Educational Manga Series 'Tsukame! Rika-daman' Ranks High in Toohan and Nippan First-Half Bestsellers for Children's Books

The popular educational manga series 'Tsukame! Rika-daman,' published by Magazine House (HQ: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President: Shuichi Tetsuo), has ranked high in the children's book category of the 2026 First-Half Bestseller lists announced by Toohan and Nippan.

In Toohan's list, 'Tsukame! Rika-daman Vol. 11: Everyone is Obsessed with Robots!' ranked 4th, and 'Tsukame! Eigo-daman: Jump into the World with English Conversation!' ranked 6th. Vol. 11 also reached 20th in the comprehensive list.

Similarly, in Nippan's list, Vol. 11 of 'Tsukame! Rika-daman' ranked 4th, and the English version ranked 8th. Both science and English series have garnered significant support in bookstores nationwide.

*Ranking information is based on research by Toohan and Nippan respectively.

Over 4 million copies sold: 'Tsukame! Rika-daman' teaches science through laughter

'Tsukame! Rika-daman' has surpassed 4 million copies sold in Japan and South Korea combined. In Japan, it has exceeded 2.5 million copies, driven by word-of-mouth among children and parents who praise its educational and humorous approach.

The series is structured to introduce science concepts through fast-paced, humorous manga, making it accessible even to children who struggle with reading. It is widely enjoyed as a tool for home learning and family conversation.

First English version 'Tsukame! Eigo-daman' also a bestseller

'Tsukame! Eigo-daman' is the first English spin-off of the series. Maintaining the popular humor, it helps elementary and junior high students practice the four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

It features 80 conversational scenes for daily use, with native audio for all English text. Additionally, it includes 16 'Summary Challenges' to solidify knowledge and test listening skills. It is highly recommended as an entry point for enjoyable English learning.

Volume 11 currently on sale; Volume 12 launches July 16!

'Tsukame! Rika-daman Vol. 11,' which ranked high on the bestseller lists, introduces programming as a theme for the first time. It covers concepts like AI, algorithms, flowcharts, coding, and bugs within funny stories.

On July 16, 2026, the latest Vol. 12, 'Tsukame! Rika-daman Vol. 12: Ultimate Robot Battle!', will be released. It continues the programming theme, using a dinosaur robot tournament to teach foundational computer concepts like loops and algorithms.

Reading volumes 11 and 12 together provides deeper insights into programming and AI, making them perfect for summer reading or research projects.

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Shin Tae-hoon (Original Story) Na Seung-hoon (Manga)

A comedic writing and art duo. The work began as a webcomic in 2009, gaining massive popularity with over 3.3 billion total PVs. It has been adapted into anime and drama, with the anime recording the number one viewership rating on Tooniverse (children's cable channel).