[Oshi No Ko], Vol. 1: Volume 1

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Komatsu, Mikikazu (April 28, 2023). "Oshi no Ko Anime Opening Theme Reaches 100 Million Combined Views and Streams Worldwide". Crunchyroll. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023 . Retrieved May 5, 2023. Aperçu du manga Oshi no Ko chez Kurokawa". manga-news.com (in French). December 30, 2021. Archived from the original on February 3, 2022 . Retrieved February 3, 2022. Oshi no Ko is created by the dynamic duo of Aka Akasaka, the creator of Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, and Mengo Yokoyari, the creator of Scum’s Wish. As a fan of these two and their individual works, I was excited to see what they would create together with Aka Akasaka’s storytelling and Mengo Yokoyari’s illustrations. I had a feeling what they’d create together would be amazing, but they far exceeded my expectations with Oshi no Ko, and it’s one of my favorite new manga releases of 2023. Oshi no Ko does not shy away from the many unsavory truths surrounding the idol industry. Most talent, including Ai herself, are poached at a very young and tender age. They’re trained to be merchandised and objectified, to a point where their own personal happiness is often thrown out entirely. Personal relationships and want for family is seen as taboo, as an idol must keep the illusion of being pure and chaste. Despite all of this, plus the everyday mental and physical struggles that idols must overcome, few make it to what could be considered true stardom. Even with these open secrets about what really goes on in the idol world, idols gather very little sympathy and are seen as expendable playthings by the wider public.

Ai herself is no such exception to this, but her saving grace winds up being her children, Aqua and Ruby. With this, she’s given a proper emotional foothold in the face of the many frustrations throughout the industry. Though the question then becomes a rather haunting one for her: is her love for her children real, or is she just using them to her own benefit just as she may be doing to her fans? I won’t spoil what the answer to that is here, but I will say that it’s a question that gives Ai herself a lot of character depth and informs many of her actions and thoughts in interesting ways.Tai, Anita (October 23, 2023). "Kaguya-sama: Love is War, Oshi no Ko Manga Both Get Novels". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023 . Retrieved October 24, 2023. TSUTAYAの名物企画人"仕掛け番長"のススメ】. Tsutaya (in Japanese). Culture Convenience Club. Archived from the original on February 24, 2023 . Retrieved February 24, 2023. The second major talking point of Oshi no Ko is more of a philosophical question. How much does one need to lie to themselves before they perceive that lie as truth? If one eventually does perceive that lie as a truth, was it ever a lie to begin with? If so, can a person’s love for someone always be real, no matter the circumstances surrounding it? It’s a big, complicated question and one that Oshi no Ko rightfully leaves rather open-ended. Most importantly, it gives a lot of texture and nuance to the parasocial relationships fostered between idols and their followers. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (December 6, 2022). "Spy×Family Tops Da Vinci Manga Ranking". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022 . Retrieved December 6, 2022.

To get there, you will have to work past some of the strangest, most off-putting character writing I have seen a popular manga indulge. The awareness level of the writing is off the charts, but it is tough to buy into Gorou at first. I don't care how heartfelt your reasons are for standing a sixteen year-old girl - that's still a strange line to throw yourself over. As the plot starts unfolding, I found myself asking further questions that are never answered. (Vague spoilers) Questions like, "doesn't this guy miss being a doctor? That's a career that takes ages to work up to!" and "doesn't this guy miss his family and friends?!" (Vague spoilers end) in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on December 14, 2022 . Retrieved December 8, 2022. Pineda, Rafael Antonio (January 24, 2021). "14th Manga Taisho Awards Nominate 10 Titles". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021 . Retrieved January 25, 2021. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 29, 2021. Archived from the original on November 18, 2021 . Retrieved April 15, 2021.ching-win.co.tw (in Chinese). Archived from the original on September 24, 2022 . Retrieved September 24, 2022. It's a baffling exercise in trash storytelling, but one that slowly starts to give way to Akasaka's trademark psychological deep-dives, each of which are disarmingly moving. And then it pulls the rug out in the wildest of ways.

IVREA publicará en Argentina OSHI NO KO". Ivreality – El blog de Ivrea Argentina (in Spanish). Editorial Ivrea. December 2, 2021. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022 . Retrieved July 4, 2022. Morrissy, Kim (March 23, 2022). "Senpai wa Otokonoko Tops AnimeJapan's 'Manga We Want To See Animated' Poll". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 23, 2022 . Retrieved March 23, 2022.Loo, Egan (November 19, 2022). "HIDIVE Acquires Oshi no Ko Idol Anime for 2023". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023 . Retrieved April 13, 2023. in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022 . Retrieved January 20, 2021.