The Summer Hikaru Died, otherwise abbreviated as TSHD, is a Japanese Manga and recently adapted show first created sometime in August 2021. The show aired during July 2025 and finalized its first season in September the same year. As of December 2025, the series has eight individual volumes (or books) and continues to come out with more. Plans for the second season are in the works with a predicted release of 2028.
It follows teenagers Yoshiki Tsunjinaka and Hikaru Indo, two childhood best friends living in a small rural town in Japan. Despite being complete opposites, the two are instantly inseparable. On a winter night, Hikaru ascends a nearby Mountain coined ‘Nisayama’ with ties to an entity named Nounuki. There he goes missing. The town presumes he is dead–which he is–but one day he comes back without a scratch, completely fine. Yoshiki catches on almost immediately that Hikaru has been possessed by an eldritch entity, however, he wants to stay with the new Hikaru, who shares essentially every memory and feeling as the real one.
Overall, the story and show is absolutely beautiful. There is so much effort and time put into really hammering down on the hidden metaphors, and the portrayal of all the characters is so spot on compared to their manga renditions. There was a whole animation team that spent its time animating the “goop,” or parts of Nounuki, flowing out of Hikaru–and it absolutely paid off.
Throughout the entirety of the show, there are many metaphors with hidden meanings. Yoshiki thinks he’s a monster, Hikaru’s loyalty towards Yoshiki, and the entire hidden story behind where Hikaru’s entity even came from. It leads you to believe Hikaru is maybe sweet or misunderstood, but once you see the real Nounuki, you understand that is not entirely the case. The real Nounuki is a benevolent being that has been used as a sacrificial god for decades. It’s a complete switch-up compared to the viewers’ first impressions. I adored how the plot was lined up to slowly reveal that.
Similarly, the plot is just as otherworldly. It’s close to other TV-Shows where people are “possessed,” but I have never seen a show quite like TSHD. It’s unique, it’s thorough, and the storytelling is perfect. It locks you in from the get-go and keeps you interested the entire time. I had a hard time putting the book and show down, finishing the entire 12-episode show in one day. That in itself shows just how skilled Mokumokuren, the author, is.
On a more metaphorical note, TSHD also touches on topics that are true for many today. Yoshiki has struggled with accepting himself as Gay and considers himself a shameful monster throughout the entirety of the runtime. It’s the entire reason he hides behind his long bangs and gentle tone. It’s a story that’s all too true for many people in the community who experience the same. There is a scene early on in the show where Yoshiki is affected by Hikaru, or really Nounuki, and is attacked by his “goop.” He shifts from believing it is “so gross” to “so good?” signifying that step towards eventually accepting himself. Mokumokuren does a great job of telling Yoshiki’s story without making it all he’s known for or mellowing down his real personality just because he experiences it.
All in all, The Summer Hikaru Died was a great show, and I truly enjoyed it from Episode 1 to Episode 12. It’s a show worth your time, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a quick, slightly deeper watch.
