Following the conclusion of the Oshi no Ko manga, author Aka Akasaka sat down for an interview with Shueisha and revealed his thoughts about the ending.
The Oshi no Ko manga came to an end on November 13, 2024, with Chapter 166. It was one of the most hyped finales of the year, following the likes of My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen. However, it has left the fandom divided, with one section satisfied with the conclusion and the other utterly disappointed with it.
Amidst this debate, Akasaka shared little titbits about the story he’d been working on for four and a half years. He shared that now that Oshi no Ko has ended, he’d like to take it easy for a while and do something that’s more rooted in life. The mangaka also revealed how hectic his life had been when he was working on Kaguya-sama: Love is War.
Speaking about Oshi no Ko’s ending, Akasaka said it went the way it was expected, though not every single aspect of the story toward the conclusion had been set in stone (unlike with Kaguya-sama). However, the ending was already decided way before. This ends many fans’ belief about the author losing the reins of the story toward the finale.
The character who changed the most
Speaking about characters who went a different way than previously planned, the interviewer asked about Memcho, who was supposed to be a minor character in the beginning. But thanks to Mengo Yokoyari’s (Oshi no Ko’s artist) illustration of her, she became one of Akasaka’s favorites and he made her one of the main characters.
When asked if there was another character like her, the mangaka revealed that the plans for Aqua were quite different from what he ultimately turned out to be. Aqua’s character became more sensitive and he went through significant character development.
At first, his feelings and motives were quite obvious to fans and characters alike. But as the story progressed, he became more secretive and withdrawn, all the while becoming more attached to the people around him.
The reason behind Oshi no Ko’s ending
2024 is a significant year for anime and manga franchises. Popular series like Evangelion, Attack on Titan, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Oshi no Ko ended this year.
When asked about this, the mangaka revealed that it’s thanks to the fast-consuming nature of the manga industry. Every creator wants to end their series at a high point, leading to stories coming to an end comparatively faster than other big titles like One Piece, Naruto, and Bleach. That, and he personally likes the idea of ending his story in his own timing and in the exact way he wants.
He also shared that he would’ve liked to work on Oshi no Ko as long as the anime was still running. But he also has Yokoyari on this journey and they both want to be “authors whose next work will be read again,” and that’ll only happen if their current story stays interesting until the very end.
FAQ
What is the final chapter of Oshi no Ko?
The final chapter of Oshi no Ko is Chapter 166, titled ‘Star’.
Is the Oshi no Ko anime finished?
The Oshi no Ko anime is still ongoing. It has two seasons with a third one upcoming.
Where can Oshi no Ko be read?
Oshi no Ko can be read on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app/website.
Which streaming platform is the Oshi no Ko anime available on?
Both seasons of the Oshi no Ko anime are available on HIDIVE and Netflix.
To know more about the idol manga, find out who Aqua ends up with and check out our ranking of the best Oshi no Ko characters. For more latest manga and anime news, keep reading Animeking.
