7 Seeds was written and illustrated by Yumi Tamura and published by Shogakukan. It began serialization in the November 2001 issue of the monthly shōjo manga magazine Bessatsu Shōjo Comic; in April 2002, it transferred to the monthly josei manga magazine Flowers.[1][2] The final chapter was published in the July 2017 issue of Flowers, released on May 27.[3] Shogakukan collected the individual chapters into 35 bound volumes, printed under the Flower Comics imprint, and later, under the Flower Comics Alpha imprint. Each volume was divided into sections focusing on different groups of survivors, with section titles containing a kigo (seasonal word) appropriate for the group name.[4][5]
In 2008, Pika Édition licensed the manga in France, where it was marketed as a seinen series.[6] In 2011, Pika announced that negotiations with the Japanese publisher, Shogakukan, had been unsuccessful, and therefore, they would cease publishing 7 Seeds and two other titles.[7] In total, Pika published 10 volumes of the manga in French.[8][9]
In 2017, after the conclusion of the 7 Seeds manga in Japan, Tamura announced the launch of a spin-off series in Flowers. The first chapter was published in the magazine's October issue, released on August 28; the final chapter was published in the December issue, released on October 28.[3][10] Shogakukan collected the chapters into a single bound volume on January 10, 2018.[11]
Natsu goes to sleep in her bedroom as usual, but when she awakens, the young woman finds herself amidst seven complete strangers in a hostile, wild environment, desperately struggling for survival. She is told that mankind has been destroyed by a meteorite and they have been sent many years into the future to preserve humanity.
Cruelly separated from her boyfriend and involuntarily thrown into the future, Hana gives it her best to survive and find her boyfriend. Not an easy task, with dangerous insects, unstable weather and hostile teammates around.
Hana's and Arashi's teams decide to return to their former homes, hoping to find out that all the stories about Japan being destroyed by a meteorite are just a lie, but as they travel through a country in ruins, all their hopes are shattered cruelly.
"The Other Side of the Rainbow" (彼岸の虹, Higan no niji)
"Journey" (道程, Dōtei)
While Team Spring, exhausted from their long voyages, decides to settle down for the time being, the focus shifts to the third team. Team Winter's travels start out poorly with three of their members dying throughout the thawing process, leaving behind the other five in a country full of dangers. Fighting against beasts, cold and despair, the young Aramaki struggles to shape a path to survival in the New World.
"Earthworms and Corn" (蚯蚓と玉蜀黍, Mimizu to tōmorokoshi)
"Tobacco and Moon" (煙草と月, Tabako to tsuki)
"Milk and Grave" (ミルクと墓, Miruku to haka)
"Burning Wind and Cherry Blossoms" (熱風と桜, Neppū to sakura)
"June and October" (水無月と神無月, Minadzuki to kaminadzuki)
Rainwater Chapter (雨水の章, Usui no shō)
"Damp soil awakens life" (土脉潤起, To myaku uruoi okoru)
Separated from Team Summer B, Arashi travels towards Tokyo with Semimaru and Natsu. They come across another team, a group calling themselves Team Autumn. Happy at first, the three have yet to realize how cruel humans can be.
"Mist begins to roll in" (霞始靆, Kasumi hajimete tanabiku)
"Trees and grass germinate" (草木萌動, Sōmoku kizashi ugoku)
"The door to hibernating insects opens" (蟄虫啓戸, Chitsu chuu ko wo hiraku)
"The peach begins to smile" (桃始笑, Momo hajimete warau)
"Caterpillars morph into butterflies" (菜虫化蝶, Namushi chō tokasu)
"Sparrows begin nesting" (雀始巣, Suzume hajimete sukū)
"Cherry blossoms (Sakura) begin blooming" (桜始開, Sakura hajimete hiraku)
"Thunder Sounds" (雷乃発声, Rai sunawachi koe wo hatsusu)
"Rainbows begin to appear" (虹始見, niji hajimete arawaru)
After fifteen years of lonesome travelling, Aramaki finally has made contact with Team Spring. But his new happiness does not last very long, as Hana falls victim to a deadly disease.
Secluded in an unknown mountain range, around hundred children are raised to become wilderness survival experts. Being carefully genetically chosen and undergoing strict training every day, they are supposed to become the new hope for humanity in the future. Not knowing the truth, everyone gives his best to become one of the candidates for the final test.
The final test turns out to be a cruel exam of the participating children's survival skills. Abandoned in the mountains during winter, the candidates have to fight for their place among Team Summer A, for only the "Chosen Seven" will be allowed to live.
As the numbers of Summer A candidates rapidly shrink, Ango, Ryo and Shigeru find themselves in a deep cave. All three are from the same two classes and they know that only one member per class will be allowed to survive and make it to the future.
Hana and her friends stumble across an underground shelter called Ryugu and find a diary left behind by one of the former residents. They learn about the fate of several thousands of people who are forced to witness the doom of their entire world. Yet, they started out anew, full of hope, not knowing which cruel fate awaited them.
Not knowing about the events which led to the Ryugu Shelter's demise, the leaders of Team Autumn are exploring the facilities and prepare to open the "door of death". Hana and her group desperately chase after them to prevent humanity's final doom while the entire shelter is falling apart above them.
Due to the tragic events unfolding during their first encounter with Team Summer A, Hana, Aramaki and the rest of Team Autumn decide to reconcile with each other and return to the base of Team Spring. Meanwhile, Arashi, Natsu and Semimaru recklessly set sail and come across a girl whose intentions are unknown. She warns them that the rest of their teammates are on the brink of death.
Hana's group returns to the base of Team Spring only to find it completely destroyed by a landslide and all her friends gone. They soon discover that Momotaro has been captured by Team Summer A. Both groups are furious and about to fight each other when a third, even more powerful enemy appears, ready to kill them all.
Forced by the circumstances, Team Summer A and Hana's group decide to live together. While friction remains between them, the first signs of understanding emerge. But then, Ango finds out about Hana's secret and falls into a state of deep rage.
Searching for Hana, who got lost in the caves, her friends plunge further into the deep and cold darkness. The tragic events unfolding lay an unbearable strain on the little community.
The volume includes a short side story called "Wish".
Exiled from their community, Ango and Ryo stumble across the peaceful lifestyle of Team Summer B. Hiding their bloody past, they are welcomed warmly by the cheerful group. Albeit baffled about Summer B's carefree way of doing things, they start settling in, but the peace is broken once Ango learns about Arashi's relationship to Hana.
Separated from Arashi, Team Summer B and the two leaders of Summer A stumble across a mysterious ghost ship. It seems to carry a lot of secrets of the past and lures in the wanderers, but it is also fraught with danger.
While the separated groups gradually explore the ghost ship, Ango and Ryo are being forced to altercate with their cruel past bit by bit. Finally, Ango breaks down at the worst time imaginable because the ship holds a deadly threat to the entire country of Japan – and they awoke it.
Struggling to prevent a catastrophe, the rag-tag band has to deal with yet another menace – a mysterious presence that lurks in the ship and bares its fangs at them, forcing Arashi and Natsu into a dead end.
Awakening Insects Chapter (啓蟄の章, Keichitsu no shō)
"Lone Journey" (独り旅, Hitoritabi)
"Grace" (恵み, Megumi)
Scattered throughout all of Japan, the groups from the Seven Seeds Project are all giving their best to survive despite the adversities thrown at them. Slowly, they are settling in with their new world, but the mysterious Mozu is watching them from the shadows like a deadly predator.
Despite all odds, Hana managed to survive Team Summer A’s assassination attempts and reunited with two painfully missed friends. Meanwhile, Aramaki and Ayu get closer to each other as they travel searching Hana. Will they find her in time before she has to face her most dangerous enemy so far: Evolution itself…?
7 Seeds Fanbook: Edge of Emotions (7SEEDS 公式ファンブック ─Edge of Emotions─)
This fanbook contains pictures drawn by the author, Yumi Tamura, as well as an interview with her and a poll among the 7 Seeds fans. It also has detailed information on the teams, the Fuji, and the future Japan.