The entertainment industry is well-known for its soaring highs and crushing lows, and nowhere is that more startlingly realized than in the idol industry. With their combination of music, performance, and acting, idols are a powerful force in South Korea and Japan, with huge export power to Westerners.
It makes sense that there’s also plenty of manga set around idols—some delving into the darker side of showbiz, and others focusing more on the joys of entertainment. But no matter what take on the idol industry you prefer, we’ve got something for you to read!
Join us today on Honey’s Anime as we explore the 5 Best Idol Manga!
5. Hikaru in the Light!
- Authors: Matsuda Mai
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Seinen, Slice of Life
- Volumes: 1+
- Published: June 2022–present
Starting our list today is the brand-new manga, Hikaru in the Light!—a series all about pursuing your dreams, no matter the cost.
Hikaru Ogino wants to be a star, but instead, she just sings to herself in her family’s bath house. When her best friend—and a former idol—invites her to an “idol survival camp,” Hikaru will find herself, and her dreams, put to the ultimate test!
Hikaru in the Light! is a competition manga at heart, with plenty of sparks flying between Hikaru and her best friend. There’s a heavy emphasis on trying to stand out amidst a sea of “normal” girls all desperate to become the next big idol—and only time will tell if Hikaru can reach out and seize her dreams!
Hikaru in the Light! is available digitally via Azuki Manga.
4. Otatomo ga Kareshi ni Nattara Saikou Kamo Shirenai (Having an Idol-Loving Boyfriend Is the Best!)
- Authors: Aoi Mito
- Genres: Comedy, Romance, Shoujo
- Volumes: Comedy, Romance, Shoujo
- Published: March 2022–present
We reviewed Otatomo ga Kareshi ni Nattara Saikou Kamo Shirenai (Having an Idol-Loving Boyfriend Is the Best!) earlier this year and loved the positive message in this otaku-loving story!
Centered more around the fans of idols rather than idols themselves, this romance spreads the message that growing up doesn’t mean growing out of what you love. Shameless otaku girl Akari is a die-hard idol fan, but she’s totally surprised when Onda, the grumpy chef at her cafe, turns out to be a closeted idol lover!
The pair begin a trial dating phase together, going out to idol cafes, helping each other collect their favorite idol merchandise, and otherwise just being an adorable geek couple. The series gives off great gender role messaging, with Onda being star-struck by a male idol, and ultimately encourages adults to reconnect with whatever makes them happy.
If you want a manga that celebrates idols and otaku culture, then check out Having an Idol-Loving Boyfriend Is the Best!
3.【Oshi no Ko】
- Authors: Akasaka Aka (Story), Yokoyari Mengo (Art)
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Tragedy, Slice of Life
- Volumes: Streaming digitally on Manga Plus
- Published: April 2022–present
A title that’s hot on everyone’s lips at the moment is Oshi no Ko, the next manga from the author of Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai - Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen (Kaguya-Sama: Love is War!). An anime has been announced by Doga Kobo studios, and physical English volumes will soon be published by Yen Press.
Diving deep into the psychological drama of the idol industry, Oshi no Ko really should come with some trigger warnings. For the sake of our own readers, we’d like to flag Oshi no Ko’s triggers as teen pregnancy, attempted suicide, stalking, and generalized post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
With that said, you probably have a decent idea of where Oshi no Ko is going. When star idol Ai Hoshino becomes pregnant at sixteen, her children become the reincarnations of two of her fans. After their mother’s shocking murder a few years later, both children grow up to pursue the entertainment industry for different reasons.
This story is dark, and definitely not for the faint of heart. There’s a lot to unpack about the nature of the industry, the expectations of fans, and the very real danger that idols face from strangers and studios alike.
Oshi no Ko is currently streaming digitally via Manga Plus (Shonen Jump App).
2. Hanazono-sanchi no Futago-chan (Oh, Those Hanazono Twins)
- Authors: Kitajima Nena
- Genres: Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, Romance, School Life, Shounen, Slice of Life
- Volumes: 1+
- Published: May 2022–present
A fun rom-com of snowballing errors begins in Hanazono-sanchi no Futago-chan (Oh, Those Hanazono Twins) when ultra-popular high-school idol, Yuriko Hanazono, dresses up as her fashionable twin sister, Rinko, to go on a date. Since idols aren’t allowed to have public relationships, she thinks her ruse will let her safely date her best friend Tatara…but her plan goes awry when she’s discovered by their school!
To save her sister’s reputation, the real Rinko now has to date Tatara in a pretend-lover scenario that might end up as something more?! This love-triangle romantic comedy is all about young love and fake relationships, with a healthy dose of idol-related drama.
Oh, Those Hanazono Twins has its first volume out already, and is complete in Japanese at 7 volumes.
1. Oshi ga Watashi de Watashi ga Oshi de (Star⇄Crossed!!)
- Authors: Junko
- Genres: Comedy, Gender Bender, Romance, School Life, Shoujo, Slice of Life
- Volumes: 4 (Complete)
- Published: March 2020 — March 2021
The top pick on our list today is the fabulous gender-bender rom-com, Oshi ga Watashi de Watashi ga Oshi de (Star⇄Crossed!!).
Ultra-fan Azusa lives only for Chika-kun, her favorite idol in the P4U group. When she accidentally dies trying (and failing) to save her beloved idol, she and Chika meet God, who sheepishly admits this was an accident and sends them back down to Earth. The only problem…Azusa and Chika have switched bodies! And they can switch back…with a kiss?!
To prevent tragedy, Chika transfers to Azusa’s school and moves into the apartment next door to her, all so they can keep up this ruse until they can fix their body-switching problems. Of course, for Azusa, this is a dream come true—but it’s a nightmare for P4U’s management!
Full of laughs, romance, and idol-group-tension, Star⇄Crossed!! is our top pick today for idol manga.
Final Thoughts
These are just five of the idol manga out there! From industry drama to fandom celebration, idol manga shine a light on all the different facets of the entertainment industry.
Are you interested in any of these titles? Let us know down in the comments below, and as always, thank you for reading!
Author: Brett Michael Orr
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- Mangaka : Akasaka Aka (Story), Yokoyari Mengo (Art)
- Genre : Drama, Mystery, Psychological, Romance, Seinen, Comedy
- Publisher : Yen Press
- Published : January 2023
Of all the new releases heading to the shelves and screens in 2023, [Oshi No Ko] has definitely garnered the most interest among fans. It even has an anime already slated for April 2023, to be produced by Doga Kobo.
Written by Akasaka Aka of Kaguya-sama wa Kokurasetai - Tensai-tachi no Renai Zunousen (Kaguya-sama: Love is War) and illustrated by the acclaimed Yokoyari Mengo of Kuzu no Honkai (Scum’s Wish), this star-studded duo has set out to examine the dark depths of the idol and entertainment industries.
Does [Oshi No Ko] have what it takes to succeed on the stage that is 2023’s manga market?
To find out, join us today on Honey’s Anime as we review [Oshi No Ko], Volume 1!
Contains Spoilers
Discussion Time
At its heart, [Oshi No Ko] is a mystery thriller wrapped within a layer of charming comedy, although the first volume of [Oshi No Ko] serves as more of a prologue to the future volumes.
Our main characters are Gorou Amemiya and Sarina Tenjouji—two fans of the 16-year-old idol, Ai Hoshino. Gorou works as an OB-GYN at a remote hospital and serves as Hoshino’s attending physician when she presents to his clinic twenty weeks pregnant with twins. On the day Hoshino goes into labor, Gorou is killed by a stalker intent on finding Ai—and subsequently finds himself reborn as “Aquamarine,” one of Ai’s twin children. Gorou’s newborn sister, “Ruby,” is also a reincarnated fan—Sarina, a young girl whom Gorou once looked after during his doctoral residency.
The majority of [Oshi No Ko]’s first volume follows Aqua and Ruby as they watch their mother’s career take stumbling leaps toward stardom. Thanks to their previous knowledge of the world, these two babies grow up as “wunderkind” children with their mother’s good looks and talent for acting and dancing.
[Oshi No Ko] doesn’t hide its feelings about the entertainment industry. From the very first page, [Oshi No Ko] is a heavy attack on the industry that takes children—often in their teens—and thrusts them into the spotlight for profit.
Akasaka and Yokoyari also examine the dark underside of fandom, and the expectations of mutual feelings that fans place on their idols—forcing idols to hide their true feelings, their romances, and even their own children.
[Oshi No Ko] Volume 1 ends on an explosive twist that we’ll leave unspoiled for now. Suffice it to say that, if you haven’t already heard about it, you’ll be completely shocked. The twist leaves us with some mixed feelings, but it also propels our main characters forward and gives them solid reasons to pursue the entertainment industry as they grow up.
1. President Akasaka Is Back In Class
Kaguya-sama: Love is War is easily one of the best comedy/drama manga of the last decade, chiefly thanks to Akasaka’s ability to bounce between light-hearted comedy and dark, thought-provoking moments. [Oshi No Ko] doesn’t have quite as many belly-aching laughs as Kaguya-sama, but the first volume is saddled with character and plot setup—so we’re hoping for more comedic moments in later volumes.
No matter which direction the series goes in, Akasaka’s talent for crafting believable characters is on-point once more, and is surely only going to get better as [Oshi No Ko] continues.
Industry Secrets
[Oshi No Ko]’s dive into the world of show-biz is rather educational, especially for those of us with only a passing knowledge of the entertainment industry. From revenue breakdowns to squabbling directors, [Oshi No Ko] shows how everything from pricing tickets to booking shows is carefully managed to maximize profits and ensure agencies are getting the most out of their talent.
[Oshi No Ko] cleverly uses single-page interviews with in-universe managers, directors, and actors to highlight different parts of the industry—and also provide other views on Aqua, Ruby, and their mother. It’s a novel idea and works well to add more layers to [Oshi No Ko]’s growing mysteries.
2. Industry Secrets
[Oshi No Ko]’s dive into the world of show-biz is rather educational, especially for those of us with only a passing knowledge of the entertainment industry. From revenue breakdowns to squabbling directors, [Oshi No Ko] shows how everything from pricing tickets to booking shows is carefully managed to maximize profits and ensure agencies are getting the most out of their talent.
[Oshi No Ko] cleverly uses single-page interviews with in-universe managers, directors, and actors to highlight different parts of the industry—and also provide other views on Aqua, Ruby, and their mother. It’s a novel idea and works well to add more layers to [Oshi No Ko]’s growing mysteries.
1. Old Man Yells At Cloud
As we mentioned earlier, [Oshi No Ko] offers an, at times, heavy-handed criticism of the idol industry. We’re not saying that Akasaka is wrong—both the Eastern and Western entertainment industries are rife with exploitation and very few who enter the industry reach the stardom they seek.
That said, [Oshi No Ko] can feel exhausting to read, with almost every other page forcibly reminding the reader that the entertainment industry is bad and going to ruin lives. Sure, it makes sense for the story, but we can’t help feeling like [Oshi No Ko] could have approached the subject with more nuance over a longer period of time.
Final Thoughts
[Oshi No Ko] is definitely deserving of its hype, and we’re confident that it’s going to be the series everyone is talking about in 2023. Although some aspects of the first volume left us feeling a little cold, Akasaka has once again proven his remarkable ability to blend comedy with drama, while Yokoyari brings the story to life with her signature style.
If you don’t want to be left out of your social group’s discussions this year, then grab [Oshi No Ko] when it releases in January 2023!
Author: Brett Michael Orr
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