March Comes in Like a Lion Manga Editions Guide

If you’ve heard about March Comes in Like a Lion (3月のライオン) and want to read it in English, you might be wondering what manga editions exist, how many volumes are out, and whether now is a good time to start collecting. Good news: the answer is pretty straightforward, and this guide covers all of it.

Below, we break down how the English release works — the one-to-one volume format, what each volume covers, and what to expect going forward.

March Comes in Like a Lion Manga Editions — Here’s What You Need to Know

Here’s the short version: Denpa publishes the only official English edition of March Comes in Like a Lion, released as single volumes that match the Japanese edition one-to-one — each English book corresponds to the same-numbered Japanese volume. That’s it. There’s no competing English release from another publisher and no omnibus repackaging to choose between. If you want to read this series in English, Denpa’s line is your one and only option.

As of mid-2026, 5 English volumes are available, with more on the way. Each English volume matches one Japanese volume, so the five available books cover the first 5 Japanese volumes. The Japanese edition currently sits at 18 volumes, meaning the English release is still in the early stretch of the series.

The series is ongoing — creator Chica Umino has been publishing it chapter by chapter in Young Animal, a Japanese manga magazine, since 2007. That’s nearly two decades of publication. Umino is also known for Honey and Clover, another well-regarded manga with a similar focus on emotional depth.

At its core, March Comes in Like a Lion follows Rei Kiriyama, a young shogi player who competes at the highest level. Shogi is a Japanese strategy board game sometimes compared to chess, and in Japan, top players hold formal ranks and earn a living from competition — that’s Rei’s world. But this isn’t really a story about shogi strategy. It’s about a person navigating loneliness, depression, and the pressure of competitive play while learning how to connect with others, find meaning, and keep going. The shogi matches are the framework, but the emotional weight comes from Rei’s relationships, especially with the warm Kawamoto family who gradually become his anchor.

It’s a sports manga in the broadest sense: competition, growth, rivalry, determination. But it’s wrapped in one of the most emotionally honest character studies in manga.

How the Denpa Edition Works

If you’re used to buying manga where one English volume equals one Japanese volume, the Denpa release works exactly that way. Each English volume matches the same-numbered Japanese volume one-to-one — same content, same numbering, no repackaging.

Here’s the volume-by-volume breakdown:

English Volume	Japanese Volume Covered	Status
English Vol 1	Japanese Vol 1	Available
English Vol 2	Japanese Vol 2	Available
English Vol 3	Japanese Vol 3	Available
English Vol 4	Japanese Vol 4	Available
English Vol 5	Japanese Vol 5	Available

English Vol 5, the most recent release, came out on March 24, 2026. English Vol 4 was released on September 9, 2025.

What This Means in Practice

The one-to-one format has a couple of practical effects worth knowing about:

No mapping confusion. English Volume 1 is Japanese Volume 1, and so on down the line. If you ever want to reference the original release, discuss the series online, or switch between editions, the numbering lines up perfectly.

Longer waits between releases. Denpa is a small publisher, and its release schedule means real gaps between new English volumes. Based on the release history so far, new volumes have arrived roughly once a year, though the pace can vary. If you’re the type of reader who catches up quickly and then waits impatiently for the next volume, this is something to be aware of.

The trade-off is manageable for most readers, though. The books are faithful to the original release, and the collection stays easy to follow.

What the English Edition Covers So Far

Let’s walk through what each English volume covers so you know what you’re getting into. These descriptions focus on setup and tone rather than specific plot points, so you can read safely even if you haven’t started the series yet.

English Vol 1

This is where you meet Rei Kiriyama, a 17-year-old ranked shogi player living alone in Tokyo. Rei is talented but deeply isolated — he entered the competitive shogi world at a young age, and his personal life has suffered for it. The early chapters establish his routine: quiet apartment, shogi matches, and a pervasive sense of disconnection.

Then you meet the Kawamoto sisters — Akari, Hinata, and Momo — a warm, messy, lively family that starts pulling Rei into their orbit almost by accident. The contrast between Rei’s empty apartment and the Kawamoto household, full of food and noise and affection, is one of the manga’s most powerful recurring images.

Volume 1 also introduces the shogi world: Rei’s rivals, the ranking system (where players climb tiers and compete for prestigious titles, similar to how ranked athletes pursue championships), and the weight of competition. Umino draws shogi matches with real tension even if you don’t know the rules of the game.

English Vol 2

The relationships deepen here. Rei’s connection with the Kawamoto family moves from “friendly neighbor who drops by” to something more meaningful. You start to understand why Rei struggles with closeness and what it costs him emotionally to let people in.

On the shogi side, tournament storylines begin to pick up steam. You meet more of Rei’s rivals, some of whom are much older and have been grinding in the shogi world for decades. The generational tension — a teenage competitor going up against veterans who have spent their whole careers chasing the same titles — adds a layer of complexity to the matches.

Umino’s art does a lot of heavy lifting in these volumes. She shifts between warm domestic scenes (the Kawamoto kitchen, shared meals) and stark, almost abstract imagery during shogi matches, where the psychological pressure transforms the page layouts into something intense and disorienting.

English Vol 3

Stakes rise on both fronts. The shogi matches get more intense, with Rei facing opponents who push him to his limits. The emotional core of these volumes is just as compelling — Rei’s backstory gets more development, and you start to understand the family situation that shaped him.

The supporting cast also expands. The Kawamoto sisters aren’t just Rei’s support system — they have their own struggles, and Umino gives them real depth. The story opens up to give their lives and challenges just as much attention as Rei’s.

English Vol 4

This is where many readers report getting fully hooked if they weren’t already. Major competitive storylines reach turning points, and the emotional groundwork from earlier volumes starts paying off in a big way. Without giving anything away, some of the most powerful scenes in the series happen in these volumes.

The balance between shogi drama and personal drama hits a sweet spot here. Matches carry weight not just because of rankings and titles, but because of what they mean to the characters emotionally. A win or loss isn’t just about the board — it connects to questions of identity, self-worth, and what drives a person to keep competing.

English Vol 5

The most recent English release, published on March 24, 2026. It continues Rei’s story directly from Volume 4, matching Japanese Volume 5 one-to-one.

With five volumes now available, the English edition spans the early stretch of the 18-volume Japanese series. There’s a lot of story still ahead, which is both exciting (so much more to look forward to) and a test of patience (Denpa’s release pace means it’ll take time to get there).

The Cost of Collecting March Comes in Like a Lion in English

One of the nicest things about jumping into this series right now is how manageable the investment is. With only 5 volumes needed to get fully caught up with the English release, you’re looking at a much smaller commitment than most long-running manga series.

What the Books Cost

Denpa’s volumes are priced in line with standard single-volume manga releases. For reference, check the publisher’s list price when browsing — prices can vary a little between retailers, and preordering upcoming volumes locks in the listed price.

Looking Ahead

If Denpa continues through all 18 current Japanese volumes, the complete English set would eventually reach 18 volumes. If the Japanese series extends past 18 volumes (which is possible since it’s still ongoing), the English collection could grow beyond that. Either way, you’re looking at roughly 13 more English volumes beyond the current 5 to catch up to where the Japanese edition stands today.

That’s a meaningful but manageable collection size. You’re not looking at a 30+ volume commitment like some long-running sports manga, and the volumes arrive at a pace that’s easy to keep up with.

The “Start Now” Math

Starting a series when it’s mid-release has advantages. You can read the 5 available volumes back-to-back without waiting, which is a great way to experience the early story. And because the total volume count will remain modest, you won’t face the “this series is 80 volumes deep and I can’t possibly catch up” problem that scares people away from some manga.

Digital vs. Print for This Series

Print Availability

Denpa is a smaller manga publisher compared to larger companies like Viz Media (publisher of Naruto and One Piece) or Kodansha USA (publisher of Attack on Titan), which means print availability can sometimes be less consistent. Volumes may go in and out of stock at major retailers, and reprints may take longer to arrive than you’d expect from a bigger publisher.

If you spot the volumes you want in stock, it’s generally a good idea to grab them rather than assuming they’ll always be sitting on the shelf. This isn’t a scarcity scare tactic — it’s just the reality of how smaller publishers’ print runs work. They do reprint, but the turnaround isn’t always quick.

Digital Options

For readers who prefer digital, the series is available digitally — you can find it on platforms like Kindle and Kobo. BookWalker, a digital storefront that specializes in manga, is another option worth checking. Digital availability and catalog completeness can shift over time, so it’s worth verifying that the specific volumes you want are listed before committing to a digital-only collection.

Reading Ahead of the English Release

If you finish the available English volumes and can’t wait for more, your only option for continuing the story is the Japanese edition. Volumes 6–18 (and beyond, as the series is ongoing) exist only in Japanese for now — Vol 6 is the next English release, expected approximately late 2026. There is no unofficial translation or alternative English source that would be appropriate to recommend here.

For readers who are studying Japanese or are comfortable reading in Japanese, the original volumes are published by Hakusensha, the Japanese publisher, and are widely available. But for English-only readers, the wait for Denpa’s continued releases is part of the deal.

Which Readers Should Start Collecting Now

This Series Is a Great Fit If You Like…

• Stories driven by characters and emotions rather than action. If you care more about emotional depth than fight sequences, this is your manga. Rei’s inner world is rendered with extraordinary sensitivity, and the supporting cast is just as well-developed.

• Competitive mind-game stories. Shogi is a strategy game, and the matches are depicted with real tension and psychological complexity. You don’t need to know shogi rules to feel the pressure — Umino makes the stakes clear through character reactions and visual storytelling.

• Warm “chosen family” dynamics. The Kawamoto sisters are the heart of this series. Their household is chaotic and loving, and watching Rei slowly let himself become part of their world — a family not by blood but by choice — is one of the most genuinely heartwarming threads in manga.

• Beautiful art. Chica Umino’s style is distinctive — soft and warm in domestic scenes, then abstract and intense during matches. The visual storytelling carries enormous emotional weight.

One Thing to Keep in Mind

The English edition is still in the early stretch of the Japanese series, and Denpa’s release pace isn’t fast. If you’re the kind of reader who needs to finish a story immediately, this might frustrate you. But if you’re comfortable collecting at a steady pace and enjoying each volume as it arrives, the current state of the English release is actually a nice place to be — enough material to get deeply invested, with plenty more to look forward to.

The Recommendation

Grab Volume 1 and give it a read. The first volume covers enough ground that you’ll know by the end whether Rei’s story resonates with you. The shogi elements, the Kawamoto family, Umino’s art — it’s all there from the start. If it clicks, you’ve got four more volumes waiting, and the price of admission for the whole current English library is genuinely modest — Volume 5 below is the latest English release, available now.

This is one of those series where the people who love it really love it. It’s quiet, thoughtful, and deeply human — and in the landscape of sports manga, that combination makes it something special.