is a Japanese manga series written by Haro Aso and illustrated by . It has been serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine Monthly Sunday Gene-X since October 2018, with its chapters collected in 23 volumes as of August 2026. The series is licensed for English release in North America by Viz Media and in Southeast Asia by Shogakukan Asia.
An anime television series adaptation produced by Bug Films aired from July to December 2023. It is licensed by Viz Media outside of Asia. Muse Communication licensed the anime for South Asia and Southeast Asia regions. A live-action film adaptation premiered on Netflix in August 2023.
Plot Akira Tendo, a 24-year-old office worker of an extremely exploitative marketing firm, discovers himself trapped in a routine and meaningless life. He lacks drive and motivation after three years of abusive treatment. When a zombie apocalypse unexpectedly strikes Tokyo, everything is turned upside down. Instead of succumbing to dread, Akira sees this as an opportunity to experience life to the fullest rather than settle for his humdrum, depressing existence. He decides to create a bucket list of everything he wants to do before becoming a zombie in order to not only experience it firsthand but also to show that he is still alive and well. This decision gives him a newfound sense of purpose.
Others soon join him in his journey: Kencho, Akira's old college buddy who seeks to be a stand-up comedian; Shizuka, a sullen and blunt woman who is also seeking to escape an abusive life; and Beatrix, a German college graduate infatuated with Japanese culture. With them at his side, Akira embarks on a number of exciting and frequently bizarre excursions throughout zombie-infested Japan, checking off bucket list items that range from simple pleasures like eating at expensive restaurants for free to more extravagant pursuits like going on roller coasters and visiting haunted houses. The group also comes across other survivors who have their own motivations for surviving as they make their way across the country and its swarms of flesh-eating zombies. Along the journey, they forge odd alliances, face their own anxieties, and learn the importance of friendship and the human spirit's ability to persevere in the face of difficulty.
Ultimately, it is revealed that the global zombie pandemic was instigated by the pharmaceutical corporation Umbriel. The virus, which Umbriel obtained from a comet that struck Tokyo prior to the outbreak, was weaponized for biological warfare. However, a countermeasure is discovered when a young gamer girl named Izuna Tokage is found to carry a natural antibody against the pathogen. Researcher Yudai Tsurumi utilizes this antibody to develop a vaccine, providing a potential means to counteract the pandemic.
Characters Main characters
Akira, a former salaryman employed by an exploitative marketing firm, initially embodies a cheerful, ambitious demeanor, but the relentless demands of his job erode his mental and physical health, plunging him into depression. When a zombie apocalypse erupts, he embraces his former optimism, seeing the chaos as liberation from his oppressive routine. Resigned to eventual zombification, he dedicates three years to fulfilling lifelong goals. Despite his carefree demeanor, he fully grasps the crisis but prefers it to his past life. His background as a college rugby player grants him exceptional strength and agility, which he employs to evade threats. Later, he adopts the identity of "Akirager", wearing a shark bite-proof suit to combat zombies directly.
Shizuka, a former high-profile accountant (portrayed as a flight attendant in the live-action film due to her composite with Yukari), endured strict control from her father, leaving her reserved, overly logical, and detached from personal enjoyment. The zombie apocalypse intensifies her survivalist mindset, making her highly resourceful but socially isolated. After repeated encounters with Akira and Kencho, she reluctantly joins them in their RV, unable to drive herself. Gradually, their zest for life influences her, and she begins opening up, eventually forming a romantic relationship with Akira. Inspired by their outlook, she reconnects with her childhood aspiration of becoming a doctor, listing it as her 42nd life goal.
Kenichiro, nicknamed "Kencho", is Akira's longtime friend and former rugby teammate. A natural entertainer, he constantly jokes around, with Akira as his primary audience. Though successful as a real estate agent, he resents the industry's unethical practices, secretly aspiring to be a stand-up comedian—later listed as his 34th bucket list goal. After Akira rescues him during a zombie attack, they reunite and face the apocalypse together. Like Akira, Kencho retains athletic prowess from his rugby days, with greater raw strength and charisma, traits that fuel his promiscuous tendencies. He often performs impromptu comedy, his signature bit involving stripping naked—much to others' annoyance, though Akira always laughs.
Beatrix, a German woman deeply fascinated with Japanese culture, taught herself Japanese and traveled to Japan after college. When the zombie apocalypse begins, she arms herself with samurai armor, a naginata, katanas, and a bow, using self-trained skills to survive. Initially seeking to fulfill her dream of eating sushi prepared by the last surviving chef (item #7 on Akira's bucket list), she joins his group. Her primary objective shifts to experiencing all aspects of Japanese culture. Despite her gentle nature, her combat prowess makes her the group's most formidable fighter.
Takeru, nicknamed Takemina is an old college friend of Akira and Kencho. A self-stylized hippie, he joins Akira's group in order to experience the greatest possible freedom imaginable. Takeru has poor aim, but if he intentionally seeks to miss, then he will always hit his target. This makes him the team's sharpshooter.
Izuna is a former high school student who became jaded with society after the death of her father at a young age and her mother's subsequent need to overwork. When the outbreak starts, Izuna is found to be naturally immune to the virus. Upon meeting Akira's group, she joins up with them, and the primary goal of the series shifts to escorting her to a lab where a vaccine can be produced based on her immunity.
Supporting characters
Mikio:
Sumire:
The Kousakas, Akira's previously unknown neighbors, first encounter him during the outbreak when he stumbles upon them hiding in their apartment. Confused by his cheerful demeanor amid the crisis, they watch as he offers to retrieve supplies for them. Upon returning, Akira finds their apartment destroyed and assumes they perished. Inspired by his optimism, however, the couple escapes and commandeers a plane to travel the world before succumbing to zombification. In the live-action adaptation, they are expecting a child and flee to an aquarium instead. Their story serves as an early example of how Akira's outlook influences others during the apocalypse.
Teruo is Akira's father and a farmer. A no-nonsense, hardworking man, he routinely, if unintentionally, acts coldly to Akira, leading them to not get along that well. Despite this, Teruo occasionally shows some warmth and idealism (eventually revealing his childhood dream was to become an astronaut and experience the overview effect), and is fiercely loyal to their village. He suffers from various health problems, including back pain, lung problems, and hemorrhoids. This initially causes himself and others to think he is infected, though this later proves to not be the case. Getting Teruo to take hemorrhoid surgery becomes #40 on the bucket list.
Akiko is Akira's mother and Teruo's wife. She is generally more kind-hearted and conciliatory than her husband.
Antagonists
Gonzou, Akira's former team leader, is a sadistic and manipulative figure who rules through intimidation, berating subordinates even when they follow his orders. He cultivates a cult of personality, demanding loyalty while contributing no work himself. After the apocalypse, he commands a survivor group at a truck stop, escalating his tyranny by exploiting refugees fleeing Tokyo, including Akira, Shizuka, and Kencho. When Gonzou nearly succeeds in coercing Akira into submission, Shizuka intervenes by adding "walking out on Gonzou" as item #37 on the bucket list. His group abandons him during a zombie attack after he prioritizes only himself, leaving him isolated and overwhelmed as the undead close in.
Higurashi, a former college acquaintance of Akira and Kencho, presents a contrasting personality to Akira. While Akira's extroversion was suppressed by his oppressive work life, Higurashi was a NEET who isolated himself yet blamed society for his bitterness. The apocalypse gives him the freedom to act without consequences, and he joins like-minded individuals who similarly refused to take responsibility for their circumstances. They create a destructive bucket list, culminating in an attack on Akira's village where they release zombies, targeting Akira out of long-held envy. Though causing significant damage, Higurashi is ultimately defeated. In his final moments after being bitten, he redeems himself by leading zombies away before drowning himself in a river.
A member of Higurashi's group, Kurasagi is a former cellphone shop employer who became disenfranchised with his work and marriage, leading to the latter dissolving. In reality, he expected his wife to do everything for him while he provided money, rather than actually work on their relationship. After joining Higurashi's group during the outbreak, Kurasagi's bucket list item becomes wanting to abuse his wife. During the assault on Akira's village, he fights with Kencho on a roof, who angrily points out his faults. Kencho manages to throw Kurasagi off the roof, where he is devoured by zombies.
A member of Higurashi's group who worked as a chef apprentice. He refused to apply himself to any of his jobs and would routinely get fired, but chose to blame bad luck over his selfishness. After joining Higurashi's group, Atenbou's bucket list item becomes wanting to forcibly French kiss a girl. During the outbreak, he attempts to do this to Shizuka, but she points out his inability to fear for others and lures Atenbou to where the village elders beat him up, though he survives. Atenbou comes to regret his actions afterwards, and decides to reside in the village to help it rebuild.
A member of Higurashi's group. She was an office manager who constantly nitpicked and belittled every little thing about where she worked. As a result, her coworkers avoided her, which ultimately led to her getting fired. After joining Higurashi's group, Kanbayashi's main bucket list item becomes blowing up her old office building. During the outbreak, she comes into contact with Beatrix, who points out that she needed to be more open to the opinions of others and learn to respect different approaches to the same goal before she is killed.
Other characters
Ohtori, Akira's former coworker, stood out as one of the few kind figures in his oppressive workplace. Though he harbored strong feelings for her, he never confessed after discovering she was coerced into a sexual relationship with the CEO. When the apocalypse begins, both Ohtori and the CEO succumb to zombification. Upon encountering them, Akira finally expresses his feelings before fleeing, later recognizing this as the first completed item on his bucket list. While he occasionally reflects on her memory, these thoughts diminish as his relationship with Shizuka develops.