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Literature / Looking Up at the Half-Moon
aka: Hanbun No Tsuki Ga Noboru Sora

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Looking Up at the Half-Moon (半分の月がのぼる空, Hanbun no Tsuki ga Noboru Sora, "Sky with a Rising Half-Moon"), also referred to as Hantsuki, is a romance light novel series written by Tsumugu Hashimoto with illustrations by Keiji Yamamoto. The series was originally serialized in Dengeki hp between October 2003 and August 2006, spanning eight volumes.

Seventeen-year-old Yuichi Ezaki is spending his days at the hospital thanks to a hepatitis diagnoses. One of his nurses urges Yuichi to visit Rika Akiba, another seventeen-year-old patient who has been living in hospitals practically since birth thanks to a weak heart valve.

Yuichi and Rika's relationship starts out rocky, but they soon develop feelings for each other. Unfortunately, the doctors and nurses tend to meddle in their budding romance for reasons of their own. As Yuichi learns of the seriousness of Rika's condition, he decides to help her realize her dreams and explore the world outside the hospital. After all, she may not have that long to live.

An incomplete manga adaptation by B.Tarō was serialized in Dengeki Comic Gao! from August 2005 to November 2006, finishing with a total of two volumes.

A six episode anime adaptation aired during the Winter 2006 season. Production was handled by Group TAC. It is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Five drama CDs based on the novels were released between October 2006 and August 2007.

From October 3 to December 26, 2006, a live action adaptation aired on TV Tokyo, finishing at thirteen episodes.

A live action filmed was released in April 2010. It was direct by Yoshihiro Fukagawa and starred Sosuke Ikematsu and Shiori Kutsuna.


This series provides examples of:

  • Delicate and Sickly: Rika has a faulty heart valve which makes physical exertion dangerous. It also means she's prone to random cardiac attacks, hence why she's lived in hospitals for most, if not all, of her life.
  • Dirty Old Man: Tada is first seen grabbing Akiko's butt while passing her in a hallway. He also has a large stash of dirty magazines inside his hospital room.
  • Drives Like Crazy: Akiko owns a spiffy sports car and she has no qualms about driving it like she's in a race.
  • A Friend in Need: Yuichi has friends that are willing to help him out with his problems.
  • Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Yuichi's friend Miyuki is rather insensitive and Yuichi states that he only visited to look at his Porn Stash, but he still helps take Rika to their school and is with him when Yuichi decides to meet Rika by swinging onto her balcony.
  • No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Yuichi gets beaten up by a drunken Natsume, Rika's primary physician. The best Yuichi can do is protect his head and wait until Natsume looses steam.
  • Official Couple: Yuichi and Rika start dating after the surgery on her heart proves successful. They both know she will only have a few more years to live at best, but they intend to make the most of it while they still can.
  • Porn Stash: Tada leaves his large collection of racy magazines to Yuichi, which gets him in huge trouble when Rika finds it. He's mildly interested in their contents, but has little regret when he finally burns it to win Rika back.

Alternative Title(s): Hanbun No Tsuki Ga Noboru Sora, Looking Up At The Half Moon, Hantsuki

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