Aoba and Koh mutual love, but it ends so soon, that somehow makes everyone feel disappointed so i understand why. If only Adachi sensei made some epilogues in 5 or 10 years later, it would be great.

10/10 🙂 .

... Last updated 13 years ago

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Somewhat of a disappointment (though it depends on a person's tastes).

by Tsuchikage
14 years ago

Rating: N/A

I was particularly disappointed with the ending. But aside from that matter, this one really doesn't give much focus at all to any romance whatsoever. It's not so much subtle, as there is just less focus on the relationship between the main characters.

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The best of Adachi's works

by Phooeyish
14 years ago

Rating: 10.0 / 10.0

In my opinion, Cross Game is probably Adachi's best work to date. Like his previous works, it has a great plot, appealing characters, and a never-ending stream of funny situations. However what Cross Game has that the other mangas lack, is polish. Don't get me wrong, Adachi is a fantastic mangaka and his other works are great. But to me, they've always felt unfinished--like they're missing something more, an extra 'omph' factor. In this manga, Adachi finally achieves perfection.

For me, I think the greatest aspect of this manga was how he manages to presents the story in such a way that it never seems superfluous, cliched, or awkward. The plot was always engaging, the dry humour always managed to get a laugh out of me, and in the end, the manga left me completely satisfied despite it's ambiguous ending. I hate to put labels on things, but honestly? This might be one of my favorite mangas ever.

... Last updated 10 years ago

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Hmmmm...

by AceD
14 years ago

Rating: 9.0 / 10.0

I read first Adachi work on 25th.... 2nd on 28th and 3rd on 29th and just finished 4rth.

For last 5 years, I had ignored him ..... and now I am his fan (best Sports with slice of life romance...his works).

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