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In a recent interview with Shueisha following the conclusion of Oshi no Ko, the manga’s author Aka Akasaka revealed that he initially wanted to keep the manga running for as long as the anime adaptation was airing.
“Though, for Oshi no Ko, I wished I could continue the manga as long as the anime is airing (laughs),” Akasaka admitted during the interview.
This might come as a shock to fans who were under the impression that Akasaka had lost interest in working on Oshi no Ko.
In the interview the author explained that his decision to conclude the series was influenced by considerations for the manga’s co-creator, Mengo Yokoyari, as well as the desire to maintain the story’s quality until the very end.
He also wanted fans to be able to read both of their subsequent works, and that too contributed to his decision.
“I believe both of us want our readers to continue reading our subsequent works, so we had to maintain the quality until the very end,” Akasaka stated.
In the past, Akasaka had spoken about how he felt he had kept Mengo Yokoyari bound to Oshi no Ko for an extended period.
Reflecting on those sentiments, he elaborated, “Mengo-sensei draws by herself. The project’s beginning involved me bowing my head and asking her for a favor. In part, I feel Oshi no Ko was a selfish desire of mine.”
For this reason, Akasaka emphasized his determination to deliver a strong conclusion for both the readers and Yokoyari.
“I wanted to end it on a high note. I’ve always had the feeling that ‘I want to deliver a good ending for both the readers and Mengo-sensei,’” he said.
The Oshi no Ko anime adaptation recently concluded its second season, with nearly half of the manga still remaining to be adapted. Had Akasaka pursued his desire to continue the series, the manga could have extended its run by at least a couple more years.
Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari’s Oshi No Ko manga officially concluded its story with Chapter 166 in the 50th issue of Weekly Young Jump.
The reaction to the ending was mixed, with a majority voicing dissatisfaction over the conclusion. Their frustration stemmed from how quickly the final arc seemed to unfold, claiming that it felt rushed and poorly executed.
Oshi No Ko manga has been serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump since April 2020. It has been licensed for release in North America by Yen Press and is simultaneously published by Shueisha on their Manga Plus platform.
An anime television series adaptation, produced by Doga Kobo, a studio which was started by former Toei animation members, aired its first 11-episode season from April to June 2023.
A second 13-episode season aired from July to October 2024. A third season has been announced.
Source: Akasaka’s interview via Reddit
