Sanda (manga)

Sanda
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Kazushige Sanda as Santa Claus
Genre
Manga
Written byParu Itagaki
Published byAkita Shoten
English publisher
ImprintShōnen Champion Comics
MagazineWeekly Shōnen Champion
Original runJuly 21, 2021July 11, 2024
Volumes16
Anime television series
Directed byTomohisa Shimoyama
Written byKimiko Ueno
Music byTomoyuki Tanaka
StudioScience Saru
Licensed byAmazon Prime Video
Original networkMBS, TBS, CBC, BS-TBS (Animeism)
Original run October 4, 2025 December 20, 2025
Episodes12

Sanda (stylized in all caps) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Paru Itagaki. It was serialized in Akita Shoten's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Champion from July 2021 to July 2024, with its chapters collected in 16 tankōbon volumes.

The story takes place in the future Japan, where the birth rate in the country has been rapidly declining. Kazushige Sanda is found to be the descendant of Santa Claus by his classmate, Shiori Fuyumura. Together, they attempt to find Fuyumura's missing classmate, Ichie Ono. Itagaki created the series based on her idea to write human characters, as her previous work, Beastars, primarily focused on animals. She was also interested in the figure of Santa Claus.

An anime television series adaptation produced by Science Saru aired from October to December 2025.

The manga has been well received by critics for its premise and themes involving the cast. The anime adaptation received similar attention, with praise focused on Science Saru's animation, fight scenes, and visuals.