Special Feature: The Colorful World of Mengo Yokoyari and Shou Harusono

Fans of Yen Press have known for some time that we were going to publish the artbooks of the creators behind hit-series [Oshi no Ko] and Sasaki and Miyano. To say that you all were excited about their announcements would be putting it lightly—you really let us know through social media that you just couldn’t wait to have a copy in your hands!

Thankfully, the wait is almost over! As these artbooks come out later this month, we are excited to share a sneak peek of what you can expect when picking these up.

So let’s just get right into it!

[Oshi No Ko] 1st Illustration Collection: Glare x Sparkle

Our first offering of the month is an artbook based on one of the most electrifying series that we have ever published at Yen Press.

When it first came out, [Oshi no Ko] took the world by storm—a very glittery, very passionate storm.

[Oshi no Ko] is an intriguing manga series following two superfans who are reincarnated as the children of their favorite idol. In these new bodies, this duo will have to face not only the dark inner workings of Japan's entertainment industry but also solve the mystery behind their mother’s mysterious death. So if you weren’t familiar with this series, now you have the basics down!

But let’s talk about [Oshi No Ko] 1st Illustration Collection: Glare x Sparkle. Fans of the series can expect a lush collection of illustrations, sketches, and of course, rich commentary on the series. Yokoyari and Akasaka have a lot to say, often filling the margins of each illustration with insights on the characters, the drawing process, or even just the feeling they wanted to evoke with a particular pose.

Aside from the Q&A, this artbook also features different sections dedicated to art posted to Twitter, anime, and more. A favorite feature of mine is the signature gallery. Just look at how cute Mem-cho’s is! I have a soft spot for anything with a winking face, and this signature really carries across this character’s personality—which can be said for all of them, to be honest. A lot of thought has been put into each signature, and one cannot help but appreciate the lengths Yokoyari and Akasaka put into creating a world that really reflected traditional idol culture down to the smaller details. 

And if you were curious about Yokoyari and Akasaka’s favorite panels, then we are glad to let you know that our beloved Ai’s death scene has made it to their top choice! Seems like this star’s power to mesmerize crowds has left the realm of fiction and reached our real world.

By the way, the x of Glare x Sparkle was a must—apparently, Yokoyari is a big fan of Hunter x Hunter and was very adamant that the x was featured in the title! 

Candy: Shou Harusono Art Collection

Switching to a different author, our second artbook of the month is all about treating yourself! Candy: Shou Harusono Art Collection is just as sweet as its title might suggest. In this artbook, the creator of bestselling series Sasaki and Miyano and Hirano and Kagiura takes us through delightful illustrations, heartwarming doodles, and even the process of putting together some of the most iconic scenes of the sixth volume of Sasaki and Miyano!

For those unfamiliar with the series, Sasaki and Miyano follows two high school students—Sasaki, a boy with a bad reputation who reveals himself to be very sweet, and Miyano, an incredibly pretty boy who is just as incredibly passionate about Boys Love stories. Hirano and Kagiura, instead, is the spin-off series focusing on the characters’ two other friends.

As you could expect, Candy: Shou Harusono Art Collection is quite the treat for the fans. This collection is extensive, encompassing most if not all of Harusono’s sketches and illustrations done during the serialization of the series, such as Animate’s special merch, magazine covers, and even the bonus illustrations that were included in the CD dramas!

Now, onto the Q&A section! There were a couple of questions fans had for this sensei, and some of the answers were incredibly entertaining. For example, Harusono’s interest in BL was sparked by a friend’s anime recommendation. Apparently, sensei got so hooked on a particular voice actor that she ended rewatching the anime and falling deeper into this rabbit hole! As someone who is really into voice actors, I have no choice but to give it to her, for I understand the combined power of a nice voice and amazing art!

We are also told sensei’s music preference. Who could have guessed that the creator of this fluffy series was such an EDM fan?! Could the music’s fast tempo really help with sensei’s drawing speed...?

If you have any friends who are fans of these series (or if you want to give yourself a sweet little treat during the holiday season), then you must pick up [Oshi No Ko] 1st Illustration Collection: Glare x Sparkle and Candy: Shou Harusono Art Collection. Not only do they provide an exclusive look into the process of creating these manga, but they also offer fun and heartwarming commentary that brings our love for these series to the max!