The popular manga "Oshi no Ko", currently being serialized in "Weekly Young Jump" (Shueisha), will end its serialization of about four and a half years with the final chapter in the 50th issue of the magazine released on November 14th. The series began serialization in April 2020 under the joint name of Akasaka Aka of "Kaguya-sama: Love is War" and Yokoyari Mengo of "Scum's Wish" and others. The series depicts the light and darkness of the entertainment world based on meticulous research, and its TV anime has also gained popularity. With the release of a live-action drama and a live-action movie on the horizon, this shocking work by two popular creators has come to an end.
The same issue also revealed the cover of the regular version of the final 16th volume of the manga, which will be released simultaneously on December 18th, and the special edition "Oshi no Ko 16 SPECIAL EDITION", which comes with a special cover book stand and stickers. The final 16th volume will include a total of 24 pages of newly drawn episodes that reveal a certain truth about the series. The cover of the special edition is a different design that incorporates the attention to detail of Akasaka and Yokoyari, and is decorated with glittering foil.
A video celebrating the completion of the series will be released on YouTube from 7pm on November 14th. It features an end credits-style performance using an arranged version of the song "STAR☆T☆RAIN" by Shinsei B-Komachi, which was performed in the 11th episode of the TV anime, "Idol".
A special website celebrating the completion of the series, "FAN ARENA", where users can post messages about their favorite characters and the series, will open at 7pm on November 14th. The promotional project "Oshi no Ko THE LAST STAGE in TOKYO DOME CITY" will start on December 18th, when the final 16th volume is released, in which the characters from "Oshi no Ko" will take over Tokyo Dome City (Bunkyo Ward). The project is based on the concept of "To the Tokyo Dome, the dream stage of all idols." Special visuals will appear next to the main gate of Tokyo Dome, and a special live-style video and special movie will be broadcast, using messages posted on the special website "FAN ARENA" as part of the production.
An official community, "Oshi no Ko Official Community Ichigo Pro Public Relations Department," has also been launched. In this community, fans can enjoy the work by posting their thoughts on the work and fan art, and interacting with other fans. They can pretend to be members of Ichigo Pro's public relations department and communicate and share their daily "oshigoto." The first community-limited goods will be the "Ichigo Pro Membership Card Acrylic Keychain" (6 types in total) with character designs.
It was also announced that a new series based on the original story by Akasaka will start in "Weekly Young Jump" in spring 2025. A production team was formed by Akasaka, Aoi Ikujira, who has worked on "Geek Circle Crisis: Princess' Love Path is Full of Bugs," and the manga artist unit "Ajichika," who is responsible for the illustrations of "Record of Ragnarok." The story depicts a love story between a prince and a princess that unfolds in a fairy tale world.
"Oshi no Ko" depicts the story of a twin brother and sister left behind by a genius idol named Ai, who suddenly dies. The twin sister, Ruby, admires her mother and enters the entertainment industry, while the brother, Aqua, vows to take revenge on his biological father, who is believed to have assisted in Ai's murder. The comic series has sold more than 20 million copies in total.
The TV anime is also gaining popularity, and in the first season, which aired from April to June 2023, the opening theme "Idol" by the music unit "YOASOBI" was a huge hit, and their performance at the "74th NHK Kouhaku Uta Gassen" was also a hot topic. The second season aired from July to October. The production of the third season has also been announced.
The live-action adaptation has also been much talked about, with the eight-episode drama being exclusively streamed on Prime Video from 9pm on November 28th, and the film being released nationwide on December 20th. The all-star cast includes former member of idol group Nogizaka46 Saito Asuka as Ai, actor Sakurai Kaito as Aqua, and former member of idol group =LOVE Saito Nagisa as Ruby. A 2.5-dimensional stage performance is also scheduled for December.
