Saint Young Men#Live-action

{{Infobox animanga/Header

| image = Saint Young Men Vol01 Cover.jpg

| caption = Cover of first volume as published by Kodansha

| ja_kanji = 聖☆おにいさん

| ja_romaji = Seinto Oniisan

| genre = {{ubl|Comedy{{cite web|title=Gen Hoshino to Perform Saint Young Men Film's Theme Song|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2013-03-21/gen-hoshino-to-perform-saint-young-men-film-theme-song| author=Ressler, Karen|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=September 22, 2018|date=March 22, 2013}}| Slice of life}}

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| author = Hikaru Nakamura

| publisher = Kodansha

| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA=Kodansha USA}}

| demographic = Seinen manga

| magazine = {{ill|Morning Two|ja|月刊モーニングtwo}}

| first = September 22, 2006

| volumes = 21

| volume_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = OAD

| director = Noriko Takao

| producer = {{ubl|Hideharu Gomi|Reo Kurosu}}

| writer = Rika Nezu

| music = {{ubl|Keiichi Suzuki|Ryōmei Shirai}}

| studio = A-1 Pictures

| first = December 3, 2012

| last = August 23, 2013

| episodes = 2

| runtime = 15–26 minutes

| episode_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Video

| type = film

| director = {{ubl|Mamoru Kanbe {{small|({{abbr|Chief|Chief director}})}}|Noriko Takao}}

| producer = {{ubl|Tomonori Ochikoshi|Masayuki Haryu|Yoshihiro Furusawa|Reo Kurosu|Akiko Yodo|Genki Kawamura|Hideharu Gomi}}

| writer = Rika Nezu

| music = {{ubl|Keiichi Suzuki|Ryōmei Shirai}}

| studio = A-1 Pictures

| licensee =

| released = {{Start date|2013|05|10}}

| runtime = 90 minutes

}}

{{Nihongo|Saint Young Men|{{ruby|聖|セイント}}☆おにいさん|Seinto Oniisan|lead=yes}} is a Japanese slice of life comedy manga series written and illustrated by Hikaru Nakamura. Its plot involves Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha, who are living as roommates in an apartment in Tokyo. It has been serialized by Kodansha in the monthly Seinen manga manga magazine {{ill|Morning Two|ja|月刊モーニングtwo}} since September 2006, with chapters collected in twenty-one {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} volumes as of March 2024. Kodansha USA has been publishing the series in English in an omnibus edition since December 2019. A-1 Pictures adapted the manga series into two original animation DVDs (OADs) and an anime film which was released on May 10, 2013. It also inspired a ten-episode live-action web series in 2018.

In Japan, the Saint Young Men manga has sold over 16 million copies. Individual volumes of the series have frequently appeared on lists of the weekly and annual best-seller manga in Japan. It received a Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in 2009 and was nominated for a Manga Taishō Award in the same year. It was also nominated for Best Comic at the 2012 Angoulême International Comics Festival. Its film adaptation has been well received by the Japanese public.

Overview

{{Nihongo|Jesus Christ|イエス・キリスト|Iesu Kirisuto|voiced by Mirai Moriyama in the anime}} and {{nihongo|Gautama Buddha|ゴータマ・ブッダ|Gōtama Buddha|voiced by Gen Hoshino in the anime}}, the central figures of Christianity and Buddhism respectively, are living together as roommates in an apartment in Tachikawa, part of the suburbs of Tokyo. While taking a vacation on Earth, they attempt to hide their identities and understand modern Japanese society. Each chapter shows their lives during an average day, when they are sightseeing, drinking beer, blogging, or playing video games.

While Jesus is portrayed as an impassioned person for his love for all (even for shopping), Buddha tends to be calm and thrifty, and also likes manga. The comedy often involves visual gags and puns, as well as jokes in reference to elements of Christianity and Buddhism; for example, Jesus creates wine from water in a public bath and Buddha shines when excited.

Production

Before writing Saint Young Men, Hikaru Nakamura was working on Arakawa Under the Bridge, which began serialization on December 3, 2004, in the first issue of Square Enix's manga magazine Young Gangan.{{cite web| url=http://www.square-enix.co.jp/magazine/yg/backnumber/backnumber001.shtml| title=創刊号【2004.12.17号】/ バックナンバー / ヤングガンガン| publisher=Square Enix| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213130052/http://www.square-enix.co.jp/magazine/yg/backnumber/backnumber001.shtml| url-status=dead| archive-date=December 13, 2013}} It attracted the attention of an editor of the magazine Weekly Morning, who wanted Nakamura to publish a series for the magazine. She accepted the offer because of her admiration for Kaiji Kawaguchi's works, such as Zipang and The Silent Service, that were serialized in Weekly Morning. The series' title is derived from a song by Denki Groove and Scha Dara Parr called {{nihongo|"Saint Ojisan"|聖☆おじさん|Seinto Ojisan|literally "Saint Old Man"}}.{{cite magazine| magazine=Rockin'On Japan|date=November 2008| publisher=Rockin'on inc.| location=Tokyo| title=none}} Starting from sketches of two friends wearing casual shirts, she conceived the idea of portraying Jesus and Buddha as average people.{{Cite web| url=http://manganohi.jp/2008/05/12183.html| title=Manga no Hi Part 1| archive-url=https://archive.today/20080702002315/http://manganohi.jp/2008/05/12183.html| archive-date=July 2, 2008}} Also included: [https://archive.today/20080527194605/http://manganohi.jp/2008/05/12184.html Part 2] (Archived from [http://manganohi.jp/2008/05/12184.html the original] on May 27, 2008) and [https://archive.today/20080702181028/http://manganohi.jp/2008/05/12185.html Part 3] (Archived from [http://manganohi.jp/2008/05/12185.html the original] on July 2, 2008).

Nakamura envisioned a comedy manga in which the protagonist would be a "very very powerful character", and realized a divine character would fit this premise. She first planned Jesus to be a character in the series, but to make the gags work well, Buddha was added to the series. Their opposing personalities were inspired by Nakamura's sister and her sister's husband; by observing their relationship, she saw some amusing situations.{{cite web| url=http://www.manga-news.com/index.php/auteur/interview/NAKAMURA-Hikaru| title=Nakamura Hikaru – Interview| publisher=Manga-News| language=fr| access-date=July 5, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210235826/http://www.manga-news.com/index.php/auteur/interview/NAKAMURA-Hikaru| archive-date=December 10, 2014| url-status=live}} She also saw a resemblance between her version of Buddha and Osamu Tezuka's version.{{cite web| url=http://www.manga-news.com/index.php/actus/2013/04/22/Conference-dHikaru-Nakamura| title=Conférence d'Hikaru Nakamura| date=April 22, 2013| publisher=Manga-News| language=fr| access-date=January 22, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210235036/http://www.manga-news.com/index.php/actus/2013/04/22/Conference-dHikaru-Nakamura| archive-date=December 10, 2014| url-status=live}}

Despite the religious references in the series, Nakamura stated she used only her personal knowledge and some aspects of modern society, such as yakuza and blogging, which were not intended to be critical but were added because they fit the story. Similarly, secondary characters were only introduced in the series if a chapter needed a new character to introduce a topic. The themes of the chapters were created before the situations and jokes. However, if Nakamura had a specific theme, she created several jokes and then connected them to form a story. When creating a simpler chapter as compared to the more elaborate, thematic ones, she wrote without worrying about creating jokes and situations in advance. With the help of her four assistants, on average she took between ten days and two weeks to make a complete chapter.

Media

=Manga=

Saint Young Men, written and illustrated by Hikaru Nakamura, began its serialization in Kodansha's Seinen manga magazine {{ill|Morning Two|ja|月刊モーニングtwo}} on September 26, 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.e-1day.jp/morning2/magazine/2006/09/22_1446.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070710144624/http://www.e-1day.jp/morning2/magazine/2006/09/22_1446.html|archive-date=July 10, 2007|title=モーニング2 vol.1|work=Morning|language=ja}} The series was put on hiatus between September 22, 2011, and March 22, 2012, because of Nakamura's pregnancy.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-08-22/saint-young-men-manga-put-on-hold-due-to-pregnancy|title=Saint Young Men Manga Put on Hold Due to Pregnancy|author=Loo, Egan|date=August 22, 2011|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=November 12, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-02-21/saint-young-men-manga-to-resume-in-march|title=Saint Young Men Manga to Resume in March|date=February 21, 2012|author=Sherman, Jennifer|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=November 12, 2013}} The magazine ceased print publication and moved to a digital release starting on August 4, 2022.{{cite web|script-title=ja:モーニング・ツーがWebマンガサイトとして再創刊、8月4日より毎週木曜日に更新|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/486459|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc.|access-date=January 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320064958/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/486459|archive-date=March 20, 2023|language=ja|date=July 22, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|title=Morning Two Magazine Moves to Digital Release in August|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-07-23/morning-two-magazine-moves-to-digital-release-in-august/.187842|website=Anime News Network|access-date=January 23, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230926154721/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-07-23/morning-two-magazine-moves-to-digital-release-in-august/.187842|archive-date=September 26, 2023|date=July 23, 2022|url-status=live}} Its first {{Transliteration|ja|tankōbon}} (collected volume) was released by Kodansha on January 23, 2008, and the twenty-second volume was published on March 22, 2024. A guidebook was released on April 23, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063768152|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさんコミックガイド|trans-title=Saint Young Men Comic guide|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=August 5, 2014|language=ja}}

In 2010, Jason Thompson reported that Ed Chavez, editor of the American publisher Vertical, contacted the Japanese licensor of the series to request its publishing in North America. The Japanese licensor of the series refused to allow it to be published in North America, because it was thought that Americans might take offense to it.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/house-of-1000-manga/2010-10-14|title=Jesus – Jason Thompson's House of 1000 Manga|date=October 14, 2010|author=Thompson, Jason|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=November 12, 2013|author-link=Jason Thompson (writer)}} However, in April 2019 Kodansha Comics announced that it acquired the rights to publish the manga digitally.{{cite web|last=Pineda|first=Rafael Antonio|title=Kodansha USA Publishes Saint Young Men Manga Digitally|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-04-04/kodansha-usa-publishes-saint-young-men-manga-digitally/.145420|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=April 5, 2019|date=April 4, 2019}} After two volumes were released digitally between April and June 2019,{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-04-25/north-american-anime-manga-releases-april-21-27/.146137|author=Sherman, Jennifer|title=North American Anime, Manga Releases, April 21–27|date=April 25, 2019|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=October 7, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-06-19/north-american-anime-manga-releases-june-16-22/.147986|author=Sherman, Jennifer|title=North American Anime, Manga Releases, June 16–22|date=June 19, 2019|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=October 7, 2019}} the publisher announced in July its plans to publish the manga in print.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-07-06/kodansha-licenses-6-new-manga-acquires-saiyuki-chobits-clover/.148703|title=Kodansha Licenses 6 New Manga, Acquires Saiyuki, Chobits, Clover|author=Pineda, Rafael Antonio|date=July 6, 2019|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=October 7, 2019}} Nevertheless, a third digital volume was released in October{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-10-15/north-american-anime-manga-releases-october-13-19/.152268|author=Sherman, Jennifer|title=North American Anime, Manga Releases, June 16–22|date=October 15, 2019|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=December 24, 2019}} before the first 2-in-1 omnibus hardcover volume was released on December 17, 2019.

The series has also been translated in other languages, including Chinese by Tong Li Publishing,{{cite web|url=http://www.tongli.com.tw/BooksList.aspx?B=KD0342|script-title=zh:《聖哥傳》中村光|publisher=Tong Li Publishing|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813090953/http://www.tongli.com.tw/BooksList.aspx?B=KD0342|archive-date=August 13, 2016}} French by Kurokawa,{{cite web|url=http://www.kurokawa.fr/site/les_vacances_de_jesus_et_bouddha_t1_&100&9782351425879.html|title=Les Vacances de Jésus et Bouddha – T1|publisher=Kurokawa|language=fr|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211002042/http://www.kurokawa.fr/site/les_vacances_de_jesus_et_bouddha_t1_&100&9782351425879.html|url-status=live|archive-date=December 11, 2014}} German by Egmont Manga,{{cite web|url=https://www.egmont-manga.de/manga-product/saint-young-men-01/|title=Saint Young Men 01|publisher=Egmont Manga|access-date=January 17, 2021|language=de}} Italian by J-Pop,{{cite web|url=http://www.j-pop.it/saint-young-men/3078-saint-young-men-001.html|title= Saint Young Men 001|publisher=J-Pop|language=it|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192820/http://www.j-pop.it/saint-young-men/3078-saint-young-men-001.html|archive-date=March 4, 2016}} and Spanish by Norma Editorial.{{cite book|url=http://www.normaeditorial.com/ficha.asp?0/0/012630001/0/las_vacaciones_de_jesus_y_buda_01|title=Las vacaciones de Jesús y Buda|publisher=Norma Editorial|access-date=January 22, 2014|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726164214/http://normaeditorial.com/ficha.asp?0/0/012630001/0/las_vacaciones_de_jesus_y_buda_01|archive-date=July 26, 2014|url-status=live}}

==Volumes==

{{Graphic novel list/header

| Width = 100%

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 1

| OriginalRelDate = January 23, 2008{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063726626| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (1)| language=ja| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=August 5, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108013125/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063726626| archive-date=November 8, 2014| url-status=live}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-372662-6

| LicensedRelDate = December 17, 2019{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624825/saint-young-men-omnibus-1-vol-1-2-by-hikaru-nakamura/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 1 (Vol. 1–2)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=January 17, 2021}}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-632369-36-9

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 2

| OriginalRelDate = July 23, 2008{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063727203| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (2)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=December 10, 2014| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905155730/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063727203| archive-date=September 5, 2014| url-status=live}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-372720-3

| LicensedRelDate = December 17, 2019

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-632369-36-9

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 3

| OriginalRelDate = March 23, 2009{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063727845| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (3)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=December 10, 2014| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211000756/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063727845| archive-date=December 11, 2014| url-status=live}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-372784-5

| LicensedRelDate = March 17, 2020{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624812/saint-young-men-omnibus-2-vol-3-4-by-hikaru-nakamura/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 2 (Vol. 3–4)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=May 20, 2020}}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-632369-75-8

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 4

| OriginalRelDate = October 23, 2009{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063728422| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (4)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=December 10, 2014| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702123014/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063728422| archive-date=July 2, 2015| url-status=live}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-372842-2

| LicensedRelDate = March 17, 2020

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-632369-75-8

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 5

| OriginalRelDate = May 24, 2010{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063729061| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (5)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=December 10, 2014| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414022307/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063729061| archive-date=April 14, 2015| url-status=live}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-372906-1

| LicensedRelDate = September 1, 2020{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/624811/saint-young-men-omnibus-3-vol-5-6-by-hikaru-nakamura/9781632369765/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 3 (Vol. 5–6)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=January 17, 2021}}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-632369-76-5

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 6

| OriginalRelDate = December 24, 2010{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063729627| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (6)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=December 10, 2014| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905144201/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063729627| archive-date=September 5, 2014| url-status=live}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-372962-7

| LicensedRelDate = September 1, 2020

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-632369-76-5

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 7

| OriginalRelDate = October 21, 2011{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063870268| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (7)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=December 10, 2014| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108035001/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063870268| archive-date=November 8, 2014| url-status=live}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-387026-8

| LicensedRelDate = November 10, 2020{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/625301/saint-young-men-omnibus-4-vol-7-8-by-hikaru-nakamura/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 4 (Vol. 7–8)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=January 17, 2021}}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-632369-99-4

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 8

| OriginalRelDate = December 3, 2012{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063871685| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (8)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=December 10, 2014| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220095648/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063871685| archive-date=February 20, 2015| url-status=live}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-387168-5

| LicensedRelDate = November 10, 2020

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-632369-99-4

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 9

| OriginalRelDate = August 23, 2013{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063872323| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (9)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=December 10, 2014| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414085211/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063872323| archive-date=April 14, 2015| url-status=live}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-387232-3

| LicensedRelDate = March 9, 2021{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/625300/saint-young-men-omnibus-5-vol-9-10-by-hikaru-nakamura/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 5 (Vol. 9–10)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=January 18, 2022}}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-000-9

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 10

| OriginalRelDate = May 23, 2014{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063883343| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (10)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=August 5, 2014| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414082152/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063883343| archive-date=April 14, 2015| url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000011460|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (10) 特装版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=August 11, 2019|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-8124-5333-9

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-362274-4}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = March 9, 2021

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-000-9

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 11

| OriginalRelDate = February 23, 2015{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063884340| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (11)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=April 12, 2015| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716210335/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063884340| archive-date=July 16, 2015| url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000039966|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (11) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=August 11, 2019|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-388434-0

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-358762-3}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = August 24, 2021{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/659257/saint-young-men-omnibus-6-vol-11-12-by-hikaru-nakamura/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 6 (Vol. 11–12)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=January 18, 2022}}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-164-8

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 12

| OriginalRelDate = November 20, 2015{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063885323| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (12)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=December 8, 2015| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208175114/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063885323| archive-date=December 8, 2015| url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000011482|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (12) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=August 11, 2019|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-388532-3

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-362317-8}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = August 24, 2021

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-164-8

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 13

| OriginalRelDate = October 21, 2016{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063886542| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (13)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=October 23, 2016| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161023213550/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063886542| archive-date=October 23, 2016| url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000011492|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (13) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=August 11, 2019|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-388654-2

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-362339-0}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = January 25, 2022{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/671380/saint-young-men-omnibus-7-vol-13-14-by-hikaru-nakamura/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 7 (Vol. 13–14)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=June 3, 2021}}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-231-7

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 14

| OriginalRelDate = September 22, 2017{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784065102725| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (14)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=October 5, 2017| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005005206/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784065102725| archive-date=October 5, 2017| url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000048301|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (14) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=August 11, 2019|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-510272-5

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-397040-1}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = January 25, 2022

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-231-7

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 15

| OriginalRelDate = June 22, 2018{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000311695| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (15)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=September 19, 2018| language=ja}}{{cite web|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000115580|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (15) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=August 11, 2019|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-512011-8

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-511313-4}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = March 1, 2022{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676474/saint-young-men-omnibus-8-vol-15-16-by-hikaru-nakamura/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 8 (Vol. 15–16)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=June 3, 2021}}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-280-5

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 16

| OriginalRelDate = November 22, 2018{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000317778| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (16)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=December 22, 2018| language=ja}}{{cite web|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000115581|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (16) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=August 11, 2019|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-513787-1

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-511314-1}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = March 1, 2022

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-280-5

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 17

| OriginalRelDate = July 23, 2019{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000323241| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (17)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=July 23, 2019| language=ja}}{{cite web|url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000323242|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (17) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=August 11, 2019|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-516515-7

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-516517-1}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = June 21, 2022{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/676473/saint-young-men-omnibus-9-vol-17-18-by-hikaru-nakamura/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 9 (Vol. 17–18)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=May 18, 2022}}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-281-2

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 18

| OriginalRelDate = May 22, 2020{{cite web| url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000341367| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (18)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=January 17, 2021| language=ja}}{{cite web|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000341366|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (18) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=January 17, 2021|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-519418-8

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-519417-1}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = June 21, 2022

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-281-2

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 19

| OriginalRelDate = March 23, 2021{{cite web| url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000349880| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (19)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=June 3, 2021| language=ja}}{{cite web|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000349881|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (19) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=June 3, 2021|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-522540-0

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-522565-3}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = June 27, 2023{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/691740/saint-young-men-omnibus-10-vol-19-20-by-hikaru-nakamura/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 10 (Vol. 19–20)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=July 26, 2023}}

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-428-1

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 20

| OriginalRelDate = July 22, 2022{{cite web| url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000367618| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (20)| language=ja| trans-title=Saint Young Men (20)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=July 6, 2022 }}{{cite web|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000367619|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (20) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=July 31, 2021|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-528557-2

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-528558-9}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = June 27, 2023

| LicensedISBN = 978-1-64651-428-1

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 21

| OriginalRelDate = March 22, 2024{{cite web| url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000386886| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (21)| language=ja| trans-title=Saint Young Men (21)| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=March 7, 2024 }}{{cite web|url=https://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?item=0000386885|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (21) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=March 7, 2024|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-534952-6

| ISBN_note =
{{ISBNT|978-4-06-534953-3}} (limited edition)

| LicensedRelDate = November 18, 2025{{cite web| url=https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/711325/saint-young-men-omnibus-11-vol-21-22-by-hikaru-nakamura/| title=Saint Young Men Omnibus 11 (Vol. 21–22)| publisher=Penguin Random House| access-date=May 29, 2025}}

| LicensedISBN =978-1-64651-589-9

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

{{Graphic novel list

| VolumeNumber = 22

| OriginalRelDate = July 22, 2025{{cite web|url=https://www.kodansha.co.jp/comic/products/0000415528|script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん (22) 限定版|publisher=Kodansha|access-date=May 25, 2025|language=ja}}

| OriginalISBN = 978-4-06-540033-3

| ISBN_note = (limited edition)

| LicensedISBN =978-1-64651-589-9

| ChapterList =

| Summary =

}}

=Anime=

The production of an anime film was first announced in issue {{abbr|No.|Number}} 44 of Weekly Morning.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-09-26/saint-young-men-manga-gets-anime-film|title=Saint Young Men Comedy Manga Gets Anime Film|date=September 26, 2012|author=Loo, Egan|access-date=September 26, 2012|publisher=Anime News Network}} Before the film release, a guidebook to the film was published on April 30, 2013.{{cite web| url=http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063768473| script-title=ja:アニメ映画『聖☆おにいさん』公式ガイド| trans-title=Anime Film "Saint Young Men" Official guide| publisher=Kodansha| access-date=August 5, 2014| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108013031/http://kc.kodansha.co.jp/product?isbn=9784063768473| archive-date=November 8, 2014| url-status=live}} The film was directed by Noriko Takao and written by Rika Nezu. Its characters were designed by Naoyuki Asano and the music was composed by Keiichi Suzuki and Ryomei Shirai.{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-09-26/saint-young-men-manga-anime-dvd-film-staff-revealed| title=Saint Young Men Manga's Anime DVD, Film Staff Revealed| author=Loo, Egan| date=September 26, 2012| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=November 13, 2013}} The film was produced by Aniplex, Kodansha and Toho, was animated by A-1 Pictures, and distributed by Toho. It premiered in Japan on May 10, 2013.{{cite web|url= http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2012-11-17/saint-young-men-anime-film-slated-for-may-10|title= Saint Young Men Anime Film Slated for May 10|date=November 17, 2012|access-date=November 18, 2012|publisher=Anime News Network}} On May 8, 2013, its soundtrack was published by Aniplex and the main theme "Gag" was released on Speedstar Records.{{cite web| url=http://www.saint023.com/music/| title=ミュージック / 聖おにいさん| publisher=Saint023.com| access-date=December 21, 2023| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140823185139/http://www.saint023.com/music/| archive-date=August 23, 2014| url-status=live}} Later, on October 23, 2013, it was released in DVD and Blu-ray formats.{{cite web| url=https://www.aniplexplus.com/itemkXnvVeet| script-title=ja:聖☆おにいさん| trans-title=Saint Young Men| publisher=Aniplex| access-date=November 13, 2013| language=ja| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805042142/https://www.aniplexplus.com/itemkXnvVeet| archive-date=August 5, 2014| url-status=live}} In addition to the film, the same staff produced an original animation DVD (OAD) that was released along with the eighth manga volume. A second OAD was released along with the ninth volume.{{cite web| url=http://natalie.mu/comic/news/97799| title=聖☆おにいさん9巻、映画のその後描いたアニメDVD付きも| trans-title=Saint Young Men Vol. 9, also anime DVD drawn after the film| date=August 23, 2013| publisher=Natasha| website=Comic Natalie| access-date=November 13, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108014551/http://natalie.mu/comic/news/97799| archive-date=November 8, 2014| url-status=live}}

In an interview with NHK World, the staff for the anime noted that they wanted to stay loyal to the artwork of the manga while creating the movie.{{Cite episode|title=Saint Young Men! Creator's Interview|series=Imagine-Nation|network=NHK World|date=May 21, 2013|number=10|time=11:30 AM (EDT)|language=ja}} They decided to focus more on the art and character designs, and decided to give it a "sketched" look, instead of the traditional "bold, dark lines" typically used. All the shadows were colored by pencils, sometimes even scribbled to make sure that the "sketched" look came through. Like the manga, the anime film also recreates various attractions of Tachikawa, including the Showa Memorial Park.

=Live-action=

In November 2016, a live-action drama series adaptation of the manga was announced with no further details.{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-11-20/morning-two-magazine-teases-live-action-adaptation-for-saint-young-men-manga/.109009| title=Morning Two Magazine Teases Live-Action Adaptation For Saint Young Men Manga| date=November 20, 2016| publisher=Anime News Network| author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn| access-date=December 23, 2018}} The following month, Yūichi Fukuda was revealed to be the director and screenwriter, while Takayuki Yamada was announced as the producer.{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-12-21/takayuki-yamada-yuichi-fukuda-involved-in-live-action-saint-young-men/.110019| title=Takayuki Yamada, Yūichi Fukuda Involved in Live-Action Saint Young Men| date=December 21, 2016| publisher=Anime News Network| author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn| access-date=February 17, 2021}} Only in February 2018, the main actors were unveiled; Ken'ichi Matsuyama playing Jesus and Shōta Sometani playing Buddha.{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-02-19/live-action-saint-young-men-casts-kenichi-matsuyama-as-jesus-shota-sometani-as-buddha/.128012| title=Live-Action Saint Young Men Casts Ken'ichi Matsuyama as Jesus, Shōta Sometani as Buddha| date=February 19, 2018| publisher=Anime News Network| author=Ressler, Karen| access-date=December 23, 2018}} In April, it was set to debut in the summer of that year on Kakao Japan's streaming service Piccoma TV,{{cite web|title=Live-Action Saint Young Men Show Debuts This Summer|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-04-17/live-action-saint-young-men-show-debuts-this-summer/.130498| author=Sherman, Jennifer| date=April 17, 2018|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=25 July 2018}} but, by June, it changed to fall.{{cite web|title=Live-Action Saint Young Men Show Reveals Visual, VR Video|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-06-20/live-action-saint-young-men-show-reveals-visual-vr-video/.133136| author=Sherman, Jennifer| date=June 20, 2018|publisher=Anime News Network|access-date=25 July 2018}} Starting on October 12, 2018, the web series received a two-week limited screening in over 40 AEON theaters.{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-10-21/1st-episode-of-live-action-saint-young-men-series-streams-on-youtube/.138443| title=1st Episode of Live-Action Saint Young Men Series Streams on YouTube| date=October 21, 2018| publisher=Anime News Network| author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn| access-date=December 23, 2018}} It was followed by the premiere on Piccoma TV on October 18; the same day a special screening with staff and cast was also held in Toho Cinemas Roppongi Hills.{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-09-29/live-action-saint-young-men-net-series-debuts-on-october-18/.137466| title=Live-Action Saint Young Men Net Series Debuts on October 18| date=September 29, 2018| publisher=Anime News Network| author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn| access-date=December 23, 2018}} The first six-minute episode out of ten was also made available through YouTube.

In February 2019, a second and a third season were announced through the Monthly Morning Two magazine.{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-02-19/live-action-saint-young-men-series-listed-with-2nd-3rd-seasons/.143530| title=Live-Action Saint Young Men Series Listed With 2nd, 3rd Seasons| date=February 19, 2019| author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=December 24, 2019}} A teaser and a poster for the second season were released in April, when it was also announced that the ten-episode season would stream online on Piccoma TV on June 1 and in theaters starting on June 6.{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-04-18/2nd-live-action-saint-young-men-season-teaser-video-reveals-june-1-premiere/.145865| title=2nd Live-Action Saint Young Men Season's Teaser Video Reveals June 1 Premiere| date=April 19, 2019| author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=December 24, 2019}}{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-05-12/live-action-saint-young-men-ii-show-trailer-teases-jesus-buddha-akiba-pilgrimage/.146640| title=Live-Action Saint Young Men II Show's Trailer Teases Jesus, Buddha's Akiba Pilgrimage| date=May 12, 2019| author=Loo, Egan| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=December 24, 2019}} NHK General TV rebroadcast the first season between June and July 2019,{{cite web| url=https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20190622-847224/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705122520/https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20190622-847224/| archive-date=July 5, 2019| title=聖☆おにいさん：制作総指揮・山田孝之が地上波初放送と同時にコメンタリ…| date=June 22, 2019| website=MyNavi News| access-date=December 24, 2019| language=ja}} and planned to show the second season on October 5 and 12, 2019.{{cite web| url=https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20190919-896351/| title=「聖☆おにいさん第II紀」NHKで地上波初放送、山田裕貴もゲスト出演| date=September 19, 2019| website=MyNavi News| access-date=December 24, 2019| language=ja}} Only the first half of the second season was broadcast in October because of the Typhoon Hagibis and it had to be rescheduled to January 25, 2020.{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-11-19/live-action-saint-young-men-iii-season-slated-for-january-11-18/.153474| title=Live-Action Saint Young Men III Season Slated for January 11, 18| date=November 19, 2019| publisher=Anime News Network| author=Pineda, Rafael Antonio| access-date=January 17, 2021}} The ten-episode third season premiered and finished before it on NHK, on January 11 and 18, 2020 respectively.

A live-action movie, called Sei ☆ onīsan THE movie ~ holymen VS akuma gundan ~ is set to be released in theaters on December 20, 2024. Matsuyama and Sometani are to reprise their roles from the series.{{Cite web |date=9 May 2024 |title=松山ケンイチ×染谷将太『聖☆おにいさん』初の実写映画化監督は福田雄一中村光氏が長編エピソード描き下ろし【コメントあり】 |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2326198/full/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240510121446/https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/2326198/full/ |archive-date=10 May 2024 |access-date=10 May 2024 |website=Oricon |language=Japanese}}

Reception

=Manga=

Saint Young Men received the 2009 Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for Short Work Manga.{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-04-19/13th-tezuka-osamu-cultural-prize-winners-announced| title=13th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Winners Announced (Updated)| publisher=Anime News Network| author=Loo, Egan| date=April 19, 2009| access-date=March 7, 2010}} The 2009 edition of Takarajimasha's guidebook Kono Manga ga Sugoi!, which surveys people in the manga and publishing industry, named it the best manga series for male readers.{{cite web| url=http://mantan-web.jp/2013/05/11/20130511dog00m200012000c.html| script-title=ja:注目映画紹介 :「聖☆おにいさん」イエスとブッダが“奇跡”的な笑いを繰り広げる| date=May 11, 2013| work=Mainichi Shimbun Digital| language=ja| access-date=February 17, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817120240/http://mantan-web.jp/2013/05/11/20130511dog00m200012000c.html| archive-date=August 17, 2014| url-status=dead}} It was nominated for the 2009 Manga Taishō Award{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-03-26/yuki-suetsugu-chihayafuru-wins-2nd-manga-taisho-award| title=Yuki Suetsugu's Chihayafuru Wins 2nd Manga Taisho Award| author=Loo, Egan| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=December 24, 2019}} and for the category "Best Comic" at the 2012 Angoulême International Comics Festival. As the result of its popularity, issues of Monthly Morning Two started selling out on newsstands; because of this, in May 2009 Kodansha began making the magazine available online the day it is published.{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-05-21/morning-2-mag-posted-online-for-free-on-shipping-date| title=Morning 2 Mag Posted Online for Free on Shipping Date| publisher=Anime News Network| author=Loo, Egan| date=May 21, 2009| access-date=December 10, 2013}} It has been among the top 20 of best-selling manga series in Japan in 2009, 2011, and 2013.{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-04/2009-top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-series| title=2009's Top-Selling Manga in Japan, by Series| author=Loo, Egan| publisher=Anime News Network| date=December 4, 2009| access-date=December 10, 2013}}{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-11-30/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-series/2011| title=Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Series: 2011| date=November 30, 2011| author=Loo, Egan| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=December 10, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-12-01/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-series/2013|title=Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Series: 2013| author=Loo, Egan| publisher=Anime News Network|date=December 1, 2013|access-date=December 10, 2013}} All the first eleven individual volumes appeared on lists of the 50 best-selling manga of their respective year in Japan, while the 12th featured in the top 100;References for the best-selling manga from 2008 to 2015:

{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-12-21/2008-top-selling-manga-in-japan-no.26-50| title=2008's Top-Selling Manga in Japan, #26–50| author=Loo, Egan| publisher=Anime News Network| date=December 21, 2008| access-date=April 24, 2016}}
{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-12-03/2009-japanese-comic-ranking-no.1-25| title=2009 Japanese Comic Ranking, #1-25| author=Loo, Egan| publisher=Anime News Network| date=December 3, 2009| access-date=December 10, 2013}}
{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2010-11-30/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-volume/2010-part-1| title=Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 2010 (Part 1)| author=Loo, Egan| date=November 30, 2010| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=November 12, 2013}}
{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-11-30/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-volume/2011| title=Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 2011| author=Loo, Egan| date=November 30, 2011| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=November 12, 2013}}
{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-12-01/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-volume/2013| title=Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 2013| author=Loo, Egan| date=December 1, 2013| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=December 10, 2013}}
{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-01-02/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-volume-2014/.82827| title=Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 2014| author=Loo, Egan| date=January 2, 2015| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=June 3, 2015}}
{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-11-29/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-volume-2015/.95915| title=Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 2015| author=Loo, Egan| date=November 29, 2015| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=April 23, 2016}}
{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-11-30/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-volume-2016/.109353| title=Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 2016| author=Loo, Egan| date=November 30, 2016| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=September 19, 2018}} volume 15 was also among the top 50 best-selling manga of the year,{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-12-06/manga-tops-amazon-japan-best-selling-kindle-book-ranking-for-2018/.140475| title=Manga Tops Amazon Japan's Best-Selling Kindle Book Ranking for 2018| author=Ressler, Karen| date=December 6, 2018| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=December 23, 2018}} and volume 16 was the 35th best-selling manga in the first half of 2019.{{cite web| url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-05-29/top-selling-manga-in-japan-by-volume-2019/.147238| title=Top-Selling Manga in Japan by Volume: 2019 (First Half)| author=Loo, Egan| date=May 29, 2019| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=January 17, 2021}} By June 2018, the manga had sold about 16 million copies in Japan.{{cite web| url=https://www.cinematoday.jp/news/N0101649| title=実写「聖☆おにいさん」松山ケンイチ＆染谷将太のビジュアル・映像初公開| date=June 20, 2018| website=Cinema Today| access-date=September 27, 2018| language=ja}} The manga was also displayed at the British Museum in 2011. In 2014, The Daily Dot reported a growing Western fandom that spread various Tumblr GIFs of the series.{{cite web| url=http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/saint-young-men-jesus-buddha-roommates-anime/| title=The Internet is obsessed with an anime about Jesus and Buddha as roommates| author=Baker-Whitelaw, Gavia| work=The Daily Dot| date=January 10, 2014| access-date=December 10, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210182651/http://www.dailydot.com/fandom/saint-young-men-jesus-buddha-roommates-anime/| archive-date=December 10, 2015| url-status=live}}

Comics writer Paul Gravett chose it as one of the best comics of Japan in 2008,{{cite web| url=http://www.paulgravett.com/index.php/articles/article/pg_tips_no._24| title=PG Tips No. 24: The Best of 2008 Part 3 – An International Perspective| author=Gravett, Paul| date=January 11, 2009| publisher=paulgravett.com| access-date=August 5, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090915193325/http://www.paulgravett.com/index.php/articles/article/pg_tips_no._24| archive-date=September 15, 2009}} while writers Shaenon Garrity and Jason Thompson elected it as one of the most wanted titles for licensing in 2010.{{cite web| url=http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/2010-Comic-Con-Best-And-Worst-Manga-Panel.03.htm| title=2010 Comic-Con Best and Worst Manga Panel| author=Aoki, Deb| year=2010| publisher=About.com| access-date=August 5, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331231351/http://manga.about.com/od/recommendedreading/tp/2010-Comic-Con-Best-And-Worst-Manga-Panel.03.htm| archive-date=March 31, 2017| url-status=dead}} In 2014, writing for the newspaper Der Tagesspiegel, German critic Anne Maren Delseit elected it the third best comic book of the year.{{cite web| url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/kultur/comics/comic-bestenliste-die-besten-comics-2014-anne-delseits-favoriten/11064732.html| title=Die besten Comics 2014 – Anne Delseits Favoriten| date=December 3, 2014| work=Der Tagesspiegel| access-date=January 17, 2021| language=de}} Japanese manga critic Kaoru Nagayama has noted that the manga is "fun to read" and commended Nakamura for keeping Jesus and Buddha faithful to their real character—of kindness—even when confronted by evil. Carlo Santos from Anime News Network criticized it for its art and questioned its capacity to evolve into something other than "Jesus and Buddha hanging out, while normal people do embarrassing things to them". Santos complained that Jesus' and Buddha's philosophical differences and personalities are not explored. However, Santos praised the series' comedy, noting its simplicity and saying, "its brilliance comes not from purposely trivializing two of the world's great religions, but by highlighting the quirks of the secular world when these famous religious figures are placed in it". According to him, the series does not lose its capacity of making readers laugh as it progresses, unlike other manga.{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/right-turn-only/2010-04-27| title=Little Twin Stars – Right Turn Only!!| author=Santos, Carlo| date=April 27, 2010| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=November 13, 2013}} Jolyon Baraka Thomas of The Guardian praised the constancy of "visual gags and puns", and wrote: "Her story is not an introduction to abstruse religious doctrines, nor does it feature much overt commentary on the role of religions in contemporary society."{{cite web| url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/dec/22/jesus-buddha-japan-manga-novel| title=What would Jesus and Buddha do … on holiday?| date=December 22, 2010| author=Thomas, Jolyon Baraka| work=The Guardian| access-date=August 5, 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108013216/http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2010/dec/22/jesus-buddha-japan-manga-novel| archive-date=November 8, 2014| url-status=live}}

=Film=

The anime film adaptation of Saint Young Men debuted at number nine in Japanese theaters, grossing ¥49,930,836 (US$491,369) on 75 screens.{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-05-19/japanese-box-office-may-11-12| title=Japanese Box Office, May 11–12| author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn| date=May 19, 2013| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=November 13, 2013}} In the subsequent weekends it decreased on its placement from nine to eleven,{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-06-02/japanese-box-office-may-18-19| title=Japanese Box Office, May 18–19| author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn| date=June 2, 2013| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=November 13, 2013}} and then to twelve,{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-06-09/japanese-box-office-may-25-26| title=Japanese Box Office, May 25–26| author=Hodgkins, Crystalyn| date=June 9, 2013| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=November 13, 2013}} closing its run with ¥300 million yen ($1,888,062) grossed.{{cite journal| title=2013年日本映画・外国映画業界総決算| date=February 2014| journal=Kinema Junpo| issue=1656| page=198}}{{cite web| url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/intl/japan/yearly/?yr=2013&sort=gross&order=DESC&pagenum=2&p=.htm| title=2013 Japan Yearly Box Office Results| publisher=Box Office Mojo| access-date=November 13, 2013}} Its DVD release ranked seventh on its first week on the list of best-selling anime DVDs in Japan, dropping to twenty-ninth place on its second week on the list.{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-10-29/japan-animation-dvd-ranking-october-21-27| title=Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, October 21–27| date=October 29, 2013| author=Loo, Egan| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=November 25, 2013}}{{cite web| url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-11-05/japan-animation-dvd-ranking-october-28-november-3| title=Japan's Animation DVD Ranking, October 28 – November 3| date=November 5, 2013| author=Loo, Egan| publisher=Anime News Network| access-date=November 25, 2013}}