Weathering With You Manga Volumes: All 3 Books Explained

All 3 Weathering With You Manga Volumes: The Complete Overview

Here’s what you need to know right away: Weathering With You (天気の子, the original Japanese title) is a completed 3-volume manga adapted from Makoto Shinkai’s animated film of the same name. The manga was illustrated by Wataru Kubota (窪田航, shown in the original Japanese for reference), with Shinkai credited as the original story creator.

The series was published in Japan by Kodansha (one of Japan’s largest manga publishers) in their Monthly Afternoon magazine — a Japanese manga magazine where chapters were published individually before being collected into the three book-format volumes. The Japanese volumes came out between November 2019 and October 2020, and the English edition matches that same 3-volume structure — all volumes have been released.

Because the series is complete, there’s no waiting around for future volumes or worrying about an unfinished story. You can pick up all three books and read the entire romance from beginning to end in a single sitting if you want to. For a story this emotionally rich, that’s actually a pretty great way to experience it.

A quick note on content: the story deals with themes of sacrifice, loss, and bittersweet choices alongside its central romance. It’s appropriate for teens and up — emotionally heavy at times but never gratuitous. If you’re buying this as a gift for a younger reader, think along the lines of the film’s tone.

At three volumes, this is a tight, focused story. There’s no filler and no drawn-out storylines — just the core love story between a runaway boy and a girl who can control the weather, told with care and beautiful artwork.

What Happens in Each Volume

One of the nicest things about a short series like this is how cleanly the story divides across volumes. Each book covers a distinct phase of Hodaka and Hina’s relationship. Here’s a spoiler-light look at what to expect.

Volume 1 — Hodaka Arrives in Tokyo

The story opens with Hodaka Morishima, a teenage boy who has run away from his island home to Tokyo. He’s broke, alone, and struggling to find his footing in an overwhelmingly rainy city. The rain in this version of Tokyo isn’t just bad weather — it’s relentless, almost oppressive, and it sets the mood for everything that follows.

Hodaka eventually finds odd work and crosses paths with Hina Amano, a girl his age who has an extraordinary ability: she can pray and make the sky clear up. She’s a “sunshine girl,” someone who can literally part the clouds and bring blue sky to a small area around her.

Volume 1 is all about setup, but it never feels slow. You get Hodaka’s loneliness and determination, Hina’s warmth and quiet strength, and the first sparks of connection between them. The supporting cast — including Hina’s younger brother Nagi and Hodaka’s employer Suga — rounds out the world and gives the story more texture.

By the end of this volume, the supernatural weather premise is firmly established, and you can already feel the romantic tension building. Kubota’s artwork does a striking job of capturing both the dreariness of the rain and the breathtaking beauty of sunshine breaking through.

Volume 2 — The Sunshine Girl Business and Growing Feelings

Volume 2 is where the romance really picks up momentum. Hodaka and Hina start a small business together — people pay them to clear the weather for outdoor events, weddings, festivals, that kind of thing. It’s a charming setup that gives the two of them plenty of time together, and their feelings for each other grow naturally through these shared experiences.

But this isn’t just a lighthearted romp. The stakes around Hina’s power start becoming clearer in this volume. Her ability isn’t free — there’s a cost, and as you read, you begin to understand what that cost might be. The story handles this revelation with real emotional weight rather than dumping it all at once.

At the same time, outside pressures close in on both characters. Hodaka is a runaway, and that catches up with him. The authorities, the weather, the growing sense that something isn’t right — it all tightens like a knot. Volume 2 ends with enough tension that you’ll want Volume 3 in your hands immediately.

The romantic development here is genuinely sweet. Hodaka and Hina aren’t dramatic about their feelings — they’re teenagers figuring things out in real time, and the manga gives their small moments of connection real breathing room.

Volume 3 — The Choice and the Climax

Everything comes to a head in Volume 3. Without giving away too much: Hodaka faces an impossible choice between Hina and the fate of Tokyo’s weather. It’s the kind of decision that defines a character, and the emotional weight of this volume is considerable.

The climax is both heartbreaking and hopeful — Shinkai’s storytelling signature is all over this, and Kubota translates that feeling into manga form with real skill. The individual frames during the climactic sequence are some of the most striking in the entire series, with layouts that guide your eye through the emotion beat by beat.

The resolution of the central romance is satisfying and earned. If you’ve seen the film, you’ll recognize where things land, but the manga’s pacing gives the ending a slightly different emotional texture. You have more time to sit with the quiet aftermath, to feel what the characters feel as they process everything that’s happened.

For readers who haven’t seen the film: the ending is not a simple fairy tale wrap-up. It’s bittersweet and honest, and it asks interesting questions about what we’re willing to sacrifice for the people we love. That’s what makes it stick with you.

Manga vs. the Animated Film: Key Differences

This is probably the biggest question people have: if I’ve already seen the movie, is the manga worth reading? Short answer — yes, especially if you’re a romance reader.

First, the basics: the animated film (directed by Makoto Shinkai, released in 2019) is the original version of this story. The manga is the adaptation — meaning Kubota redrew and restructured the film’s story into manga page-by-page format for readers. Shinkai wrote the story; Kubota adapted it for Monthly Afternoon.

So what does the manga do differently?

More of Hodaka’s inner thoughts. This is the big one for romance fans. The film is gorgeous and emotionally powerful, but it moves at the pace of a two-hour movie. The manga slows down and lets you inside Hodaka’s head more often — his thoughts appear as text alongside the artwork, giving you direct access to his doubts, his growing feelings for Hina, and his reasoning in ways the film conveys through visuals and music instead. If you’ve ever watched the movie and thought “I wish I knew more about what he was thinking,” the manga gives you exactly that.

Expanded quiet scenes. Some moments that pass quickly in the film get more room to breathe on the page. A shared meal, a look exchanged between characters, a moment of hesitation — the manga lingers on these in a way that rewards romance readers who love the small, tender beats between characters.

Visual style differences. This one’s obvious but worth mentioning. The film is one of the most visually stunning animated movies in recent memory. Kubota’s manga art can’t replicate that cinematic look (nothing on paper really can), but it has its own strengths. The character expressions are detailed and emotionally expressive, and the way frames are arranged on the page during key romantic moments is genuinely beautiful. It’s a different kind of visual experience, not a lesser one.

Pacing. The film tells this story in roughly two hours. The manga tells it across three volumes that you might read in two to four hours total, depending on your pace. That extra time — even if it’s modest — means certain emotional beats land differently. The buildup to the climax, in particular, feels more gradual and earned in the manga.

Which should you experience first? Either works perfectly well. The manga is a faithful adaptation that doesn’t contradict the film. If you’re a manga reader first and foremost, starting with the books is totally fine. If you’ve already seen the movie and loved it, the manga offers a deeper look at the characters’ inner thoughts and feelings that makes it worth your time.

Buying the English Volumes — Editions and Availability

The English edition of Weathering With You consists of 3 volumes, matching the Japanese release exactly. Each volume is a standard single-volume release — there are no omnibus editions (a single book combining multiple volumes into one) or special box sets to worry about.

One thing worth noting: the English print license for this series expired in 2023, meaning new print runs are no longer expected. Physical copies may still be findable through major retailers, used bookshops, or the secondary market — if you spot a print copy, grab it. Digital editions (Kindle, K Manga) are the most reliable purchase path for this series going forward.

Digital editions are also a strong option, especially if print copies prove hard to find. Platforms like Amazon’s Kindle store tend to keep completed series available consistently, and you can start reading immediately after purchase.

For all three volumes, standard manga single-volume pricing applies — you can check the current retail price at any major bookseller. These aren’t oversized editions or premium hardcovers; they’re standard softcover manga volumes, making the complete series quite affordable for a finished romance story.

Here’s your starting point — Volume 1 is where you begin:

Volume 1:

Volume 2:

Volume 3:

A quick word on reading order: this is straightforward. Volume 1, then 2, then 3. No spin-offs, no side stories, no complicated reading order charts. Just three books, in order. Simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many volumes of Weathering With You manga are there?

There are 3 volumes total, both in the Japanese and English editions. That’s the complete series — no additional volumes are planned or expected.

Is the Weathering With You manga finished?

Yes. The series is completed. Chapters were originally serialized in Monthly Afternoon (a Japanese manga magazine) from July 2019 to August 2020, with the three collected volumes released between November 2019 and October 2020 — all have been published in both Japanese and English.

Who created the Weathering With You manga?

The original story is by Makoto Shinkai (新海誠), who wrote and directed the animated film. The manga was illustrated by Wataru Kubota (窪田航). It was published by Kodansha in Japan.

Should I read the manga or watch the film first?

Either approach works great. The manga is a faithful adaptation of the film’s story, so you won’t be spoiled in a way that ruins the other version. If you’re a manga reader, start with the books. If you’re a film fan curious about manga, the books offer expanded access to the characters’ thoughts and emotions that enriches the experience. Many people enjoy both and find they complement each other well.

Is the English version still in print?

The English print license for this series expired in 2023, so new print runs are not expected. Physical copies may still be available through Amazon, used bookshops, or the secondary market — grab them if you find them. Digital editions on Kindle and K Manga remain the most reliably available option for this series going forward.

Is this a good manga for beginners?

Absolutely. At only 3 volumes, it’s a minimal time and money commitment. The story is self-contained with a clear beginning, middle, and end. The romance is sweet and emotionally engaging without being overly complicated. And if you’ve seen the film, you already know the story — so following along in manga form is especially easy. It’s a fantastic entry point for anyone curious about reading manga for the first time.