Since 28-Sept and tonight have finished 8 more squares but haven’t updated the card (not going to update it now …) but one book left for blackout and readthon this weekend…
only about 47k char left to finish…
but I’m a slow poke so won’t finish during readathon unless some miracle happens…but blackout on the otherhand is close…
then I can update the whole bingo card at once… good luck with bingo the last couple of weeks of bingo goals everyone!!!
Updated with a small shuffle. “Choose your free square wisely” is not “feed it to ChatGPT and let it do whatever”, noted.
3 volumes of manga left to finish the board (I’m done with novels):
Language related: ゆびさきと恋々 1 | L19
Genre I don’t usually read: フルメタル・パニック!Σ 1 | L24?? …or フルメタル・パニック!COMIC MISSION 放っておけない一匹狼? (角川スドラゴンJr.) | L24?? ? None of them are the beginning so I’ll throw a coin [ after more google: Comic Mission seems to be the remake of the og manga]
Year of birth: トライガン #1 | L25??
#23 Unusual genre: https://learnnatively.com/book/0ecf2504a4/
(My first ever murder mystery read in Japanese!)
#24 Has a dino character: http://learnnatively.com/book/118473984f/
I also just realized that if I replace my free square book with a prose book I can have a whole prose book bingo! (Diagonal top right to bottom left.) We’ll see if I can manage that before the year is up …
Free square: https://learnnatively.com/book/ec2670e452/
#1 Read a book and watch the adaptation/Join a book club: https://learnnatively.com/book/bb278b5a56/
#2 Cover is primarily composed of your favorite color / From someone else’s board: https://learnnatively.com/book/2792b72a29/
#3 Workplace setting / Character speaks a dialect: https://learnnatively.com/book/8e0ac3c1c3/
#4 Reread: https://learnnatively.com/series/29ce1d2266/
#5 Non-human protagonist: https://learnnatively.com/book/3addbac7b6/
#6 Second in a series: https://learnnatively.com/book/cb7455a151/
#7 Shiritori title (Hitoribochinomarumaruseikatsu → Tsuredzurebiyori) / Went in without knowing the premise: https://learnnatively.com/book/6552c130e4/
#8 Main character with a disability: https://learnnatively.com/book/de1b9508f2/
#9 Has a cat character: https://learnnatively.com/book/7ca632e88c/
#10 Curious title: https://learnnatively.com/book/b6f30bb97f/
#11 Bad Cover: https://learnnatively.com/book/568b002ce7/
#12 Finished* in one day: https://learnnatively.com/book/f13736b4f6/
#13 Has Vampires / No ratings, no reviews: https://learnnatively.com/book/3c28b8a5f4/
#14 Set in a country that is not where the book’s language is spoken: 木曜日にはココアを | L28
#15 A book someone else thought I would like / Flower or plant name in the title: https://learnnatively.com/book/943cc24ce4/
#16 Highest series volume number: https://learnnatively.com/book/16c9b89166/
#17 Keep hearing about / Award runner-up: https://learnnatively.com/book/418f85b44b/
#18 Learned something / New-to-me Setting: https://learnnatively.com/book/28475f963d/
#19 Finish a book you gave up on before / Read a book in a different format from usual / Read a book you got for free: https://learnnatively.com/book/62764606c6/
#20 Has a dog character: https://learnnatively.com/book/c4ae8c5917/
#21 Has a tanuki character: https://learnnatively.com/book/00a97f399b/
#22 Multiple contributors / read a damaged book: https://learnnatively.com/book/ad91013f8e/
Congrats on the blackout!! Reverse bingo was such a fun idea!
B1 - Unusual genre for me: ぎゃる侍1 | L24??, Gal Samurai vol. 1. Plus 3 bonus stars 
for being the first to rate, grade, & review on Natively!
I accidentally clicked ‘download’ on this one while I was scrolling my BookWalker list, so it ended up being the one I read next, without having a particular square in mind for it 
I don’t get very drawn to martial arts stories or heavy-handed dramas, and I’m not really sure what else to call the genre of this manga, so it gets the ‘Unusual genre’ square.
Ran Kirishima, a high school gyaru who dreams of becoming a fashion designer, happens to be the inheritor of the ‘Scarlet Eagle’ school of martial arts and is unbeatable when delivering justice to perverts and abusers. She attracts the attention of the shadowy group ‘Mistral’, who start interfering with the lives of the people around her in order to draw her into fights. The premise is silly, the melodrama is gratuitous, and the manga is not very well-made, but I was invested regardless and had an unexpected amount of fun reading.
All finished! I switched around a lot of stuff. Bingo ends up being a kind of year end recap, so I wanted to use the more memorable manga in squares where I had a choice.
I might paste some of this into reviews later, so don’t be surprised if deja vu hits you three months from now!
グリーンフィンガーズの箱庭1
Unique manga about plants and the mythology surrounding them. It was too difficult to enjoy at the time, but it sticks in my mind as something I must reread.
百と卍
I love anything set in Japan before the 20th century. That goes for any media and country really. I thought I wouldn’t like this manga at the start because it seems like an Edo slice-of-life with episodic chapters. I was definitely wrong.
君の銀のあし
One of two mangas on my board that I can’t say I liked. It was, however, interesting to see the portrayal of an amputee character, hear about snowboarding, and see the Netherlands in manga form. The development of the romance and art style are what made it hard for me.
雪と松 1
Another one set in a period I just think is cool. This author always gives their characters such wit. They have a knack for finding romance in situations absolutely devoid of it. Which of course adds to the comedy.
同級生
It’s just a classic I had to read. I prefer the manga over the movie, but I was happy to see the characters again since I waited a long time to watch it. The manga’s art is just so fun.
贋 まがいもの 一
This was recommended by eefara. I loved it. I was invested in the characters and it got much more tense than I was expecting.
あかね噺 1
I almost donated this manga without reading it since it wouldn’t fit in my suitcase. The first chapter was enough for me to decide I’d make it fit. The rakugo was a bit hard for me to follow which is a problem considering it’s the whole point of the manga. I like it still and need to see Akane accomplish her goal in the future volumes.
さよならローズガーデン 1
I got this from qdsl’s bingo. I commented about it before, but I’m loving the drama of it all.
妖魔と下僕の契約条件 1
This is another one that’s hard to judge because I spent a lot of time struggling through it. There were certainly many parts I enjoyed. I can at least say it was better than the other novel I read.
限界OLさんは悪役令嬢さまに仕えたい 1
Excellent! The characters are so lovable.
親愛なるジーンへ 1
I read both of the volumes in this series. Though I haven’t read Rumspringa(?), the one it’s a spinoff from. This series hit me the hardest of any manga on here. I was in tears by the end.
真夜中の俺を見て
Not my favorite. I read two other mangas about livestreamers this year, and both were better than this. It was too hard to suspend my belief with the way things developed.
オールドファッションカップケーキ with カプチーノ
The first volume of this series is one of my all time favorite BLs. So the sequel simply had to be on the board somehow.
花と銀
It’s the same author from the 雪と松 and I really only have the same compliments to give. I didn’t want to put the same author twice, but well, it was good.
果ての荒野でバカンスを
This one had been switched out in the last update, but It’s back again. Only one of the stories in the anthology is sci-fi, but that one story was a lot more memorable than the entirety of Type Aid.
裏切り者のラブソング 1<デジタル修正版>
Exciting and fun. I was thrilled at the twist. BLs where there are bigger problems than the main character’s romantic relationship feel less common. I was happy to stumble across this one.
秘め婿
I read it blind since 雪の妖精 is one of my favorite mangas. It is so different. The stakes are high and the drama is intense.
ブレス 1
I love a role reversal. Male makeup artists aren’t rare in Japanese media, but I’m here for it every time. It has that sports manga feeling where their lives seem to depend on their passion.
イグナートの花嫁 1
Beautiful and melancholy. It reminds me of the Russian movie I am Dragon if anyone knows it.
屍と花嫁【電子限定かきおろし付】 秒で分かるBL
This was my first horror. It wasn’t scary or even unsettling, but I did go “Huh.” And that’s enough for me.
ハッピー・オブ・ジ・エンド
I read all three. Each one had me on edge. It’s often clear from the first chapter of a manga whether there’s a happy ending in store or not. I had no idea how things would turn out here.
銀の麦畑 1
This is a great fantasy series. There’s a unique magic system that they stick to. The world is well-built around it. All of the characters designs are beautiful and while there are some heavy themes, the whole mood is pretty light. It does feel intended for younger readers, but I love it. Think 夜の名前を呼んで vibes with more plot.
異世界の沙汰は社畜次第 1
I put off reading this one so long and it was amazing! I love the slow burn. Seeing characters passionate about their work hits for me.
彼方から 1
I wish I’d read this one earlier and could have used it for my language-related category because that’s what I liked most about it. The MC is transported to another world and can’t speak the language, so she slowly learns it over the course of the manga. So cool!! I’m sure a forum of language nerds can appreciate that.
コヨーテ I
I think I’ve read three of these now. It’s another action-packed BL with bigger consequences than broken hearts. And of course it’s on indefinite hiatus. (:
@bungakushoujo Thanks for hosting! It was a lot of fun.
I read enough of the konosuba manga to be able to cross off Read a book and consume an adaptation of it. (I read the LN earlier this year)
That’s my third and final bingo for the year.
I like how 君の名は is part of all 3 bingo’s as it was the first book I read after deciding to take reading seriously. I studied the first half of that book and now it’s the cornerstone of my bingocard 
Your bingo feels to me like a treasure chest.
It all looks so nice and sounds exciting 
continues to extend the wishlist
Love the year end recap! Congrats on the blackout
So…I’m pretty sure the only copy of my template I was using for my 2025 bingo is on my work laptop, and I don’t really want to boot it up to update. 
I’m gonna need to, I guess; I finished my last book to black out my board!
@Kroki
Thanks, I love that!
Honestly, there were so many exciting ones this year. I hope your wishlist goes on extending forever, so you always have fun things to read.
@monace
Thanks! I’ll be aiming for another one in your thread next year.
This update has been a long time coming, but here it is. I’m at the point where I’m trying to fit books with as many of the prompts as possible, even though it’s quite hard. I’ve decided to go with 이상한 과자 가게 3 for character of retired age, a bit of a stretch I know, but oh well. 나 같은 사람 또 있을까 still doesn’t have any ratings besides mine, so it’s a perfect fit for that prompt. I’ve also used the two volumes of Solo leveling I’ve read, one for book+adaptation since I’ve read the webtoon as well this year, and the other one for title including a number, again a bit of a stretch but it’s technically the case. 모든 순간이 너였다 is this beautiful blend of pink and blue, with bits of purple, so that color scheme is perfect for the cover with my favorite color prompt (I would’ve gone with the purple from 남편을 죽이는 서른 가지 방법, but I just hate that shade of green too much). Keep hearing about it is for Never lie, and really just Freida McFadden in general as an author. At least now I can say I’ve read one of her books, even if I had to force myself to do so because of how horrendous it was. And finally, 나는 실수로 투명인간을 죽였다 aka I accidentally killed an invisible person is naturally the perfect pick for curious title, and it’s really the book I had in mind all along for this prompt, what with how wild that title is.
I have also read 딱 하나만 선택하라면, 책, and you might ask, how does that fit in the language related prompt? Well, I was looking at what I could be reading for this and realistically there’s really not much, I’m not at the level to go in depth into etymology, and while I could read something like 영어 잘하는 사람들의 작은 습관 | L27 , I also don’t think that’d be very enjoyable. So, based on monace’s bingo, I’ve decided to switch out that prompt to book about books, which is indeed very fitting for this. This also gives me my first bingo!
Still a last stretch to be done, as I have several books I want to finish before the end of the year. 긴긴밤 | L20 will be going into non human protagonist, 치즈 이야기 | L30?? into that read a book published the year I was born turned into book published in 2025 prompt (because I’ve searched everywhere, and I really can’t get my hand on anything interesing that was published that year, it’s also hard to search with that criteria in the first place, and while I could easily fill that with a manga by default, I’d rather go with a book, so changed prompt it is), 양면의 조개껍데기 | L34?? for rec’d to me, and if I manage to finish 소리를 보는 소년 | L29 before the end of the year, that’ll work for the disabled protagonist character prompt. I wonder if I can just go read 연어 | L30?? and call that my new topic, since I indeed don’t know much about salmons lol. As for the seeking recs thread prompt, I’ll see if I have the time to read either 당연하게도 나는 너를 | L24 or 소리를 삼킨 소년 | L27 .
I also have 밤을 건너는 소년 | L26 that I’m close to finishing that I’m honestly not sure where to fit, 살인협주곡 | L20?? and 시체를 보는 사나이 1부 - 더 비기닝 1 | L24?? .
Bing(o) Completed!!
Rules:
While I had confidence I could theoretically make a blackout, it just feels so fulfilling to realize, with proof, yes I can do it! I ended up reading some awesome books for my bingo this year and even broke new ground for myself (that “Audiobook” square is my first non-children’s book pure audiobook). Thank you all for a wonderful year of bingo (big thanks to @bungakushoujo for setting it all up), and can’t wait to see you in 2026!
Please let me know if you’d like thoughts/opinions on any of these; I was going to do a nice general write-up on them like others have been doing, but my brain is telling me to shut down for the holidays already.
Fantasy: https://learnnatively.com/book/1551574673/
Features siblings: https://learnnatively.com/book/fb6de74ccc/
Won an Award: https://learnnatively.com/book/2ebe995230/
10+ reviews/ratings: 秋の牢獄 | L30
Smthg you keep hearing about: https://learnnatively.com/book/a554e042b9/
Was recommended to me: https://learnnatively.com/book/f5e096281c/
An author’s final/legacy booK: グッド・バイ | L33
Features cat(s): 伯爵と妖精 あいつは優雅な大悪党 | L30
New Natively level to me: イケメン王子とオタクな俺: ~この気持ちの名前を教えて~ | L26
Sci-fi: https://learnnatively.com/book/6f6e7eebe6/
A book from smne else’s card: https://learnnatively.com/book/febaff3b55/
No reviews/ratings/gradings on Natively: https://learnnatively.com/book/61b0a1d06e/
Plot involves revenge: https://learnnatively.com/book/e9351f2b61/
Shortest on TBR: https://learnnatively.com/book/1f4885fbf2/
Audiobook: https://learnnatively.com/book/68077c24cd/
A book you keep skipping over to read: Breaking into Japanese Literature: Seven Modern Classics in Parallel Text - Revised Edition | L31
Thank you! It was a great way to build confidence while my reading skills were still developing. (I’d never read a full-on adult novel before this year!) I’m planning on playing “vanilla” next year and not necessarily aim for blackout, but just see if I can get a bingo first.
Congratulations
Congratulations 
And done!
25 squares, 18 of which are manga.
Got my Bingo at last, in the 11th hour 
Filled I1: Disabled character with ラブ・フラット 1 | L24??, Love-Flat Vol. 1, and got 3 more bonus stars for being the first to rate, grade, and review on Natively.
Third-year middle schooler Nagi, a quiet kid who loves to be alone, is on his way to become a star tennis player thanks to his amazing speed on his feet, until he loses both legs in an accident. Having promised his doubles partner and only friend, Isami, that they would reach the top of the tennis world together, he’s desperate to return to the sport on prosthetics and play the same way he always did… but Isami knows that it’s impossible, and finds another path for Nagi to follow to their dream: wheelchair tennis.
To be 100% honest, I picked this one because there was a wheelchair on the cover and filling the ‘Disability’ square would get me a bingo the fastest; I’ve never read a sports manga, don’t care much about tennis, and didn’t have particularly high expectations for it. But I’m glad this bingo introduced me to it, because I really enjoyed this manga and would like to continue it when more volumes are out. I was really touched by the friendship between the boys, and the long setup felt worth reading through almost an entire book before the main character even attempts the sport the series is going to be about.
I doubt I’ll get any more bingos this year, but getting just one was my big 2025 goal that I didn’t think I would make, and I might try to fill another square as a victory lap before New Years
Finished another book, 密やかな結晶 | L34 (sorry for speeding ahead, book club people! 
)
It didn’t give me a new bingo but I wanted to get it in nonetheless.
Now I have one final book in the making, and I hope I can finish it in time for another bingo 
Got really lazy with updating this. Hopefully 2026 ill be more on top of it 
Not sure where I left off, so I’ll just list the reads I did for bingo this year:
one bingo is a success imo hahaha
