As a child, Keitaro Urashima promised a girl that they would both get into Tokyo University together. Years later, after failing the entrance exam twice and with no idea who the girl was, he ends up managing his grandmother's inn, which has become an all-girls dormitory. Cue the chaos.

Love Hina was one of the manga that kicked off the early-2000s manga boom in the West, and we have a lovely run of Tokyopop's original English volumes. Here is our guide to the series, the anime and the volumes worth owning. Browse our Love Hina manga.

Where Love Hina came from

Ken Akamatsu launched Love Hina in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine in October 1998. It became his breakthrough hit and won the Kodansha Manga Award for best shōnen title in 2001. In English, Tokyopop's editions, published in the original right-to-left format, became some of the best-selling manga of the early 2000s and helped turn manga into a bookshop staple.

The story: Hinata House and the Tokyo U promise

Keitaro is clumsy, unlucky and constantly accused of being a pervert, usually by the fiery Naru Narusegawa, who is also studying for Tokyo University. The residents of Hinata House, from the sword-wielding Motoko to the inventive Kaolla Su, make his life miserable and wonderful in equal measure.

The comedy is slapstick, but the series is driven by a real question: who was the girl from the promise? And can Keitaro and Naru ever admit how they feel?

From page to screen: the Love Hina anime

Studio Xebec adapted the series as a 24-episode anime that aired on TV Tokyo from April 19 to September 27, 2000, followed by specials and the three-episode OVA Love Hina Again. It was a staple of early-2000s Western anime fandom, often watched on DVD and fansub tapes.

Ken Akamatsu's legacy

Love Hina helped establish many tropes of the modern harem romantic comedy: the clumsy everyman, the shared living space and the ensemble of very different heroines. Akamatsu went on to create Negima! Magister Negi Magi, and became one of the best-known advocates for manga creators in Japan.

Why Love Hina matters

Tokyopop's Love Hina was selected as Best Manga, USA Release at both the 2002 and 2004 Anime Expo conventions, and the manga had 20 million copies in circulation in Japan. For many readers who grew up in the early 2000s, it was the first manga they ever bought.

Where to start reading Love Hina

Start at Vol. 1 and read all 14 in order. We currently stock a good run of Tokyopop's editions, including Vol. 7 and the final Vol. 14.

Love Hina manga & anime timeline

Key characters in Love Hina

Curiosities collectors should know

Love Hina volumes worth knowing

• Vol. 1

  Love Hina Vol. 1

  2002 · Tokyopop

  Keitaro arrives at Hinata House and the chaos begins.

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• Vol. 4

  Love Hina Vol. 4

  2002 · Tokyopop

  The promise and Keitaro's exam struggles take centre stage.

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• Vol. 7

  Love Hina Vol. 7

  2002 · Tokyopop

  A mid-series turning point for Keitaro and Naru.

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• Vol. 10

  Love Hina Vol. 10

  2003 · Tokyopop

  The love triangle tightens as the series nears its finale.

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• Vol. 14

  Love Hina Vol. 14

  2003 · Tokyopop

  The final volume, answering the Tokyo U promise.

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Love Hina covers through the years

A look at the covers across the English-language run. Tap a cover to find it in our shop.

Vol. 1 Vol. 2 Vol. 3 Vol. 4 Vol. 5 Vol. 6 Vol. 7 Vol. 8 Vol. 9 Vol. 10 Vol. 11 Vol. 12 Vol. 13 Vol. 14

Love Hina on our shelves right now

Here are some of the volumes we currently have in stock. Every copy is checked and graded before it is listed.

Vol. 1 Vol. 4 Vol. 7 Vol. 10 Vol. 14

You can also browse every Love Hina book we stock.

Frequently asked questions about Love Hina

Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have Love Hina books of your own you would like to sell? Email us at contact@siomiccomics.com. Love Hina and all related characters are trademarks of Ken Akamatsu / Kodansha. Cover images are shown for reference.