In a medium saturated with supernatural battles and high-school romance, Medalist (メダリスト) carves out a niche that is as elegant as it is brutal. Written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada, this sports manga has rapidly become a critical darling, winning the 68th Shogakukan Manga Award and earning a fervent following.
While an anime adaptation is highly anticipated, many purists and dedicated fans turn to the raw manga to experience the story in its purest form. Reading Medalist in its original Japanese offers a unique window into the series' soul, where visual storytelling and cultural nuance blend to create a masterpiece of tension and triumph.
Title: Medalist (Raw Version)
Definition: The "Raw" version of Medalist refers to the unedited, untranslated Japanese language release of the manga by Tsurumaikada. It is serialized in Monthly Shonen Magazine (Kodansha).
Key Differences from Localized Versions:
How to Access Legitimate Raws:
Community Note: Do not ask for "illegal raws" on the r/Medalist subreddit. Purchase the official raw to support the author.
Translation often struggles to capture the specific flavor of ganbaru—the Japanese concept of persisting and doing one's best against odds. In Medalist, the characters don't just "try hard"; they suffer beautifully.
The raw dialogue captures the hierarchy and pressure inherent in Japanese society and the sporting world. The way Inori speaks to her coach (using respectful keigo) versus her internal monologue creates a duality that highlights her maturity and suppressed stress. Reading these interactions in Japanese preserves the emotional weight of their struggle, which can sometimes be softened in localization.
If you genuinely want the medalist raw manga—as in, the actual Japanese text—you can buy the digital version of Monthly Afternoon via Bookwalker Japan or Amazon Japan. You do not need to be fluent in Japanese; creating an account is easy, and payment via PayPal works internationally. You get the raw chapter legally on the same day it comes out in Japan for roughly $5 USD.
Before understanding the demand for the raw version, one must understand the series itself. Medalist follows Inori Yuitsuka, a young girl who is considered a "late starter" in the unforgiving world of elite figure skating. Partnered with the cynical and failed ice dancer Tsukasa Akeuraji, the story charts her desperate climb from beginner classes to national championships.
What makes Medalist unique is its gritty realism. Unlike hyper-kinetic sports manga that rely on superhuman abilities, Medalist focuses on technical precision, the agony of jumps like the Axel or Lutz, and the financial ruin that competitive skating often brings. Readers desperate for the next chapter often turn to medalist raw manga searches because the official English translations, while excellent, often lag behind the Japanese serialization by several months. medalist raw manga
Medalist is a sports manga focused on figure skating, written by Yuji Koga. It follows the relationship between two young men: Kōichi Ono, a talented but brusque former champion skater, and After finishing her competitive career? (Note: actually names—assuming: the protagonist is Yūma, but to avoid potential inaccuracies, see details below.) The story centers on training, competition, personal growth, and the emotional dynamics of mentorship, rivalry, and romance. The work is notable for detailed skating sequences, character-driven drama, and a mix of athletic realism and soft emotional beats.
The search for medalist raw manga is a testament to the series' addictive power. It is a story so good that fans are willing to brave language barriers and copyright gray areas just to see the next page five minutes earlier.
However, the modern manga landscape offers a solution. You can have your cake and eat it too. Purchase the digital Japanese Monthly Afternoon for the raw experience, then buy the English volume for the deep translation when it drops. By doing so, you graduate from a thief of time to a true fan—one who helps keep the spotlight shining on one of the greatest sports manga of the decade.
Don't pirate the raw. Buy the volume. Watch Inori soar.
Have you read the official release of Medalist? Where do you currently stand on the raw vs. translation debate? Let us know in the comments below.
Disclaimer: This article does not endorse or provide links to unauthorized raw manga sites. Always read manga through official channels like K Manga, Kodansha, or Bookwalker to support the creators.
If you're looking for the Medalist raw manga (the original Japanese version by Tsurumaikada), here is everything you need to know about its release, where to find official copies, and the series' current status. Quick Facts: Medalist (メダリスト) Author/Artist: Tsurumaikada Monthly Afternoon (Kodansha) Serialization Start: Current Status: 14 tankōbon volumes released as of January 2026 Seinen, Sports (Figure Skating) Where to Read Raws Officially
The term "raw" refers to the original Japanese scans before any translation. To support the creator, it is best to access these through official Japanese platforms: Monthly Afternoon (Kodansha)
: New chapters are released monthly in the digital and physical versions of the magazine. Comic Days
: This is Kodansha’s official digital manga platform where you can read the latest chapters of in Japanese as they are released. Amazon Japan (Kindle)
: You can purchase individual digital volumes (tankōbon) in Japanese here. Release Schedule schedule, appearing in Monthly Afternoon around the 25th of each month. Gliding on the Edge of Perfection: An Exploration
Collected volumes are released every few months. As of early 2026, the series has reached Why Read the Medalist Raws? Stunning Art:
Tsurumaikada is renowned for highly detailed, dynamic figure skating sequences that often look best in their original, unedited high-resolution format. Avoid Spoilers: Since scanlations or official English translations (by Kodansha USA
) can sometimes lag behind, reading the Japanese raws is the only way to stay completely up-to-date with Inori and Tsukasa’s journey. latest volume cover
The manga (メダリスト), written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada, has been serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon since May 2020. As of January 2026, the series has been collected into 14 tankōbon volumes. Latest Developments & "Raw" Chapters
Recent Chapter Releases: The latest Japanese "raw" chapters include and , released in early 2026.
Plot Progress: Recent arcs focus on Inori Yuitsuka's performance at major competitions, including the Junior All Japan and the Junior Grand Prix (JGP). The story continues to explore the complex coaching relationship between Inori and Tsukasa Akeuraji, with recent chapters highlighting Tsukasa's personal growth and his need to stop overprotecting Inori from the emotions of losing.
Availability: Official Japanese chapters are released monthly in the Monthly Afternoon magazine. Digital versions of the latest chapters can often be found on the K MANGA platform by Kodansha. Series Overview Author Tsurumaikada Genre Sports (Figure Skating), Seinen Awards Next Manga Award, Shogakukan Manga Award English Publisher Kodansha USA Core Premise
The story follows Tsukasa Akeuraji, a man who abandoned his solo figure skating dreams for ice dancing due to starting too late, and Inori Yuitsuka, an 11-year-old girl who is also considered a "late starter" in the competitive world. Tsukasa becomes Inori's coach, and together they aim for the goal of becoming Olympic gold medalists while facing intense competition and societal doubt.
Medalist: A Comprehensive Report on the Manga Series Medalist (メダリスト, Medarisuto) is a critically acclaimed Japanese sports manga series written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada. Since its debut in May 2020, it has become a "critical darling" in the manga industry, winning multiple prestigious awards for its intense emotional storytelling and technical portrayal of figure skating. Series Overview Genre: Sports, Drama.
Serialization: Monthly in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon magazine.
Volumes: As of January 2026, 14 tankōbon volumes have been released in Japan. How to Access Legitimate Raws:
Demographic: Seinen (targeted at adult men, but widely popular across all demographics). Core Narrative
The story centers on the transformative partnership between two individuals who have both been marginalized by the competitive world of figure skating:
Inori Yuitsuka: An 11-year-old girl who dreams of becoming a world-class skater. Despite her natural talent, she is considered "too old" to start serious training and faces opposition from her mother due to her sister's past failures in the sport.
Tsukasa Akeuraji: A former ice dancer who was forced to abandon his dreams of singles skating. At 26, he is on the verge of quitting competitive skating entirely until he meets Inori and decides to become her coach.
Together, they aim for the ultimate goal: an Olympic Gold Medal. Major Awards and Recognition
Medalist is notable for winning the "triple crown" of major manga awards: Next Manga Award (2022): 1st place in the print category. Shogakukan Manga Award (2023): Best General Manga. Kodansha Manga Award (2024): Best General Manga. Technical Realism and Artistry
The series is praised for its high level of technical accuracy. Tsurumaikada enrolled in figure skating classes to understand the mechanics of the sport, which translates into dynamic and visceral "jump scenes" that capture the physicality of skating. The manga also uses a "card game" metaphor to explain complex scoring rules to readers. Global Availability Region Japan Kodansha Monthly magazine / Print volumes North America Kodansha USA Print & Digital (since March 2024) Brazil Editora JBC Print (since January 2026) China Bilibili Comics Multimedia Adaptations
Anime Series: Produced by studio ENGI, the first season aired in early 2025, followed by a second season in early 2026.
Anime Film: An original film continuation is scheduled for a 2027 release.
Light Novel: A novel version written by Jun Esaka was also released.