The second volume of the comic "Hanabas: Moss Stone Hanae's Basketball Theory," a women's basketball manga by Miyoshi Kohei, currently being serialized on Kodansha's web manga app "Magazine Pocket (Magapoke)," was released on May Getsuku. In response to the release of the second volume, Tsurumai Ikada, the author of the figure skating manga "Medalist," which has also become a popular TV anime, sent a message of support. Miyoshi, the author of "Hanabas," said that he was inspired by "Medalist" when he was working as an office worker and aiming to become a manga artist.
"Hanabasu" is about a high school girl, Hanae Kokeishi, who loves animals but is not very good at interacting with "primates (=humans)", but is invited by her classmates to try out basketball. The passionate depictions, which are hard to imagine from the "relaxed" illustrations, have been a hot topic.
Tsurumai Kada enthusiastically commented, "Despite his complexes, Hanae-chan's strength in looking straight at the sport of basketball with his own eyes stirs the hearts and talents of the people around him and creates a big storm. It's so cool and exciting to watch! It gives courage to know that even if you lack confidence, anyone can have a burning passion for the things they love! It's amazing! You are the only main character in this world!"
Miyoshi said, "When I was working as a company employee aiming to become a manga artist, my drafts were not accepted and I was on the verge of giving up many times, but 'Medalist' and Inori-chan gave me courage. Now, several years later, I have become a manga artist, and to receive encouragement from Hanae from the teacher who I am so indebted to and admire! I am overwhelmed with emotion!!"
