It’s been exactly a year sinceThe Apothecary Diaries' anime swept fans off their feet, and Natsu Hyuga’s newest manga series is already shaping up to be her next big hit. Putting aspin on a classic shojo series,The Failure at God Schoolis already a massive hit in Japan and it is easy to see why,
With similarities to beloved Hana to Yume series like Julietta Suzuki’sKamisama KissandGakuen Alice,The Failure at God Schoolby Natsu Hyuga has been trending in Japan for quite some time, garnering overnine million likes on Piccoma. The series follows Nagi, who after a fateful encounter is enrolled in god school despite appearing to have no divine powers at all and is immediately reminiscent ofKamisma Kiss, albeit with a high school setting that sets it apart.
The Failure at God School Reinvents the Premise of Kamisama Kiss
Both Series See an Inept Girl Becoming a God
Serialized since August 2021,The Failure at God Schoolis set in what appears to be modern-day Japan but in a world where gods are a common occurrence, as are individuals called “himiko” who are gifted with various magical powers. Though her brother is a himiko, Nagi herself possesses no powers that she knows of.
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Yet, Nagi surprisingly manages to catch the eye of a god named Tsukuyomi, and next thing she knows,Nagi finds herself enrolled in the most elite god school in the countrythrough the recommendation of a god. With her family shrine falling into ruin without a god for years, Nagi strives hard to be certified as a god despite her poor grades and thus takes off the rest of the series.
Right off the bat, theFailure at God School’s premisefollows almost the same pattern asKamisma Kisswherein Nanami also draws the attention of an unknown god who then starts her on a journey of learning to become a god herself. Tsukuyomi and Nagi’s character designs are also immediately reminiscent of Nanami and Tomoe fromKamisama Kisswith Nagi and Nanami sharing the same brown hair and bangs while Tsukuyomi’s long hair is sure to remind fans of Tomoe.
The Failure at God School Blends Two of the Most Iconic Shojo Manga
Kamisama Kiss Meets Gakuen Alice
Interestingly, Natsu Hyuga has stated thatThe Failure at God School’sstory was inspired by old Hana to Yume seriesand this influence is quite apparent. The series almost seems to be the perfect blend ofKamisama KissandGakuen Alice, and with these two being some of themost beloved shojo anime of all time, it is no surprise thatThe Failure at God Schoolis already shaping up to be a huge hit.
The Failure at God Schoolcurrently has nine volume available in Japanese.
That said,The Failure at God Schoolis stillmost certainly its own distinct story. Putting a stronger emphasis on drama than romance,The Failure at God Schoolquickly moves past these initial similarities and evolves into its own intriguing story that is sure to appeal to fans of Natsu Hyuga’s other works. Fortunately, the series has finally been licensed by Yen Press with the first volume set to release in March 2025, which means it won’t be too long until fans can get their hands on the series.
Don’t missThe Failure at God Schoolwhen it releases on June 18, 2025.
The Apothecary Diaries
Cast
The Apothecary Diaries follows Maomao, sold from her peaceful life to serve in the emperor’s palace. Her unique talents emerge when she solves a medical crisis involving the imperial heirs, attracting the attention of Jinshi, a palace official, and launching her into the complex world of palace intrigue and mysteries.
