It has been revealed that Ai, from the popular manga series Oshi no Ko, which was serialized in Weekly Young Jump (Shueisha), will grace the cover of the February 2025 issue of the women's fashion magazine SPUR (Shueisha), which will go on sale on December 23rd. The cover is an original drawing by the author Mengo Yokoyari, and has the theme of "Ai working in a fashionable job after her career as an idol has settled down," depicting Ai wearing an outfit by the fashion brand VALENTINO.
This is the second time that "Oshi no Ko" and the magazine have collaborated, with Hoshino Ruby and Aqua appearing in the August 2023 issue. Ai, who will be appearing in the magazine for the first time, will be wearing a Valentino outfit and showing off her familiar pose of making a peace sign with both hands.
Yokoyari commented, "I don't think that during the short time that Ai was active in the entertainment industry, she would have had the opportunity to appear as a celebrity in a fashion show. So this time, I tried to draw her with the theme of 'Ai working in a fashionable job after her career as an idol has settled down.' Former idols often appear in 'SPUR' looking different, more chic than usual. It's fun to see new sides of them like that, so I tried to draw a new side of her. I feel like I was able to meet her as an adult, imagining what kind of work she might have been doing if she were still alive."
The issue features a special on "Oshi no Ko," and includes an illustration of Ai in a different outfit than the one on the cover. In an interview with Yokoyari, she looks back on the serialization that ran for about four and a half years, and talks about her thoughts now that it has come to an end, including the pain and joy of expressing herself through art. Creators active in a variety of fields talk about the appeal of "Oshi no Ko."
There will also be a special feature on Tajima Shogo from the popular boy band INI.
"Oshi no Ko" is a manga by Aka Akasaka, author of "Kaguya-sama: Love is War" and Yokoyari, author of "Scum's Wish," and began serialization in Weekly Young Jump in April 2020. It tells the story of a twin brother and sister left behind by a genius idol named Ai, who suddenly dies. The younger twin, Ruby, admires her mother and enters the entertainment industry, while the older brother, Aqua, vows to take revenge on their biological father, who is believed to have accomplices in Ai's murder. The final episode was published in the 50th issue of the magazine, released on November 14, bringing the series to a close after about four and a half years.
The TV anime series has also been popular, with the first season airing from April to June 2023, and the second from July to October. A third season has also been announced. A live-action adaptation has also been a hot topic, with the eight-episode drama currently streaming on Prime Video. The movie will be released nationwide on December 20th.
