Hoshi no Koe (Voices of a Distant Star)

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Alternative Titles

Synonyms: The Voices of a Distant Star

Japanese: ほしのこえ

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Information

Type: Manga

Volumes: 1

Chapters: 10

Status: Finished

Published: Feb 25, 2004 to Dec 25, 2004

Genres: Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi

Theme: Mecha

Demographic: Seinen

Serialization: Afternoon

Authors: Shinkai, Makoto (Story), Yumeka, Sumomo (Art)

Statistics

Score: 7.80¹ (scored by 10,370 users)

¹ indicates a weighted score.

Ranked: #1396²

² based on the top manga page. Please note that 'R18+' titles are excluded.

Popularity: #827

Members: 25,398

Favorites: 363

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Kodansha USA

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7.80

Ranked #1396Popularity #827Members 25,398

MangaAfternoonShinkai, Makoto (Story), Yumeka, Sumomo (Art)

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Volumes: /1

Chapters: /10

Voices of a Distant Star

$7.99

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Synopsis

To what distance would you go for your one true love? In the midst of an alien invasion, Mikako joins the resistance, leaving behind the one young man she loves. As she goes deeper into space, Mikako's only connection with her boyfriend is through cell-phone text messages. The war rages on and years pass, but Mikako barely ages in the timelessness of space while Noboru grows old. How can the love of two people, torn apart by war, survive?

(Source: Tokyopop)

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BackgroundHoshi no Koe was published in English as The Voices of a Distant Star: Hoshi no Koe by Tokyopop on August 1, 2006. Vertical Inc. republished the series as Voices of a Distant Star on February 20, 2018. The manga was also released in Brazilian Portuguese by Panini Comics in November 2010; in Russian by Istari Comics in 2012; and in Polish as by Waneko on February 27, 2019.

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Nagamine, Mikako

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Terao, Noboru

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Reviews

Jan 4, 2026

anotherburnedfox

Recommended

Un manga bastante melancólico que centra toda su fuerza en la distancia emocional y física entre dos personajes separados por la guerra espacial. Desde el inicio se percibe el sello de Makoto Shinkai, con un guion que busca transmitir añoranza, soledad y desesperación de forma muy directa, no he visto la pelicula asi que me limitaré a hablar exclusivamente del manga.

La obra se nota influenciada por otros trabajos de Shinkai, especialmente "Byousoku 5 Centimeters", tanto en tono como en narrativa visual y sensorial. Las interacciones entre los personajes, los mensajes que tardan años en llegar y la incertidumbre sobre su reencuentro funcionan muy bien para ... generar una sensación de nostalgia y melancolía, haciendo que el lector comparta la misma frustración y esperanza que los protagonistas.

Por otro lado, su corta duración implica limitaciones, el mundo de la guerra espacial es algo que queda muy de fondo y ciertos elementos, como la lógica de la comunicación interestelar o el contexto histórico, quedan poco desarrollados. Sin embargo, esto no resta demasiado, porque el objetivo del manga nunca es construir un universo complejo, sino explorar emociones humanas en un marco de ciencia ficción minimalista.

En resumen, Hoshi no Koe es una obra recomendable si disfrutas de dramas japoneses melodramáticos y ciencia ficción centrada en los personajes. Logra transmitir con eficacia la soledad y la añoranza a través de cada página. Para los fans de Shinkai, es una lectura casi obligatoria y un ejemplo temprano de los temas que definirán su carrera, yo no soy particularmente fan del autor, pero se me hizo disfrutable y la recomiendo.

ENG:

A rather melancholic manga that focuses all its power on the emotional and physical distance between two characters separated by the space war. From the beginning, Makoto Shinkai's signature style is evident, with a script that seeks to convey longing, loneliness, and despair very directly. I haven't seen the film, so I'll limit myself to discussing the manga exclusively.

The work is clearly influenced by other Shinkai works, especially "5 Centimeters Away," both in tone and in visual and sensory narrative. The interactions between the characters, the messages that take years to arrive, and the uncertainty about their reunion work very well to generate a sense of nostalgia and melancholy, making the reader share the same frustration and hope as the protagonists.

On the other hand, its short length imposes limitations. The world of the space war remains very much in the background, and certain elements, such as the logic of interstellar communication or the historical context, are underdeveloped. However, this doesn't detract too much, because the manga's goal is never to build a complex universe, but rather to explore human emotions within a minimalist science fiction framework.

In short, Hoshi no Koe is a recommended work if you enjoy melodramatic Japanese dramas and character-driven science fiction. It effectively conveys loneliness and longing on every page. For Shinkai fans, it's practically required reading and an early example of the themes that would define his career. I'm not a particular fan of the author, but I found it enjoyable and recommend it.

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Feb 10, 2025

Dotanuki

Recommended

It was ok, a very melencholic manga. I also watched the anime and anime was kind of better, but i liked the character designs of manga better. I was lost at some panels because of the change of characters' hair colors... I was like, is this still the same character talking or what... It should also have pointed out the locasion, like now we are at earth, now we are at space ship whatever etc, that would be helpful, but not a big problem.

Oh... the melencholy... two young people who actually in love with each other had to be seperated. The girl was chosen ...

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Nov 24, 2024

Mara2463

Mixed Feelings

Voices of a Distant Star – Spoiler Free – Mixed Feelings

TLDR
Story – 5/10 – 5 x 0.275 = 1,375
Art – 5/10 – 5 x 0.2 = 1
Characters – 4/10 – 4 x 0.225 = 0,9
Enjoyment – 5/10 – 5 x 0.3 = 1,5
Total: 4,775 -> 5

Story – 5/10
Voices of a Distant Star is a manga written by Makoto Shinkai and drawn by Sumomo Yumeka. It is a very simple story that stands on an even simpler premise: two lovers are inevitably separated by interstellar distance due to her duties in the army. In time, the time messages take to reach the other becomes unbearable, although ...

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Poll: Hoshi no Koe Chapter 7 Discussion AlexSadist-sama - Aug 5, 2011	2 replies	by bocurgat61 »» Jul 2, 2025 12:15 AM
Poll: Hoshi no Koe Chapter 5 Discussion AlexSadist-sama - Aug 5, 2011	4 replies	by Nicoman- »» Oct 12, 2022 8:57 AM
Poll: Hoshi no Koe Chapter 10 Discussion Agarina - Jan 16, 2010	37 replies	by LaurenStark »» Oct 10, 2022 6:42 AM
Poll: Hoshi no Koe Chapter 9 Discussion AlexSadist-sama - Aug 5, 2011	1 replies	by LaurenStark »» Oct 10, 2022 6:38 AM
Poll: Hoshi no Koe Chapter 6 Discussion AlexSadist-sama - Aug 5, 2011	3 replies	by Shikkakku »» Aug 23, 2019 10:06 PM

Hoshi no Koe
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