Chanta (dog)

is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by . It started in Shueisha's manga magazine ''Weekly Young Jump'' in September 2004 and was later transferred to ' in August 2009, where it ended in April 2010. Its chapters were collected in 22 volumes. The series was licensed in North America by Viz Media, who published 17 volumes from 2007 to 2010, before ceasing its publication. A live-action film adaptation premiered in November 2009.

Plot

Sheltered and controlled by her parents for most of her life, and owner of a loyal mutt named Lupin, 18-year-old Suguri wants to move from the country-side to the big city, Tokyo, to find a career and a new life. After being kidnapped and stranded at a rest area, Lupin mates another dog while her owner Teppei is not looking, shattering his dream of a litter of purebred puppies. To make up for her mongrel's wayward wooing, Suguri accepts Teppei's offer to work at the pet store he manages which leads her to numerous adventures of canine antics.

Characters

Main characters

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: Suguri is an 18-year-old dog lover known for her innocent and clumsy demeanor. Her closest companion is her mutt, Lupin, whom she views as her alter ego. As a child, she was kidnapped but later rescued by Lupin’s grandfather, an event that led to her sheltered upbringing. Despite this, she shares a deep connection with dogs, intuitively understanding their needs. She works part-time at Woofles Pet Shop and develops feelings for her boss, Teppei, often displaying possessive jealousy. Coming from a wealthy family, she plans to breed Lupin, but her research into his lineage uncovers disturbing ties to her past, including a connection between her kidnapper and Lupin’s family.
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: Teppei runs the pet shop Woofles and resides in the apartment above it. Growing up, he frequently took in stray dogs despite his single mother's financial struggles. Though outwardly aloof, he shows deep care for both animals and people, often letting friends stay and work at his shop until they stabilize their lives. A skilled groomer with expertise in canine nutrition and breed history, he prioritizes finding dogs suitable homes over maximizing profits. His own companion is Noa, a black Labrador retriever. He hires Suguri after recognizing her natural affinity with dogs, though her naivety sometimes tests his patience. While cautious about mixed breeds due to potential health risks and irresponsible ownership, he agrees to sell a half-Dachshund, half- Chihuahua puppy after vetting the buyer’s suitability.
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: Kentaro, a high school friend of Teppei, is an amateur street musician who plays guitar. After finding him homeless and unemployed, Teppei employs him at Woofles and lets him stay in the rooftop kennel's doghouse. Initially disliking dogs, Kentaro eventually warms to them, even befriending Lupin—sharing beer with him and writing songs about him. Struggling with a pachinko gambling addiction, he once stole money from Suguri and lost it all. He harbors unrequited feelings for Kanako-sensei but fails to gain her notice. His younger sister, Mika, a junior high school student, shares his later-found appreciation for dogs.
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: Momoko is a licensed dog groomer hired by Teppei to handle the growing clientele at Woofles. As a child, she faced bullying over her weight, with only a boy named Yuu showing her kindness. Inspired by their friendship, she adopted a healthy lifestyle and later entered a relationship with him. However, Yuu proved manipulative—exploiting her financially while secretly seeing other girls. His emotional abuse left Momoko distant and reserved, finding solace only in grooming dogs. With Suguri's encouragement, she ends the toxic relationship and moves into the "Woofles Girls Dorm", an apartment above the shop leased by Teppei, alongside her Toy Poodle, Mel. Though still introverted, she gradually opens up in her new environment.

Recurring characters

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:Chizuru, a smug and spoiled customer of Woofles, desires a Chihuahua after holding a puppy at the store, irritating Suguri. Her senior golden retriever Ricky alerts Suguri to a Chihuahua's heart condition before passing away, prompting Chizuru to adopt the Chihuahua named Melon. She becomes close friends with Suguri azind takes a hostess job to cover Melon's medical expenses. Despite her caring side, Chizuru exhibits bullying behavior towards others.
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:A piano teacher and a regular customer at Woofles. She adored her Pomeranian, named Czerny, like a daughter, spoiling her with human food, aromatherapy, and even birthday parties. After Czerny's sudden death, Kanako spiraled into denial and self-blame, shutting down her piano school and turning to alcohol and casual relationships. Kentaro intervenes, urging her to move on, and Kanako eventually finds solace in memories of Czerny. She initially moved to Tokyo for music college but struggled to find students for her piano school until she adopted Czerny, who brought her a four-leaf clover on their first walk. Kanako adopts a piebald Dachshund after sensing Czerny's spirit guiding her.
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:A young , introduced by Suguri to the unconditional love dogs have for people. He purchases a French bulldog's culture.
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:Teppei's superior and owner of Woofles chain. He prioritizes business over dog welfare, but genuinely loves dogs, and advocates against dog mistreatment. He teases Teppei as his little brother and owns an Afghan Hound named Alfred. Show recognizes Suguri's bond with dogs after she impresses Alfred, labeling her "interesting." Nervous about competition from Wan Kan pet shop, he often brings large dogs like Standard Poodle or Borzoi. Show coaches Suguri for a Dog Dancing Competition, showcasing his support for staff development despite his pragmatic approach to business.
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:A supermodel, known as "Yamarin" by fans and colleagues. She starred in a commercial with a Papillon from Show's store, later replaced due to drooping ears, causing her depression after her Cocker Spaniel's death. Inspired by Suguri's care for the papillon, Yamarin buys it and names it "Lucky", forming a strong bond. Lucky saves Yamarin in a time of trouble, and Yamarin values his choices, such as selecting a magazine for a bikini shoot. Despite Lucky's demand for attention, Yamarin supports Kannako in coping with grief after Czerny's death.
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:Kentaro's South Korean friend and exchange student. He initially fears dogs due to their cultural association with food and a past encounter with an aggressive stray. He develops a crush on Suguri and adopts a Shiba Inu puppy named Chanta to overcome his fear. Despite initial difficulties, Kim becomes a dedicated owner but struggles to discipline Chanta due to his overwhelming love. Chanta's presence makes Kim popular among female pet owners, and he creates a photo book featuring Suguri alongside Chanta.

Dogs

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:Lupin is Suguri's beloved mixed-breed dog. His grandfather (whose collar Suguri wears around her neck) saved Suguri when she was kidnapped as a child. Suguri considers Lupin to be her alter ego and is unable to function without him near her. He has a knack for escaping his kennel to join her at the shop, annoying Teppei. Named after Lupin III, he shows an affinity for females and displays unusual understanding of commands, often submitting to dominant dogs. Suguri and Kim plan to breed Lupin with Chanta, hoping for predictable offspring given Chanta's pure Shiba Inu lineage. Lupin's lineage reveals a mix of German Shepherd, Kishu Inu, and other native Japanese breeds, explaining his Spitz-like appearance mistaken for a Kishu Inu by Ryusuke.
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:Noa is Teppei's Labrador Retriever. She was intended to breed with a champion, but mated with Lupin instead, narrowly avoiding pregnancy. Well-behaved and maternal, she adopts a stray kitten and defends it from harm. Despite Teppei's reluctance, she remains sociable with Lupin and humans. Named after the French word for black, ''noir'', she gives birth to seven puppies with a Golden Retriever named John, two of which are black like her, while the rest are golden like their father. Teppei relinquishes his desire to keep one of the black puppies when it's requested for service dog training.
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:Czerny is Kanako's Pomeranian. She shares a telepathic bond with her owner, alerting her to a fire during Kanako's European work assignment. Spoiled and energetic, she bounces to express desires and showcases athleticism by catching a tennis ball and engaging in playful interactions with other characters. Czerny died due to kidney stone disease, but her spirit appears before Kanako, approving her decision to adopt a homeless dog, leaving with a smile.
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:A senior Golden Retriever belonging to Chizuru that died of old age. He alerted to Suguri that Melon had a heart condition and in gratitude for Ricky's love, Chizuru adopted Melon as her own. His picture is worn on a collar around Melon's neck. Before he dies, he has a flashback of himself and Chizuru playing fetch when they very young.
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:Chizuru's long-coated Chihuahua. He was given to her by Teppei due to a heart condition, which was successfully treated through surgery. Mischievous and attention-seeking, he once attacked Chizuru's purse for attention and "mounted" Chanta during training. Trained to obey Chizuru, he forms a close bond with Zidane. Despite being neutered later in the story, he exhibits territorial marking and dominant behaviors but no longer pursues female dogs in heat.
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:Akiba's rare French bulldog

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