March Comes in Like a Lion #4

March Comes in Like a Lion, known in Japan as Sangatsu no Lion, is a celebrated seinen manga series written and illustrated by Chica Umino. The fourth volume, released in the late 2000s, continues the story of Rei Kiriyama, a solitary professional shogi player navigating his career and personal growth. Umino, already acclaimed for her work on Honey and Clover, brings a distinctively emotive and delicate artistic style to the series, balancing the high-pressure world of professional board games with intimate character studies regarding depression and the found family dynamic.

This installment remains a cornerstone of the series, deepening the central narrative threads involving the Kawamoto sisters. The design of the volume reflects Umino's signature approach, featuring intricate cover illustrations that mirror the story's melancholic yet hopeful atmosphere. Upon its release, the volume was well-received by both critics and readers, praised for its masterful pacing and the author’s ability to depict complex psychological landscapes through the lens of shogi competitions and domestic life.