From Five to Nine (Go-ji kara Kyu-ji made, sometimes written as 5→9) is a manga series written by Miki Aihara. It was serialized in the shoujo magazine Cheese! from 2009 to 2020. In 2015, it received a Live-Action Adaptation starring Satomi Ishihara and Tomohisa Yamashita.
Junko Sakuraba is a strong-willed, sophisticated English teacher working at a language academy with a fascination for Western culture. Her biggest dream is relocating to New York and building the American dream overseas. Her goals are suddenly crushed when Takane Hoshikawa, a monk-in-training, enrolls at the academy as her student with the intention of making her his bride. Though Junko feels attracted to Takane, his beliefs and traditional Japanese lifestyle completely contrast with her goals of working overseas.
The manga also focuses on other characters aside from Junko and Takane, each with their own love troubles, including Arthur and Momoe; Masako and Hachiya; and Nene and Yuki.
Not to be confused with 9 to 5.
This manga contains examples of:
- A Day in the Spotlight: Occasionally, there are chapter arcs focusing on another couple in the series besides Junko and Takane.
- Age-Gap Romance: Masako is in her twenties, and Hachiya is 17 years old. Momoe also enjoys reading about pairings with big age differences in her BL books.
- Because You Were Nice to Me: Nene falls for Yuki because he was kind to her, though in a Brutal Honesty sort of way.
- Bland-Name Product: Momoe goes to "Animates" note and the manga she buys are from the "G-Boy Comics" label note and "Hyper Comics" label note .
- But Not Too Foreign: In the drama series, Arthur was made into a half-Japanese half-British man because his actor, Mocomichi Hayami, was fully Japanese.
- Closet Geek: Momoe is a huge fan of yaoi and otome games, something she tries to keep a secret at work.
- Dude Looks Like a Lady: Yuki is actually a boy. Even the Live-Action Adaptation makes it very believable.
- Fetishized Abuser: Takane clearly doesn't respect Junko's dream to work in New York because he keeps trying to force her to stay with him no matter what. At one point he locks her up in the temple while she's visiting, and when she applies for an overseas position, he uses his connections to the higher-ups to prevent her from getting it. Yet, he is the main love interest.
- Freudian Excuse: The reason why Arthur is so flippant towards women is because he dated Nina, an older woman who already has a partner, in the past. Nina later broke his heart when he visited her in Japan.
- Gold Digger: Masako wants to marry rich because she grew up poor.
- Handsome Devil: Arthur seems like a perfect gentlemen and is popular with the ladies at first glance, but, as Momoe discovers, he's very manipulative and often finds sneaky ways to put her on the spot.
- Honest Axe: Momoe has a dream where Arthur asks her if she left her BL books behind.
- I Love You Because I Can't Control You:
- The reason why Takane is so attraced to Junko is because she refuses to bend to his will. In chapter 15, he is upset when she rejects him on the grounds that she isn't interested in living at the monastery, and he believes that he's able to convince and educate her.
- Similarly the reason why Arthur falls in love with Momoe is because she doesn't fall for his advances easily and is unpredictable.
- Lighter and Softer: The Live-Action Adaptation is more family-friendly than the manga.
- Love Dodecahedron: Junko is attracted to both Mishima and Takane, who both love her back. Yuki is in love with Junko, and Nene falls in love with him.
- Manipulative Bitch: Masako often throws tension into Junko and Mishima's relationship in order to keep them apart. It's later revealed that the reason why she's obsessed with Mishima is because she grew up poor, so she wants to marry rich, but it doesn't justify her actions.
- The Masochism Tango: Junko and Takane are clearly attracted to each other just as much as they are both unsuited for each other.
- Opposites Attract: This might have been Miki Aihara's intention in regards to Junko and Takane, but it's played out so badly that it seems like The Masochism Tango instead.
- Precision F-Strike: Arthur says, "Fuck... I'm sorry" and it gets censored out.
- Race Lift: In the drama series, Arthur was made into half-Japanese to make the fully Japanese Mocomichi Hayami playing him more believable. In addition, his last name changed from Lange to Kimura.
- Shrinking Violet: Nene is very shy and unconfident.
- Sibling Yin-Yang: Junko is confident and headstrong while Nene, her younger sister, is shy and has self-esteem issues.
- Shout-Out: In the drama series, once Momoe's Closet Geek status is revealed to Junko, Junko is seen reading Kono Otoko wo Ore ni Kudasai by Saeko Kamon. Books from the Finder Series and Dekichatta Danshi are seen on Momoe's bookshelf as well.
- Third-Person Person: Yuki often refers to himself in third person.
- Wholesome Crossdresser: It's revealed early on that Yuki is really a boy.
