The 2021 chapters focused heavily on building the coach-student trust between Tsukasa and Inori.
In 2021, Medalist was a relatively fresh licensing property. Official English translations were lagging months behind the Japanese releases. For dedicated fans, waiting was not an option.
Tsurumaikada’s art style, particularly the depiction of skating movements, reached a new level of fluidity and dynamism.
: In March 2021, Kodansha USA announced the digital English translation, which officially launched on May 18, 2021. Plot Overview: A Dream for Two Lifetimes medalist raw manga 2021
This article serves as your ultimate guide to the original Japanese raw version of Medalist and its journey throughout 2021—from understanding the medium's meaning to a detailed timeline of its original publication and the explosive growth that year.
| Volume (JP) | Japanese Release Date (Raw) | Key Story Beats (as of 2021) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | September 23, 2020 (just before 2021) | Inori meets Tsukasa, who agrees to become her coach. They begin their journey toward the Olympic Games. | | Volume 2 | February 22, 2021 | Inori and Tsukasa form their official partnership. Inori prepares for her first major competition: the Meikoh Cup. | | Volume 3 | June 23, 2021 | Inori and Tsukasa face their first regional challenge at the West Japan championships, meeting powerful opponents from western Japan’s top skating clubs. | | Volume 4 | October 21, 2021 | Inori declares her goal to compete at the All-Japan Novice Championships. The volume focuses on summer training camps and developing new techniques. |
Discover where you can the newest chapters simultaneously with Japan. Share public link The 2021 chapters focused heavily on building the
In 2021, Medalist was serialized in Kodansha's Monthly Afternoon . Because official English translations often lag months or years behind Japanese releases, international fans relied heavily on tracking Japanese "raws" (the untranslated, original Japanese magazine scans) to stay ahead of the story.
Let us look at why the raw version matters technically. In Medalist , there is a two-page spread of Inori performing a Biellmann spin.
The raw chapters published in 2021 form the rock-solid foundation upon which the entire Medalist phenomenon is built. This is the "golden era" where the author established the core of the story, the relationship between the leads, and the breathtaking depiction of figure skating. For dedicated fans, waiting was not an option
The manga does not shy away from the ugly side of the sport. We see the blisters, the stench of the rink, and the bone-jarring falls. In a medium often accused of glamorizing sports, Medalist in 2021 felt refreshingly tactile. The raw dialogue—often sharp and internal—complemented this, with Tsukasa’s monologues about "platinum skaters" serving as a haunting backdrop to the physical action.
The year was a foundational turning point for Medalist (メダリスト), the critically acclaimed figure skating sports manga written and illustrated by Tsurumaikada . Serialized in Kodansha's seinen magazine Monthly Afternoon , the series initially debuted in mid-2020. However, its explosion into the mainstream spotlight—and its sudden demand across raw manga hosting platforms—was fueled by the massive industry recognition and critical accolades it achieved throughout 2021.
Many “2021 raw” sites are filled with pop-ups or outdated links. For a safe, archival-quality version, consider buying the Japanese digital volume from (accepts foreign credit cards via PayPal).
: This period covered the Meiko Cup and Inori's first steps toward the All-Japan Novice competitions, highlighting her rivalry with the elite skater Hikaru Kamisaki . Critical Acclaim and Awards in 2021