Sanda Vol 3 Review

 

Sanda Vol 3 Review

Creator: Paru Itagaki

Letterer: Bensidi Ayoub

Translation: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Editor: Louis Yamani

Designer: David Colderley

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: May 19, 2026

 

Principal Hifumi Oshibu has a problem. The state has charged him with safeguarding the children in Daikoku Welfare Academy. In this era of low birth rates, the government segregates bathrooms according to age. Children wear unisex school uniforms. And due to the protective drugs coursing through their bodies, they never sleep.

 

Yet one of his former students has slept. And after one night of sleep, Ichie Ono ran away ashamed because she had reached puberty. Even though she's snuck in occasionally, Hifumi Oshibu tried to hold a funeral for her. And knowing that Santa Claus is also lurking around his school, he laid a trap. But Saburo Yagiuda of the Saint Nick Pursuit Unit didn't capture Santa Claus when he appeared. And before he destroyed the funeral, Santa appeared as a nude, muscular man reminiscent of a Greek god.

 

Now, all the children worship Santa Claus as a god, and are thinking about puberty. Can Saburo Yagiuda capture Santa Claus before Hifumi Oshibu condemns him to an early death? And what will the government do when they realize that Hifumi Oshibu has lost control of Daikoku Welfare Academy? Let’s leap into Sanda Vol 3 and see!

 

Story

Shiori Fuyumura is regular in her habits. The girl rarely smiles. She brings explosives to dangerous situations. And Fuyumura does her laundry at the same time each day. But when Hitoshi Amaya and Kazushige Sanda wonder why she's taking so long, they discover that Ichie Ono has returned to the school. And they find Principal Oshibu standing over the girls. Sanda has had trouble transforming into Santa Claus lately. He has struggled to accept that he is a child and an adult. Yet when he finds the girls in danger, he sheds his boy form and becomes Santa Claus, the children's protector.

 

In Sanda Vol 3, Sanda wants to cling to his childhood. But just as one night of sleep transformed Ichie Ono, Sanda is growing more comfortable with life as a grown-up. So far, he has protected his friends with his imposing size, his impressive musculature, and his explosive transformations. He has also proven adept at fleeing danger. Yet when Santa Claus must fight to protect children from danger, he recognizes he needs to learn how.

 

In this future of declining birthrates, Japan is trying to preserve its shrinking population. While the government imposes its ideology on society, it exerts strict control over the adolescent period of people's lives. The government recognizes that children are full of energy, creativity, and enthusiasm for life. Yet they are more prone to act on their anger, or even kill out of curiosity. Recognizing this, the government protects them by not punishing them for killing adults. Yet the rules that protect the children from aging also protect the adults from children with an inclination to kill in Sanda Vol 3.

 

Art

Shiori Fuyumura has never felt like she belongs. And unlike her fellow students, she sleeps every night. Although she towers above them, her body exhibits no signs of puberty. When she meets Ichie Ono, Fuyumura recognizes that her friend has grown taller. Yet Paru Itagaki’s art reveals that Ono has matured in other ways.

 

Like the Incredible Hulk, Kazushige Sanda’s transformations into Santa Claus have often ripped his school attire from his body. But when Sanda rushes to protect Fuyumura and Ono from the Principal, Hitoshi Amaya, topples a container of tracksuits on Sanda. The red clothing transforms around his adult body, giving Santa Claus a sporting look with a characteristic red hood in Sanda Vol 3.

 

Bensidi Ayoub places dialogue in balloons of varying sizes and shapes. Dialogue enlarges and emboldens as situations grow fraught, while dotted lines surround lowered voices. Thoughts fill jagged cloud balloons, shine inside burning suns, and hover before characters and backgrounds. Sound effects accompany battles, bodily enhancements, and Niko Kazao teaching Sanda to see women in their proper light. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Do we improve with age? Or, despite increases in physical strength, do the traumas we experience as we age weaken us? Principal Hifumi Oshibu believes that children represent the epicenter of Human evolution. So while he tries to preserve them in their state of perfection, he sacrifices his Humanity to maintain the illusion of youth in Sanda Vol 3.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Sanda Vol 3.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Sanda Vol 2.

 

For how this series began, see my review of Sanda Vol 1. 

Sanda Vol 3 Preview

 

Principle Hifumi Oshibu has a problem. The state has charged him with safeguarding the children in Daikoku Welfare Academy. In this era of low birthrates, adults and children use different bathrooms. Children wear unisex school uniforms. And due to the protective drugs coursing through their bodies, they never sleep. 

Yet one of his former students has slept. And after one night of sleep, Ichie Ono ran away ashamed because she had reached puberty. Even though she's snuck in occasionally, Hifumi Oshibu tried to hold a funeral for her. And knowing that Santa Claus is also lurking around his school, he laid a trap. But Saburo Yagiuda of the Saint Nick Pursuit Unit didn't capture Santa Claus when he appeared. And before he destroyed the funeral, Santa appeared as a nude, muscular man reminiscent of a Greek god. 

Now, all the children worship Santa Claus as a god, and are thinking about puberty. Can Saburo Yagiuda capture Santa Claus before Hifumi Oshibu condemns him to an early death? And what will the government do when they realize that Hifumi Oshibu has lost control of Daikoku Welfare Academy?

Here's all the info from Titan Manga: 

Sanda Vol. 3

Author & Artist: Paru Itagaki

Publisher: Titan Manga

SC, 192 pages, B&W, $12.99

ISBN: 9781787747265

On sale May 19, 2026

 

Now an anime adaptation on Amazon Prime Video! From the creator of the best selling manga series - Beastars, Paru Itagaki!

 

Santa Claus is now in the crosshairs of his enemies, as Sanda leaves a trail of destruction and confusion in his wake with intense battles.

 

In Sanda Volume 3, the mystery around Ono Ichie’s disappearance deepens - and Sanda’s dual identity grows ever more unstable. As shrouded forces tighten their grip, Sanda finds himself increasingly unable to control when he transforms into his Santa Claus form - threatening not only his mission, but the fragile hope he carries. With Shiori by his side, he must confront sinister societal forces in a 2080 Japan where Christmas is myth and children are under strict governmental control.

 

Secrets from Sanda’s heritage begin to surface, revealing ancient obligations that could reshape everything he thought he knew. Friendships are tested, loyalties strained, and the very essence of the lost “magic of Christmas” flickers on the edge of extinction. As conspiracy and danger swirl, the pair’s emotional bond is tested like never before.

 

With parabolic tension building and supernatural stakes higher than ever, Volume 3 intensifies the series’ blend of mystery, heart, and unreal wonder. And for fans new and returning: an animated adaptation by Studio Science Saru is set to premiere this October 2025, bringing this unique world to vivid life.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and Forbidden Planet for the UK & Europe.

 

Thanks to Titan Manga for sharing this preview with us. 

Sanda Vol 2 Review

 

Creator: Paru Itagaki

Letterer: Bensidi Ayoub

Translation: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Editor: Louis Yamani

Designer: David Colderley

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: November 18, 2025

 

Even though no one believes in Santa Claus anymore, Shiori Fuyumura couldn’t wait for Christmas Day to come. She and Ichie Ono planned to exchange gifts and spend the day together. But when Ono goes missing, Fuyumura studies Santa Claus lore. She concludes that her classmate, Kazushige Sanda, carries the family curse.

 

When Fuyumura ritually stabs Sanda on December 25, she wonders if she’s just killed him. Then, as she watches, Sanda destroys the classroom while transforming into Santa Claus. Can he help Fuyumura find Ono? And why does Sanda’s roommate, Hitoshi Amaya, believe Santa Claus can help rebuild Japan’s struggling economy? Let’s leap into Sanda Vol 2, and see!

 

Story

Sanda has romantic feelings for Fuyumura. But transforming into an adult changes him. Suddenly, Sanda feels awkward around his former love interest. As Santa Claus, he wants to protect Fuyumura and make her happy, not kiss the girl.

 

When Hitoshi Amaya sees Sanda transform, he realizes that his roommate is secretly Santa Claus. Despite the declining birthrates, Amaya believes that Santa Claus can help families prosper and celebrate the joys of childhood, rather than repressing traditional society and relationships. Unlike Amaya, who wants his family's cake business to thrive, Hifumi Oshibu's aims are less noble. The ninety-two-year-old principal of Daikoku Welfare Academy worships children and wants to preserve their youthful appearance as long as possible.

 

In Sanda Vol 2, Ono returns. But when she sees Fuyumura with Sanda and Amaya, she flees. Soon afterward, Principal Oshibu conducts a funeral for Ono. Sanda, Fuyumura, and Amaya wonder at his motives. The faculty claimed Ono had died, but no one found her body. But the elaborate service is a ruse designed to draw Santa Claus out.

 

After introducing us to this future Japan, Paru Itagaki fleshes out his world in Sanda Vol 2. The story focuses on physical love. The declining birthrates have affected society's mores and laws. Science has made adolescence even more complicated for children. But if Sanda's life wasn't traumatic enough, life throws him another curveball when Niko Kazao grows interested in him. The fourteen-year-old boy never had feelings for her before. But when she envisions a future with him, it creates even more problems for a boy who transforms into a man when he wears red.   

 

Art

Fuyumura is tall and thin. She rarely smiles, and her dark hair clings to her face in a lover's embrace. Yet a strand rises above her head in an arc, evoking the Grinch. Sanda is a young blond lad with big eyes and a wide smile. When he wears red, or danger threatens nearby children, he transforms like the Incredible Hulk.

 

Santa Claus often looks grim in his short, bristly beard. Yet the man who evokes the ancient Greek ideal of a god can erupt into ferocious laughter. Amaya’s nickname is Pretty Boy due to his feminine features and perfect hair. Sanda Vol 2 also introduces Saburo Yagiuda, the St Nick Pursuit Unit Chief. Unlike Principal Oshibu, his dashing looks are fading. But then, he doesn’t benefit from so many preservative surgeries.

 

Daikoku Welfare Academy is in a former shopping mall. Students eat in the food court, while Saburo eats his noodles outside on a low stool. A board on plastic crates serves as his table. Principal Oshibu converts the gymnasium into a flower-strewn gala. The students and musicians dress in red suits. Then the children resume uniforms of pants, long-sleeve shirts, ties, and boots to mask their sexual differences. 

 

Bensidi Ayoub places dialogue in balloons of varying sizes and shapes. Dialogue enlarges and emboldens as situations grow fraught, while thoughts shine inside burning suns. A piece of toned art, bearing the title, introduces each episode as Sanda and Fuyumura struggle with developments in their personal lives. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

When the birthrates fall, Japan takes radical measures to preserve its most important resource. Yet while safeguarding their children, the government also robs teens of things that bring joy and meaning to their lives. Children become psychopaths, leaders prey on children, and the guardians of society go undercover to stamp out anything they can't control in Sanda Vol 2.

 

Rating 9/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Sanda Vol 2.

 

To catch up, see my review of Sanda Vol 1. 

Sanda Vol 2 Preview

 

Sanda likes Fuyumura. They sit at the same desk in class. The fourteen-year-old has been hoping that she returns his feelings. But when the two class reps arrive early to clean their classroom at Daikoku Welfare Academy, Fuyumura attacks him with a knife. Sanda hated wearing red. He claimed to know nothing about that old tradition called Christmas. 

Who knew that the spirit of Santa Claus was bound by a curse, and that Fuyumura could release him? Who knew that the principal of their school was so evil? (And how many people realized that Santa was so muscular?) What dangers will Sanda and Fuyumura face next?

Here's all the info from Titan Manga:

SANDA VOL. 2

Author/Artist: Paru Itagaki

Publisher: Titan Manga

SC, 192pp, B&W, $12.99

ISBN: 9781787747258

On sale: November 18, 2025

 

Continue the thrilling quest with Sanda and Shiori as they uncover more secrets, face new challenges, and move closer to restoring the magic of Christmas in a future Japan. Now an anime adaptation!

 

In Sanda Volume 2, the journey to uncover the truth about Fuyumura Shiori’s missing friend, Ono Ichie, intensifies as Sanda and Shiori face growing obstacles from both external forces and within their own friendship. As they continue their search for Ichie, they begin to unravel a conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of their world. With the mystery deepening, the stakes are raised, and the hidden magic of Christmas becomes ever more elusive.

 

The bond between Sanda and Shiori is tested as they confront the reality of their quest and the moral dilemmas that come with it. Secrets of the past emerge, and new, powerful figures appear on the scene, complicating the search for Ichie and putting their lives in even greater danger.

 

Volume 2 takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and emotional growth, as Sanda and Shiori struggle to balance their feelings of doubt and hope with the growing pressure to find answers. This volume is packed with emotional twists, supernatural intrigue, and the continuing exploration of the lost magic of Christmas.

 

As Sanda and Shiori draw closer to the truth, they discover that the fate of their world—and the magic that once defined it—rests in their hands. Volume 2 sets the stage for an epic continuation of this heartwarming, thrilling, and mysterious series.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and Forbidden Planet for the UK & Europe.  

 

Thanks to Titan Manga for sharing this preview with us.

 

For how this series started, see my review of Sanda Vol 1. 

 

 

 

Sanda Vol 1 Review

 

Creator: Paru Itagaki

Letterer: Bensidi Ayoub

Translation: Motoko Tamamuro & Jonathan Clements

Editor: Louis Yamani

Designer: David Colderley

Publisher: Titan Manga

Price: $12.99

Release Date: September 9, 2025

 

Kazushige Sanda is a fourteen-year-old boy. Shiori Fuyumura is a fellow student at Daikoku Welfare Academy. Sanda has a crush on Fuyumura. So, when they become class representatives, Sanda agrees to arrive in class early. While trying to fix a jammed window, Fuyumura attacks him with a knife. Does she intend to kill him? Or is Fuyumura just bad at small talk? Let’s grab a pack of Bratty Beans, leap into Sanda Vol 1, and see!

 

Story

Sanda has dreamed of Fuyumura attacking him, but not like this. His friend, Hajime Mogi, believes Fuyumura has gone psycho because she misses her friend. As they play outside, Mogi also muses on the legends surrounding the twenty-fifth day of December. Sanda has no interest in stories about Christmas. But Mogi betrays a fascination for Santa Claus, the jolly man who delivers presents to children.

 

Japan in the 2080s may resemble the 1990s, but society has gone downhill since then. With birthrates plummeting, the nation treasures its children like the crown jewels. Sanda, Fuyumura, and their fellow students attend the Daikoku Welfare Academy. The Child Protection Act ensures that no one can harm children, even if they commit murder.

 

Hifume Oshibi worships his charges in Sanda Vol 1. The principal of the boarding school believes Sanda, Fuyumura, Mogi, and the other students will rebuild Japan. But then, Hifume Oshibi is a veteran of plastic surgeries and takes dangerous treatments to appear young.  

 

Shiori Fuyumura may have psychopathic tendencies, but she’s also in pain. Unlike everyone else, she believes Ono is missing, not dead. Her friend adored Christmas and taught her all about Santa Claus. When Fuyumura senses that Sanda is a descendant of Santa Claus, she'll go to any length to prove that her schoolmate is Santa in disguise. But how do you awaken a mythological adult when he's a high school boy who hates wearing red?

 

Art

Paru Itagaki introduces Fuyumura standing beside a chalk drawing of her missing friend. Unlike Ono, Fuyumura doesn't smile. Her dark hair clings to her face in a lover's embrace. Yet a strand rises above her head in an arc, emulating the top of a question mark. While Fuyumura evokes the Grinch, a question mark resides on smiling Ono’s chest in the chalk drawing.

 

Like Fuyumura, Sanda wears a school uniform and work boots. Paru Itagaki poses him beside his alter ego, a bearded bodybuilder who doesn't share his smile. When students like Sanda are happy, smiles spread across their faces, evoking the Muppets. Children wear helpful name tags on their chests in the first chapter of Sanda Vol 1, suggesting the state wishes to ensure easy identification. Yet a framed photo of smiling Ono rests on a disused table beside a vase of flowers. And no one searches for the missing girl.

 

As the children work at two-person wooden worktables, Bensidi Ayoub places dialogue in balloons of varying sizes and shapes. Dialogue enlarges and emboldens as situations grow fraught, such as when Fuyumura completes a ritual gleaned from arcane Santa Claus mythology. Then, the wooden plank flooring rises like storm-tossed waves, hurling the chairs and tables across the classroom as Sanda's alter ego appears in Sanda Vol 1. Thanks to Titan Manga for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

When Fuyumura stabs Sanda, the ceremony propels the high school students on a journey of discovery. Mysteries in their boarding school abound. Most mysterious of all is that Sanda is a man trapped in a boy’s body. The more he transforms, Sanda regards his fellow teens as children. Stranger still, his real name is Santa Claus, and he protects children from harm. Yet despite his ability to transform, Sanda is also a boy who loves a girl he can’t figure out in Sanda Vol 1.

 

Rating 9.4/10

Sanda Vol 1 Preview

 

Kazushige Sanda is a fourteen-year-old boy. Shiori Fuyumura is a fellow student at Daikoku Welfare Academy. Sanda has a crush on Fuyumura. So, when they become class representatives, he agrees to arrive in class early. But while they are trying to fix a jammed window, Fuyumura comes after him with a knife. 

 

Does she intend to kill him? Or is Fuyumura just bad at small talk? 

 

Here's all the info from Titan Manga:

 

 

SANDA VOL. 1

Author/Artist: Paru Itagaki

Publisher: Titan Manga

SC, 208 pages, B&W, $12.99

ISBN: 9781787747241

On sale September 9, 2025

 

Now an anime adaptation! From the creator of the best-selling manga series - Beastars, Paru Itagaki!

 

Join Sanda and Shiori on an unforgettable journey to restore the magic of Christmas, uncovering secrets, friendship, and adventure in a future Japan.

 

In a near-future Japan, Christmas has faded into myth, and the birth rate has dropped so dramatically that children are now the most precious commodity. Society has artificially extended adolescence to preserve their youth, and traditional holidays, like Christmas, are a mere legend of the past.

 

Volume 1 of Sanda introduces Sanda Kazushige, a middle-school student who unexpectedly becomes entangled in a strange and dangerous mystery. When his classmate, Fuyumura Shiori, accuses him of carrying a curse that could help find her missing friend, Ono Ichie, Sanda’s life takes a dramatic turn. Together, they embark on an incredible adventure to unravel the truth behind Ichie’s disappearance and uncover the hidden magic of Christmas itself.

 

As they delve deeper into the mystery, the duo faces external threats and internal challenges—questions about loyalty, courage, and the power of belief. Along the way, they confront the true meaning of friendship, trust, and the possibility of magic in a world that has all but forgotten it.

 

With a mix of supernatural elements, heartfelt moments, and a nostalgic quest to restore childhood wonder, Sanda Volume 1 kicks off a sixteen-volume saga blending mystery, adventure, and emotional depth. The series is also being adapted into an anime, so fans can dive further into the world of Sanda.

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SANDA Vol. 1 from Titan Manga is on sale September 9, 2025. Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and Forbidden Planet for the UK & Europe. Pre-order the Kinokuniya Exclusive Edition from Books Kinokuniya.

 

SANDA Vol. 2 hits stores on November 18, 2025. Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, and Forbidden Planet for the UK & Europe.

 

ABOUT CREATOR

Paru Itagaki is a Japanese manga artist. She is best known as the creator of the manga series Beastars, for which she has won the 2018 Manga Taishō, a Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize, a Kodansha Manga Award, and a Japan Media Arts Festival Award. She is the daughter of manga artist Keisuke Itagaki.

 

ABOUT TITAN MANGA

Titan Manga is the dedicated manga imprint of Titan Comics, delivering a curated selection of critically acclaimed and fan-favourite titles. From bestselling series to bold new international releases, Titan Manga brings dynamic storytelling, unforgettable art, and the vibrant world of manga to readers worldwide.

 

For more information, visit https://titan-comics.com/manga/.

 

For further information,  follow Titan Manga on Facebook, X, Instagram, and BlueSky

 

 

Thanks to Titan Manga for sharing this preview with us. 

 

 

 

Sanda Vol 2 Solicit

 

 

I'm looking forward to this series about a future world in which Christmas has faded to a legend. Science has lengthened people's childhood, allowing them to behold the world with wonder for far longer than today. But hey, Sanda Vol 1 hits stories next month. That's a cheery thought!

Here's all the info on the second volume of the series: 

 

SANDA VOL.2

Format: Manga

(W/A) Paru Itagaki

B&W • SC •192pp • $12.99

On Sale November 19, 2025

 

NOW AN ANIME ADAPTATION!

 

Sanda and Shiori uncover more secrets, face new challenges, and move closer to restoring the magic of Christmas in a future Japan! The journey to uncover the truth about Fuyumura Shiori’s missing friend, Ono Ichie, intensifies as Sanda and Shiori face growing obstacles from both external forces and within their own friendship. As they continue their search for Ichie, they begin to unravel a conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of their world!

 

Sanda Vol 2 Announcement

 

This series sounds fun. Hope I get to review it!

Here's all the info from Titan Manga:

 

SANDA VOL. 2

Author/Artist: Paru Itagaki

Publisher: Titan Manga (Titan Comics imprint)

SC, 192 pages, B&W, $12.99

ISBN: 9781787747258

On sale November 18, 2025

 

Continue the thrilling quest with Sanda and Shiori as they uncover more secrets, face new challenges, and move closer to restoring the magic of Christmas in a future Japan. Now an anime adaptation!

 

In Sanda Volume 2, the journey to uncover the truth about Fuyumura Shiori’s missing friend, Ono Ichie, intensifies as Sanda and Shiori face growing obstacles from both external forces and within their own friendship. As they continue their search for Ichie, they begin to unravel a conspiracy that threatens the very fabric of their world. With the mystery deepening, the stakes are raised, and the hidden magic of Christmas becomes ever more elusive.

 

The bond between Sanda and Shiori is tested as they confront the reality of their quest and the moral dilemmas that come with it. Secrets of the past emerge, and new, powerful figures appear on the scene, complicating the search for Ichie and putting their lives in even greater danger.

 

Volume 2 takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and emotional growth, as Sanda and Shiori struggle to balance their feelings of doubt and hope with the growing pressure to find answers. This volume is packed with emotional twists, supernatural intrigue, and the continuing exploration of the lost magic of Christmas.

 

As Sanda and Shiori draw closer to the truth, they discover that the fate of their world—and the magic that once defined it—rests in their hands. Volume 2 sets the stage for an epic continuation of this heartwarming, thrilling, and mysterious series.

 

Sanda Vol. 2 is on sale November 18, 2025 at bookstores, comic shops and digital.

 

Pre-order now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million and Forbidden Planet for UK.