Dog & Scissors Review: A Book-Loving Boy Is Killed and Reincarnated as a Dog Owned by His Favorite Author, Who Has a Scissors Fetish
by Nik Haruto & Daiju Haruno
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Quick Take
- The premise is immediately absurd and the series commits fully — a book-obsessed boy stuck as a dog while his favorite author exists in what should be his ideal but is actually dominated by scissors anxiety
- The mystery-novel setting gives the comedy specific texture beyond pure dog-life humor
- 9 volumes complete; absurdist comedy with a surprisingly bookish sensibility
Who Is This Manga For?
- Readers who want absurdist comedy with a strong book-love premise
- Anyone interested in light novel adaptation comedy
- Fans of the dog-perspective comedy genre with an unusual setup
- Readers looking for complete lighter comedy
Content Warnings & Age Rating
Age Rating: T (Teen) Content Warnings: Scissors-based comic violence (not graphic); death in first chapter; dog treats humor
T rating — appropriate for most readers; the comedy violence is cartoon-level.
Yu's Rating
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Story Depth | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Art Style | ★★★☆☆ |
| Character Development | ★★★☆☆ |
| Accessibility for Non-Japanese Readers | ★★★★☆ |
| Reread Value | ★★★☆☆ |
Story Overview
Kazuhito Harumi loves books. He loves them more than most things. He loves them especially as novels by his favorite author Kirihime Natsuno, whose mystery books he reads obsessively.
He dies protecting a stranger from a robber. He wakes up as a dachshund.
The stranger he protected is Kirihime Natsuno. She can, somehow, hear his internal monologue. She finds this more mildly interesting than distressing. She names him Kazuhito, keeps him, and continues her eccentric life — which involves an enthusiasm for scissors that manifests in very specific and very alarming ways when Kazuhito irritates her.
Kazuhito's position — trapped as a dog owned by his idol, who treats him as partly a pet and partly a very weird acquaintance — generates the comedy and the occasional genuine warmth.
Characters
Kazuhito Harumi — A protagonist whose entire value system is books; his dog existence would be unacceptable except that his owner is the one person whose books he would give up other things to read.
Kirihime Natsuno — A character whose combination of genuine literary talent and completely incomprehensible relationship with scissors makes her one of the funnier eccentric writer characters in manga.
Art Style
Haruno's art is clean and functional — the dog-life situations are clearly communicated, and Kirihime's scissors enthusiasm is drawn with the cartoon intensity the joke requires.
Cultural Context
Dog & Scissors is adapted from a light novel by Nik Haruto, which is typical of the contemporary Japanese production path from light novel to manga. The book-obsession premise reflects genuine Japanese reading culture and the specific status of mystery novels in the literary landscape.
What I Love About It
Kirihime's actual writing. The series includes segments of her mystery novels and treats them as genuinely good rather than as props. The book-love that defines Kazuhito extends to the series' own attitude toward the fiction within the fiction.
What English-Speaking Fans Say
Western readers describe Dog & Scissors as a specific and reliably funny comedy — specifically noted for the scissors joke having more comedic range than expected, for Kazuhito's book passion being the series' most relatable quality, and for the mystery-novel setting giving the comedy intellectual flavor. Recommended for readers who want absurdist comedy with bookish sensibilities.
Memorable Scene ⚠️ Spoiler Warning
Any scene where Kazuhito's dog existence becomes directly relevant to a mystery-plot element — where his animal perspective actually advances the investigation — is the series at its most creatively integrated.
Similar Manga
- My Roommate Is a Cat — Animal perspective and human companion with similar warmth
- Chi's Sweet Home — Animal perspective comedy in gentler register
- Monthly Girls' Nozaki-kun — Writer and unusual companion comedy with similar energy
- Haven't You Heard? I'm Sakamoto — Absurdist comedy with similar genre awareness
Reading Order / Where to Start
Volume 1 — Kazuhito's death, reincarnation, and meeting Kirihime are the entire setup.
Official English Translation Status
Yen Press published the complete English series. All 9 volumes available.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Premises absurdity is fully committed
- Scissors joke has more range than expected
- Book-love sensibility is genuine
- Complete at 9 volumes
Cons
- Light depth — absurdist comedy primarily
- Kirihime's scissors thing may wear thin
- Dog existence premise limits what stories are possible
Format Comparison
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| Individual Volumes | Yen Press; complete series |
| Digital | Available |
Where to Buy
Get Dog & Scissors 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.