This review is for Please Look After the Dragon, Volume 1, written by Shoun Makise and art by Yuki Higashiura. Yen Press provided a free copy of this book in exchange for a review.
Please Look After the Dragon is a charming slice-of-life manga that follows Murakami, a college student who spends his downtime gaming. The story opens with Murakami playing a mobile game advertised as letting players befriend monsters—only for his excitement to deflate when the dragon he unlocks transforms into a sexy dragon lady instead. Thoroughly unimpressed, Murakami quits the game and leaves it a (deserved, heh) scathing one-star review before heading out to grab lunch.
That’s when he encounters Ilsera, a dragon who is very much not part of a mobile game—and who just so happens to be looking for a place to stay.
Ilsera explains that she’s on a training journey to become a full-fledged member of her species after failing an important exam in her world. Rather than being sent away by her parents, she chooses to strike out on her own, believing that personal growth is the key to becoming a “real” dragon. The two quickly become unlikely roommates, and Murakami’s once-quiet life is soon filled with gentle chaos.
Their day-to-day misadventures range from wholesome to hilariously absurd. A sweet elderly shop owner mistakes Ilsera for a naked, white-painted human and hires her part-time as what she proudly calls a “diversity hire.” (*In Hongdae accent* she’s open mindeu!) Elsewhere, two neighborhood kids become obsessed with trying to photograph Ilsera in hopes of going viral. It becomes clear pretty quickly that boredom is no longer in Murakami’s future.
While much of the volume leans into cozy comedy, an incident at a local temple introduces a shift in tone—setting the stage for something (no spoilers here!) that builds narrative tension and hints at what Murakami and Ilsera will face in Volume 2.
The storytelling is light-hearted and approachable, making Please Look After the Dragon a perfect comfort read whether you’re unwinding after a long day or just in the mood for something sweet and funny. There are genuine laugh-out-loud moments, the art is expressive and inviting, and the localization work is excellent. I especially appreciated the decision to place translation notes at the end of the volume rather than interrupting the flow of the story.
My only minor quibble—barely worth calling a negative—was the localization of Don Quijote as “Don Qui.” While it’s not incorrect, it felt slightly jarring to me. Having grown up in Hawaii, I’ve only ever known the store as Don Quijote or Donki, so seeing “Don Qui” took me out of the moment just a bit. That said, this is a purely personal nitpick and had no real impact on my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, Please Look After the Dragon is a delightful, cozy read with heart, humor, and just enough intrigue to keep you invested in what comes next.
Please Look After the Dragon releases on February 20, 2026, and will be available through the Yen Press store and major book retailers.
