The setting is Japan in the unimaginable future of 2080, where the population under 15 is only 0.1%. In a society where children are treated not as beings “to be protected” but as a “precious resource,” ordinary boy Sanda Kazushige quietly led his school life. However, one day, his classmate Fuyumura Shiori suddenly brandished a deadly blade right in front of him. The reason why his life was targeted involved Shiori's missing best friend, Ono Ichie, and “a certain curse” placed on Sanda himself. Amazingly, Sanda was a descendant of the supposedly extinct “Santa Claus.” And that curse was an outrageous secret: he would transform into a muscular Santa Claus if a certain condition was met.

To be honest, when I first heard “a boy transforms into Santa and fights,” I thought it was a gag or a parody. But the moment I turned the page, that thought vanished. Despite the absurd premise, the unfolding story is profoundly deep, sharp, and emotionally resonant. The curse Sanda carries, the bond with the missing friend Shiori is searching for, and their intersecting fates give the story a “core” that goes beyond just a bizarre idea. The development, which ironically uses the fantastical image of Santa Claus as a symbol of love and hope while incorporating satire and questions about modern society, is truly impressive.

Paru Itagaki, who depicted “humans” through the unique existence of beast-people in BEASTARS, now seems to be directly challenging “humanity” itself. The characters appear to be ordinary junior and senior high school students, but each possesses intense individuality, and their characterization wonderfully blends seamlessly into the story. While the previous work expressed instincts and social distortions hidden within animal forms, this work's perspective is more direct and keenly penetrates. It's because the characters' worries, conflicts, and desires resonate so realistically that the story has the power to make you feel, “This could be about us,” even with a non-realistic setting.

The structure, where the mysteries scattered throughout the story gradually become clear as you read, is superb. The details of Sanda's curse, Shiori's true intentions, and the nature of the future society—all piece together like a puzzle, and gradually a larger truth emerges. The development is never overly explanatory; instead, it skillfully draws the reader in by stimulating their imagination, which is characteristic of Itagaki's work. The strange post-reading sensation, where sci-fi, fantasy, school drama, and mystery are blended together, makes you more engrossed the more you read.

SANDA appears to have a bizarre premise and preposterous developments, but it is actually a very “down-to-earth” story. Hidden beneath the shocking visual of a boy turning into a muscular Santa is a question about future society, the fundamental loneliness and connection of human beings, and above all, a query about “what it means to live.” It is truly the evolved form of Paru Itagaki's work. It should unquestionably resonate with those who liked BEASTARS, and it's a title I can strongly recommend even to first-time readers.