Is Kijima-san & Yamada-san Worth Reading? Review & Where to Read
Quick Answer
If you liked the mind-reading hook in Shut Up, Takamori! but want it relocated from a classroom to an office with two adult leads, this wholesome companion series delivers the same charm in a different setting.
Quick Verdict
“Gentle, well-executed office spin on the mind-reading crush gimmick, carried by genuine warmth between its leads.”
Best for: Readers who want a low-stakes, wholesome workplace romance built around a character who can't stop overhearing how much his coworker likes him.
Not for: Readers hoping the mind-reading power becomes a deeper supernatural plot rather than mostly a device for romantic comedy.
- Type
- Manga
- Genres
- Romance, Comedy
- Status
- Ongoing
- This review
- Minor Spoilers
- Author
- Hoshimi SK
- Publisher
- Square Enix Manga
- Platform
- Manga UP! Global / Comikey (digital)
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Format | Manga (shōnen), 27 chapters, 6 volumes |
| Run | 2019–2023 · ongoing |
| Community score | AniList 7.2 |
| Content | A workplace romance between adult coworkers, not a school setting -- the mind-reading gimmick mirrors Shut Up, Takamori! but with the genders and setting swapped. |
| Where to read | Manga UP! Global / Comikey (digital) — official |
Overview
Kijima-san & Yamada-san follows Kijima, an office worker who gains the ability to hear people's inner thoughts after an accident. The power turns out to be less about secrets and scandal and more about romance: his coworker Yamada-san's inner voice is unusually loud, and it's constantly, openly focused on how much she likes him. Hearing her real feelings play out in his head day after day, Kijima slowly falls for her warmth -- even as he struggles to work up the nerve to actually say anything.
What it does well
As a companion piece to Shut Up, Takamori! (same gimmick, genders reversed, relocated from classroom to office), Kijima-san & Yamada-san proves the hook works just as well among adult coworkers as it does among teenage classmates. Yamada-san herself is the clear highlight -- reviewers consistently praise her as a genuinely warm, adorable love interest rather than a stock archetype, and the series leans into that warmth rather than manufacturing conflict or jealousy. The tone stays gentle and wholesome throughout, and the early chapters do a good job letting the central relationship develop at a believable pace instead of rushing straight to a confession.
Where it falls short
The mind-reading power itself doesn't get much development beyond its use as a romance mechanism -- there's no real mystery or supernatural stakes attached to it, so readers hoping for more fantasy plot alongside the romance will find this mostly uses its gimmick as a comedic and emotional device. Being newer to English readers, there also isn't a huge backlog of translated material yet. And because the structure so closely mirrors its companion series, readers who've already read Shut Up, Takamori! won't find many surprises in the basic setup, even with the setting swapped.
Verdict
Kijima-san & Yamada-san takes a proven gimmick -- overhearing your crush's unfiltered feelings -- and relocates it from school to the workplace without losing any of its charm. It won't satisfy readers looking for a deeper supernatural plot, but as a wholesome, well-paced office romance with a genuinely likable female lead, it's an easy companion read to Shut Up, Takamori! or a fine starting point on its own.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
- The hook works just as well in an office as it did in a classroom: after an accident gives him the ability to hear inner thoughts, Kijima can't escape just how openly, warmly his coworker Yamada-san's inner voice is focused on him.
- Yamada-san herself is consistently praised as an adorable, genuinely warm love interest rather than a generic archetype.
- The tone stays light and wholesome throughout, with neither the mind-reading power nor the workplace setting ever used for anything mean-spirited.
- Early pacing of the central romance is handled well, giving the relationship room to develop naturally.
Weaknesses
- The mind-reading ability is used almost entirely as a romance-plot device rather than given any real supernatural stakes or mystery, so readers wanting more fantasy plot may be disappointed.
- As a shorter, newer series on the English side, there isn't a huge amount of material yet.
- It follows the same basic structure as its companion series Shut Up, Takamori!, so readers who've already read that one will find few surprises in the core setup.
Similar Titles
The direct companion series -- the same 'I can hear my crush's thoughts' gimmick with the mind-reader's gender flipped and set in school instead of an office.
Mousou Telepathy
Another inner-voice-reading romance, with a lighter, more straightforward rom-com tone.
Shares the gentle, earnest tone of a romance built around one character slowly opening up to how much they're actually liked.
Where to Read Officially
| Platform | Format | Pricing | Region notes | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manga UP! Global / Comikey (digital) | Digital chapters | Free + Paid | Region availability varies | Open |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kijima-san & Yamada-san the same series as Shut Up, Takamori!?
No, but it's a closely related companion piece by a different creator -- both use the 'hearing your crush's inner thoughts' gimmick, but Kijima-san & Yamada-san swaps the genders and moves the setting from a school to an office.
Is Kijima-san & Yamada-san finished?
Yes, it's complete in Japan at 6 volumes and 27 chapters -- the English release via Manga UP! Global and Comikey has been catching up gradually since its 2023 launch.
Where can I read Kijima-san & Yamada-san in English?
Square Enix publishes it digitally through Manga UP! Global and Comikey.
How many volumes is Kijima-san & Yamada-san?
The complete Japanese run is 6 volumes across 27 chapters, making it a relatively quick read compared to longer-running rom-coms.
