Laid-Back Camp (found early drafts of Japanese manga series; 2015)

Title page

Status: Found

Date found: 12 Nov 2022

Found by: Yūsei Kuroda

Laid-Back Camp (ゆるキャン△), also known as Yurucamp, is a Japanese manga series written by Afro. It was serialized in the magazine Manga Time Kirara Forward from July 2015 to September 2019, after which it was moved to the manga app Comic Fuz, operated by Hōbunsha, the magazine's publisher. The manga is set in the Yamanashi area and depicts the relaxed daily life of high school girls who enjoy the charms of outdoor hobbies, such as campground recreation and outdoor cooking, to the extent that they are comfortable with.

An anime series is airing in 2018 and 2021, and the original manga has sold over 7 million copies as of the current publication of volume 13.

Overview

According to Yūsei Kuroda, editor of Comic Fuz and Manga Time Kirara, creator Afro had written one or two manga since his debut, but they did not gain popularity and none of them lasted long enough to be serialized. He wrote a spin-off comic for Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Mahō Shōjo Homura Tamura: Heikō Sekai ga itsumo heikō dearu towa kagiranai noda (魔法少女ほむら☆たむら ～平行世界がいつも平行であるとは限らないのだ。～, lit. Puella Magi Homura Tamura: Parallel worlds are not always parallel)," which received a fair amount of recognition. Kuroda wanted Afro to write another one, and Afro, who enjoys touring and camping as hobbies, said he wanted to write a manga related to the outdoors, which led to the writing of Laid-Back Camp.

Availability

On September 7, 2020, an interview with a Laid-Back Camp staff member first revealed some of early character designs and drafts. The early designs of the main characters, Nadeshiko Kagamihara and Rin Shima, were unveiled, with early Nadeshiko having Rin's signature bun hair, and in exchange Rin had her hair down quite long. In addition, Nadeshiko had eyebrows similar to those of one of the another main characters, Aoi Inuyama.

At the time the interview article was published, only a portion of the initial draft was available, but on November 12, 2022, in celebration of Afro's Twitter account gaining 100,000 followers, Kuroda received permission to publish the complete early draft after consultation with Afro. This allowed us to identify other early differences that were not mentioned in the interview article.

• The scene where Rin starts the camp is not depicted.
• It describes how Nadeshiko went to Motosuko Lake to see Mt. Fuji, until she dozed off.
• The scene where Nadeshiko brings a playing card mistaking it for a phone occurred before she met Rin.
• Rin woke up Nadeshiko, who was dozing off.
• Nadeshiko's older sister, Sakura, has a different hairstyle and does not wear glasses.
• Nadeshiko's character was a bit more mischievous than the final draft.
• Nadeshiko's early name was "Isami Kagamihara."

Gallery

Early character design

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Early drafts

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  Isami and her older sister moving to a new house.

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  She looks forward to seeing Diamond Fuji every morning.

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  Isami is stunned when she cannot see Mt. Fuji from her new house.

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  Isami declares that by the end of the day she will go to see Mt. Fuji.

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  Isami bicycling to Motosu Lake, where Mt. Fuji.

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  She gets lost.

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  She was given a ride by a local resident to Route 300 heading to Motosuko Lake.

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  Isami gets lost again.

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  She brings a playing card, mistaking it for a phone.

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  She looks pained as she climbs up the hill on Route 300.

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  Finally Isami arrives at the lake.

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  Mt. Fuji was hidden by clouds.

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  Isami is tired and falls asleep on the bench.

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  First contact with Rin.

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  Isami mistakes Rin for an elementary school student.

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  Rin treats her to curry noodle soup.

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  Rin tells her that she is a solo camper.

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  Isami was finally able to see Mt. Fuji.

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  Her name is revealed to be Isami.

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