Love Is Hard for Otaku (Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii) is celebrating its 10th anniversary, and with it comes a new development: Fujita, the original creator, will be releasing a brand-new manga as part of a commemorative exhibition. This news coincides with the announcement of a special 10th-anniversary exhibition scheduled to take place from March 11 to March 24, 2025, in Tokyo.
The manga Fujita is working on will be showcased exclusively at the exhibition. It’s still unclear whether this will be a direct sequel to the main story or a side story exploring untold aspects of the characters’ lives.
What we do know is that Fujita has drawn a new key visual featuring Narumi Momose and Hirotaka Nifuji, the series’ central couple. The illustration has them in an intimate pose, symbolizing the nostalgia and love that fans associate with the series.
Fujita expressed gratitude to the fans, stating that this piece was drawn to thank the otaku who supported the series from its inception. This suggests the new manga may lean heavily on fan service (the emotional kind, not the anime trope) and nostalgia.
Apparently it’s been 10 years since I drew Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku. What kind of otaku were you 10 years ago, and what are you obsessed with now? To express my gratitude to all the otaku who have supported me since then, I drew many members of Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku for the first time in a long time! I hope to see you again at Matsuya Ginza. Fujita
The manga debuted on Pixiv on April 17, 2014, before transitioning to Ichijinsha’s Comic Pool. It concluded on July 16, 2021, spanning 11 tankobon volumes.
The anime adaptation, produced by A-1 Pictures, aired from April 13, 2018, to June 22, 2018, and consisted of 11 episodes. While it received generally positive reviews, some viewers noted that its limited runtime meant certain character arcs and storylines from the manga were underexplored.
Three OVAs were later released, adding more depth but still leaving some fans wishing for a second season. A live-action film adaptation was released on February 7, 2020.
