Gokujoshi: Gokudō, Joshi Shōgakusei ni Naru #1

Gokujoshi: Gokudō, Joshi Shōgakusei ni Naru, written and illustrated by Renjūrō Kindaichi, began its serialization in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine in 2012. The series emerged from a comedic subgenre exploring body-swap tropes, centering on a yakuza boss whose soul is transferred into the body of an elementary school girl following a tragic accident. Kindaichi, well known for the long-running series Jungle wa Itsumo Hare Nochi Guu, utilized the contrast between the protagonist’s gritty, intimidating interior monologue and his delicate physical appearance to drive the series' surreal humor.

The character design reflects a deliberate aesthetic dissonance intended to juxtapose the archetypal stoic gangster with the moe-adjacent visual style of a young student. Upon its release in the early 2010s, the series was received as a lighthearted, absurdist take on the transformation genre. It remains a notable example of Kindaichi's ability to blend character-driven comedy with unconventional premises, appealing to readers who enjoy satirical subversions of established manga tropes.