Fruits Basket Another Review: The Next Generation of the Sohma Family Finds New Connections
by Natsuki Takaya
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Quick Take
- A gentle, short sequel that rewards readers who loved Fruits Basket by showing what the next generation looks like — but works better as a supplement than as a standalone
- Takaya's character work is as warm as ever, and the echoes of the original in the new characters are genuinely pleasant
- 3 volumes complete; essential only for Fruits Basket fans; gentle and satisfying for them
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who loved Fruits Basket and want to see what came after
- Anyone who wants warm school romance with family themes in very short form
- Fans of Takaya's character work applied to a gentler, lower-stakes narrative
- Readers looking for a very short complete sequel
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Family and belonging themes; gentle school romance; no content warnings of note
T rating — very gentle content throughout.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★★☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★★☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★☆☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
The zodiac curse is broken. The Sohma family is still there, now free. The children of Fruits Basket's characters are growing up in a different family than the one that existed during the original story.
Sawa Mitoma is a girl whose low self-esteem makes her apologize for her own existence. When she becomes class representative and ends up drawn into the orbit of the new Sohma generation — Mutsuki, Riku, Hajime, and others — she finds something she has not had before: people who want her around.
The series is gentle. The stakes are not the zodiac curse or family trauma of the original's scale. Sawa's arc is about learning that she deserves to take up space, and the Sohma children's arcs are about inheriting warmth rather than pain.
Characters
Sawa Mitoma — A protagonist whose self-effacement is drawn with the same care Takaya applied to Tohru — the underlying warmth is visible from the start.
Mutsuki Sohma — Kyo and Tohru's son, whose inherited personality is the series' most direct connection to the original.
The Sohma children — Each inherits something from their parent characters that readers of the original will recognize with affection.
Art Style
Takaya's art has matured and simplified slightly from the original Fruits Basket — the character work is as expressive as ever, and the warmth of her visual style remains consistent. The faces that readers recognize as Takaya's are present in every panel.
Cultural Context
Fruits Basket Another ran in Monthly Hana to Yume from 2015 to 2017. It followed the conclusion of the Fruits Basket Collector's Edition rerelease and exists as a gift to fans of the original — Takaya returning to characters readers loved to show them at peace. The very short length reflects this supplementary nature.
What I Love About It
Seeing the original characters in their children. Mutsuki has Kyo's energy and Tohru's kindness mixed together. The recognition of who these children are and where they came from is the series' specific pleasure — one that only works if you already know the parents.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe Fruits Basket Another as a sweet gift for Fruits Basket fans that functions less well as a standalone — specifically noted for the parent-child echoes being the primary appeal, for Sawa being a less developed protagonist than Tohru, and for the short length feeling appropriate rather than incomplete. Recommended only for readers who have finished the original.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
Any scene where Kyo, Tohru, Yuki, or other original characters appear — even briefly — and are shown at peace with their lives is the series' most emotionally satisfying content for existing fans.
Similar Manga
- Fruits Basket — The original; required reading before this
- Clannad — Family and belonging themes in similar emotional register
- Kimi ni Todoke — School romance with similar warmth and kindness as central theme
- Natsume's Book of Friends — Belonging and warmth themes in different genre
Reading Order / Where to Start
Read all 23 volumes of Fruits Basket first. Then Volume 1 of Fruits Basket Another.
Official English Translation Status
Yen Press published the complete English series. All 3 volumes available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Warm and satisfying for Fruits Basket fans
- Sawa is a sympathetic protagonist
- Short — does not overstay its welcome
- Takaya's art retains its warmth
Cons
- Essentially inaccessible without the original
- Lower stakes than the original limit engagement
- Sawa is less developed than Tohru
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Yen Press; complete series |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get Fruits Basket Another Vol. 1 on Amazon →
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Written by
Yu
Manga Enthusiast from Japan
I grew up in Japan and manga literally saved me during a tough time in elementary school. My English isn't perfect, but my love for manga is real — and I want to share it with you.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.