is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Izumi Kirihara. The story revolves around a shy girl named Mugi Asai who is unsure of what club to join in her school, but before she knows it she gets dragged into the Drama Research Society and becomes a member. The manga was serialized in Futabasha's seinen manga magazine Comic High! from March 2004 to May 2009. The manga was licensed for distribution in North America by Aurora Publishing. A 12-episode anime adaptation aired in Japan between March and June 2007.

Plot
Hitohira revolves around a group of young high school students, the primary characters of which are either in the Drama Club or in the much smaller Drama Research Society. At the center is the main heroine Mugi Asai, a shy girl entering her first year of high school. Early in the year, Mugi is unsure on what clubs she should join, but is soon spotted by the Drama Research Society's president Nono Ichinose after she hears Mugi's astonishingly loud voice. Nono pressures Mugi into joining the club and eventually Mugi buckles under the pressure and joins. At first Mugi did not think it was going to be so bad, but she eventually learns that the Drama Research Society is going to put on two plays this year, and Mugi must act in both plays in several roles due to the low number of club members. Over time, Mugi's personality changes due to the club members' influence on her.

Characters

Drama Research Society

Mugi is the main character in Hitohira. She is a very shy girl who has low self-esteem and will often says things are "impossible" if she thinks they are too much for her to handle. Despite being terrified about being the center of attention, she gets unwillingly drafted into the Drama Research Society but stays after she discovers the determination from the three older members of the club. Mugi especially admires Nono's determination after learning about her affliction with her vocal cords. When Mugi starts to panic, Nono can easily calm her down enough for her to carry out her acting duties. When stressed, or sometimes merely by chance, Mugi is submerged in delusions when she imagines herself in strange scenarios.

Nono is the president of the Drama Research Society. She usually has a calm personality and her expression does not change much. When angered, however, she becomes very intimidating and has been known to be unstoppable when in this state of mind. Nono has an outward rivalry with the Drama Club president Mirei Sakaki and whenever the two of them meet they are sure to argue. Nono has a latent form of vocal cord paralysis and if she overexerts her voice too much, she may lose it at a young age. Nono was once a member of the Drama Society but later formed the Drama Research Society with Takashi and Risaki because she still wanted to act, which went against the wishes of Mirei.

Takashi is one of the three founding members of the Drama Research Society. He has a personality which could be described as cool, and has a strong determination regarding drama and acting. Chitose Kanna of the Drama Club has a crush on him and often attends Drama Research Society meetings to get a chance to be closer to him. Takashi is very smart; he got twenty-fifth place in the mid-term exams for his school early on in the story. He admits on having a crush on Nono to Chitose when she confesses her feelings for him.

Risaki is the third founding member of the Drama Research Society. She has a tough personality which she often uses to get her younger brother Kai to do what she wants for the sake of the club. She is not afraid to show force when needed, but has been shown to be terrified of Nono when she is angered.

Kai is Risaki's younger brother and the last member of the Drama Research Society. He was drafted against his will by his sister at the same time Mugi joined. Thus, the two of them share an odd friendship since both do not really want to be members of the club. Later on, he gradually develops romantic feelings towards her. Kai often gets forced by his sister to do things for the club at the expense of himself.

Drama Club

Mirei is the president of the Drama Club. She has a serious personality and is able to forcefully command the other members of her club. She has an ongoing rivalry with Nono despite being close friends back when they first met a couple of years ago. Mirei initially brought Nono into the Drama Club after she saw Nono constantly reading alone. She might also have romantic feelings for Nono, as Takashi has hinted after being rejected by Nono for offering to share his umbrella with her. Although she does not show it much, she worries about Nono due to Nono's health problems. She had tried to stop Nono from using her voice as an actress by not letting her act in a play, but failed.

Chitose is a first year student and new member to the Drama Club. She has an outgoing personality and has been told she is very bold in her actions. Despite being a member of the Drama Club, she often helps the Drama Research Society with small tasks and will motivate Mugi when need be. Chitose has a crush on Takashi and will cheer for him during practices. She gave Mugi the nickname "Mugi-choco" and is herself nicknamed "Orinal" by Kayo. After her confession to Takashi, she remains cheerful as usual despite being rejected.

Other characters

Kayo is Mugi's friend that she has known since junior-high school. She is often encouraging Mugi to have more confidence and tries to give her motivation during practice sessions held by the Drama Research Society. Kayo has a love of photography and is a member of the Photography Club; she likes to take pictures of Mugi and the other members of the Drama Research Society. After finishing her first year with Mugi, she leaves Japan to study photography overseas.

Media

Manga
The Hitohira manga series, written and illustrated by Izumi Kirihara, was serialized in Futabasha's seinen manga magazine Comic High! between March 22, 2004 and May 22, 2009. Seven bound volumes were released in Japan. The manga has been licensed for distribution in North America by Aurora Publishing. The first three volumes were released between October 2008 and February 2009. A side-story spin-off manga titled  was serialized in Comic High! between July 22, 2009 and January 22, 2010. A single volume for Encore was published on April 12, 2010.

Anime

The anime series is produced by the animation studio Xebec M2, written by Megumu Sasano, and directed by Akira Nishimori. The series contains twelve episodes which aired between March 28, 2007 and June 13, 2007. The opening and ending theme maxi single entitled Yume, Hitohira was released on April 25, 2007 by Media Factory. The single contained the opening theme  by Yūko Asami, and the ending theme  by Mai Mizuhashi. The first original soundtrack entitled Hitohira Drama & BGM Mugi Asai was released on May 30, 2007 by Media Factory containing background music tracks along with a set of tracks akin to a drama CD. The second soundtrack entitled Hitohira Drama & BGM Nono Ichinose was released on June 27, 2007, also by Media Factory.

References

External links
Anime official website 

Ed Chavez podcast

2004 manga
2009 manga
Aurora Publishing (United States)
Comedy anime and manga
Futabasha manga
School life in anime and manga
Seinen manga
Theatre in anime and manga
Xebec (studio)
히토히라()는 일본의 만화로 후타바샤의 월간 잡지 《코믹 하이!》에 연재된 기리하라 이즈미의 작품이다. 전체적으로 한 소심한 소녀가 연극을 통해 성장해나가는 과정을 그리고 있으며, 대한민국에서는 2007년 9월 11일에 학산문화사가 한국어판 1권을 발간하였다. 또한 일본에서는 2007년 3월 28일부터 6월 13일까지 애니메이션화 하여 AT-X에서 방영하였다.

캐릭터 
 아사이 무기()
 성우 - 기모토 오리에
 히토히라의 주인공으로 1학년, 의지에 약하고 긴장하면 목소리를 못내는 소심한 성격의 소유자로, 미즈하시 중학교시절부터 사귀어온 친구인 카요를 따라 쿠마타카 예술학교에 입학하였다. 입학시험의 합격을 발표한 날에 냈던 목소리에 의해 노노의 스카웃제의 겸 분위기에 휩쓸려 연극연구회에 입부하였다.

 이치노세 노노()
 성우 - 카와스미 아야코
 3학년, 연극연구회의 부장이다. 예전에는 연극부원이었으나, 성대가 마비되기 시작하면서 목소리를 잃을 것을 우려한 연극을 그만두라는 미레이와 다투고 부를 빠져나와 연극을 계속하기 위해 연극연구회를 만들었다. 무기가 입학 합격발표날에 낸 목소리를 듣고 재능에 흥미를 가지고 스카웃하였다.

 니시다 리사키()
 성우 - 히카미 교코
 3학년, 연극연구회의 부원으로 노노, 타카시와 함께 연극부원이었다. 말보다 몸이 먼저 나가는 행동파. 카이의 친누나로 카이를 억지로 연극연구회에 끌어들인 장본인.

 카츠라기 타카시()
 성우 - 나리타 겐
 3학년, 연극연구회 부원이다. 리사키, 노노와 마찬가지로 예전에는 연극부원이었다. 연극부를 뛰쳐나온 노노에게 연극연구회를 만드는 것을 제안한 장본인, 냉정하고 침착한 성격으로 빨리 말하기는 것이 장기이다.

 니시다 카이()
 성우 - 키시오 다이스케
 리사키의 남동생, 무기, 카요와는 반친구로 미술에 재능을 가지고 있고, 미술부에 입부할 생각이었으나, 누나에 의해 강제로 연극연구회에 입부당했다.

 도오아먀 카요()
 성우 - 미야가와 미호
 무기의 중학교 시절부터의 친구, 사진작가가 되고자 쿠마타카 예술학교에 입학하였다. 자신감 없는 무기를 밀어주며 돌봐주고 있다.

 사카키 미레이()
 성우 - 유키노 사츠키
 연극부의 부장으로 노노, 리사키, 다카시와 마찬가지로 3학년이다. 무기와 같은 성격이었던 노노에게 연극을 권하였고 성대마비에 걸렸을 때 책임을 느끼고 연극을 그만두게 하기 위해 다툰 이래, 견원지간과 같이 사이가 나빠졌다. 하지만, 노노를 걱정하고 있던 것으로 솔직하게 말하지 못하는 것 뿐.

 칸나 치토세()
 성우 - 야부사키 에미
 1학년, 연극부원으로 비오는 날 무기에게 젖은 제복을 말리는 대신 자신의 체육복을 빌려준 일로 알게되었다. 그 일을 계기로 무기네 반에서는 칸나 오리지널, 특히 가이와 가요는 오리널이란 별명으로 부른다. 연극부원 임에도 자주 연극연구회에 얼굴을 내밀고 있다. 무기를 무기쵸코()라고 부르고 있다.

만화 
단행본은 7권으로 완결되고, 현재 동 잡지에서 히토히라 앵콜이 연재 중이다. 이유는 알 수 없으나, 1~3권까지 2007년 4월 16일에 다시 인쇄되었다. 홍콩에서는 (여배우대시련)이란 제목으로 정식 발매되었다.

 작가/그림: 기리하라 이즈미
 출판: 후타바샤
 2005년 9월 11일, 8쇄 ()
 2006년 6월 12일, 5쇄 ()
 2007년 1월 12일, 3쇄 ()
 2007년 6월 12일, ()
 2008년 4월 12일, ()
 2008년 12월 12일, ()
 2009년 7월 10일, ()
 한국어판 출판사: 학산문화사
 2007년 9월 11일 ()
 2007년 10월 10일 ()
 2008년 5월 29일 ()
 2008년 6월 19일 ()
 2008년 7월 22일 ()
 2009년 8월 28일 ()
 2010년 4월 25일 ()

애니메이션 
2007년 3월 28일부터 AT-X, 4월부터는 지바 TV외, UHF계열 방송국에서 방송을 시작하였다. 디지털 필터중에 HiFix 가 걸려있어, 화면이 밝고 색상이 산뜻하다. 6월 13일에 AT-X에서의 방영이 종료되었다.

부제목

주제가 
 여는곡 (한 조각의 꿈)〉
 노래: 아사미 유코
 닫는곡 〈(미소)〉
 노래: 미즈하시 마이

관련 상품 
 CD
〈(한 조각의 꿈)〉 - 2007년 4월 25일 (ZMCZ-3321)
〈히토히라 오리지널 드라마&BGM 앨범 Vol.1 (무기 편)〉 - 2007년 5월 30일 (ZMCZ-3322)
〈히토히라 오리지널 드라마&BGM 앨범 Vol.2 (노노 편)〉 - 2007년 6월 27일 (ZMCZ-3323)

 DVD
 2007년 6월 22일) (ZMBZ-3371)
 2007년 7월 25일 (ZMBZ-3372)
 2007년 8월 24일 (ZMBZ-3373)
 2007년 9월 21일 (ZMBZ-3374)
 2007년 10월 25일 (ZMBZ-3375)
 2007년 11월 22일 (ZMBZ-3376)

참조

외부 링크 
  히토히라 공식사이트

일본의 만화
2007년 애니메이션
AT-X 애니메이션
UHF 애니메이션
XEBEC
일본의 애니메이션
코미디 만화
드라마 만화
학교를 배경으로 한 만화
고등학교를 배경으로 한 애니메이션