The word 'anime' (アニメ) is a Japanese shortening of the English word 'animation', a gairaigo, or foreign loanword.
The word 'anime' (アニメ) is a Japanese shortening of the English word 'animation', a gairaigo, or foreign loanword.


Yoshiko is a hardworking high-school student whose free time is almost entirely taken up by attempts to help out a hikikomori childhood friend and an odd, reclusive uncle.
While on a visit to her uncle's penthouse with two of her friends, Yoshiko notices a black substance that resembles snow beginning to fall from the sky -- but her friends see nothing. Soon afterwards, a massive earthquake shakes the city, and Yoshiko, her friends, her uncle and his dog, all find themselves trapped in a strange world they do not recognize...with an assortment of weird people to keep them company.
These open a search for this title on each store. They’re affiliate links: AnimeSphere may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and Bookshop.org supports local independent bookstores.
AnimeSphere only links to legitimately licensed sources. Some titles may not yet be available outside Japan — the search links above will tell you for sure.
Opens our Bookshop.org storefront (supports local independent bookstores) — search the title to pick a volume. As a Bookshop affiliate, AnimeSphere may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.