Yoshitoki Oima - A Silent Voice Manga

Shoya Ishida is an impulsive elementary school boy who, out of boredom and insecurity, begins bullying his new classmate Shoko Nishimiya—a girl who is deaf. When the class turns on Shoya and Shoko transfers schools, Shoya becomes isolated, guilt-ridden, and desperate to make amends.

Years later in high school, Shoya seeks out Shoko to apologize, confronting the harm he caused and the loneliness both of them carry. Together they begin a difficult, emotional journey toward forgiveness, communication, and rebuilding connections with others. Their story unfolds across misunderstandings, past trauma, broken friendships, and the search for self-worth.

A Silent Voice blends emotional coming-of-age drama, disability representation, empathy-driven storytelling, and deeply human character arcs, making it one of the most impactful modern manga about reconciliation and healing.

Oima created A Silent Voice with direct input from her mother, who worked as a sign-language interpreter. This collaboration shaped the manga’s portrayal of deaf communication, accessibility challenges, and Shoko’s lived experience.

The original one-shot version was produced in partnership with the Weekly Shonen Magazine editorial team and received strong support from disability advocates, influencing how the full serialization approached sensitive themes.

Other Notable Works

• To Your Eternity

• Mardock Scramble (illustrator for the manga adaptation)

Japanese Name: 聲の形 (Koe no Katachi)
English Title: A Silent Voice
Story & Art: Yoshitoki Oima
Original Publisher: Kodansha (Weekly Shonen Magazine)
English Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Release Years: 2013–2014
Volumes: 7 (completed)
Age Rating: Teen (T)
Genre: Drama, Romance, School Life, Psychological, Coming-of-Age

Comics & manga are assumed VG+ or better unless otherwise noted. No broken spines, no writing, no stickers, and may have light shelf wear. Mid-2000s or earlier manga may have slight yellowing due to the age of the paper. All manga and comics are assumed to be pre-owned.