Kimi no Knife

Kimi no Knife, written and illustrated by Yua Kotegawa, was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Young Jump beginning in 2003. The series emerged during a period of rising interest in seinen manga that explored moral ambiguity and psychological thriller elements. Kotegawa crafted the narrative to focus on the harrowing transformation of a mundane salaryman who is recruited by a mysterious assassin, centering the story on the heavy ethical cost of violence and the internal conflict of an unwilling killer.

The art style is characterized by Kotegawa’s signature sharp line work and atmospheric shadows, which effectively heighten the tension of the protagonist's descent. The series was well-regarded for its tight pacing and its ability to maintain a sense of dread throughout its run. It successfully occupies a niche within the suspense genre, often noted for its departure from traditional action tropes in favor of a grim, character-driven examination of human frailty.