Introduction
Hello everyone!
I’m a huge anime fan from Japan, and one of my all-time favorite series is “Oshi no Ko.”
The highly anticipated second season of “Oshi no Ko” is finally set to premiere in July 2024!
For those of you who are new to the series, “Oshi no Ko” is a unique story about an idol star who reincarnates as a girl.
The first season was a critical and commercial success, and I can’t wait to see what the second season has in store.
In this blog post, I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about “Oshi no Ko” Season 2, including:
- From where to where in the original manga?
- [Oshi no Ko] Broadcast details of the second season of the anime.
- Highlights
- Evaluation in Japan
Whether you’re a die-hard “Oshi no Ko” fan or you’ve never seen the show before, I hope you’ll enjoy this blog post and get excited for Season 2!
Let’s all celebrate the return of “Oshi no Ko”!
Please note:
- This blog post may contain spoilers.
- There may be some differences between the anime and the manga.
- Official website：https://ichigoproduction.com/
- official X：https://twitter.com/anime_oshinoko
description of works
“Oshi no Ko” is a Japanese manga created by Aka Akasaka and Mengo Yokoyari. The story revolves around the lives of idols and their children.
The main characters are the popular idol AI and her children, Ruby and Aqua.
AI secretly manages her pregnancy and childbirth without making it public, and her children each enter the entertainment industry in different ways.
Ruby pursues a career as an actress, while Aqua aims to become a manga artist.
As they build their careers, the secrets of their births, the bonds within their family, and the darker aspects of idol culture are gradually revealed.
From where to where in the original manga?
The first season of the anime “Oshi no Ko” covers up to the end of volume 4 of the original manga.
Beginning with volume 5, the story enters the “2.5D Stage Play Arc,” where Aqua and others take on the challenge of a 2.5-dimensional stage play.
The “2.5D Stage Play Arc” in “Oshi no Ko” has become particularly popular among fans.
This arc continues until midway through volume 7. The latter half of volume 7 through to the end of volume 8 is known as the “Private” arc.
It is speculated that, just as the first season adapted four volumes of the manga, the second season might adapt up to volume 8, covering both the “2.5D Stage Play” and “Private” arcs.
It not only explores the challenges faced by Aqua and Ruby, but also highlights the development of other characters in the story.
[Oshi no Ko] Broadcast details of the second season of the anime
We will now briefly touch on the broadcast details of the second anime season of “Oshi no Ko.
What is the content of the “2.5D Stage Play Arc”?
Following Kaburagi’s invitation, Aqua, Kana, Akane, and Narushima Melt decide to star in the popular “Tokyo Blade” as a 2.5D stage play.
Akane struggles with her role, which deviates from the original character, and the original author, Abiko Samejima, expresses dissatisfaction with the script, demanding a change in scriptwriters.
However, a resolution is reached, and a new script is co-authored. Meanwhile, Aqua, dealing with past traumas,
manages to overcome his struggles with advice from Gotanda, leading the play to great success. Akane realizes that Aqua and Ruby’s mother is AI.
What is the content of the “Private”?
Aqua collected DNA from theatrical staff for testing, and discovers that the lead actor, Himekawa Daiki, is his half-brother.
Upon learning that their father, Uehara Seijuro, is already deceased, Aqua feels unburdened and shares his journey with Akane, who realizes Aqua is overlooking a crucial detail.
Meanwhile, the group B Komachi goes on a trip to shoot a music video for their new song, coincidentally near the hospital in Miyazaki Prefecture where Aqua and Ruby were born.
There, Ruby learns that the person who killed their mother, Ai, also murdered the doctor they admired, Goro, prompting Ruby to vow revenge.
Where are we at with the second season of [Oshi no Ko]? A Fan’s In-Depth Look at the Highlights
Highlight #1: The rivalry between Kurokawa Akane and Arima Kana.
One of the highlights of “Oshi no Ko” Season 2 is the rivalry between Kurokawa Akane and Arima Kana.
These two are competitors not only in their acting careers but also in their romantic feelings towards Aqua.
In Season 2, this rivalry is particularly emphasized, and their relationship is deeply explored through their co-starring on the same stage.
Especially notable is the scene where Akane goes all out to help Kana return to her peak child actor form, which is likely to resonate emotionally with many viewers.
Their ideal rivalry, where they recognize each other’s genius, is a must-see aspect of the season.
Highlight #2: Aqua’s Intense Emotional Performance.
Another highlight is Aqua’s emotional performance.
Typically, Aqua struggles to express his emotions, but during the live stage performance, he delivers a powerful act using his negative emotions.
Particularly notable is the scene where he imagines Ai miraculously recovering while conflating her with the character Sayahime, resulting in a tearful performance that is sure to move viewers.
This poignant scene is meticulously depicted in the second season of the anime, making it a must-watch moment.
Highlight #3: Ruby’s Descent into Darkness.
One of the key highlights of Season 2 is the dark turn taken by Ruby, who was previously portrayed as bright and sunny.
In Miyazaki, Ruby discovers the corpse of Goro, his first love and benefactor, and learns that the same person who killed Goro also murdered Ai.
This revelation prompts Ruby to choose the same path as Aqua and vow revenge.
The scene where Ruby’s descent into darkness is symbolized by the stars in his eyes turning black is particularly chilling.
This moment is expected to be depicted towards the end of Season 2, raising anticipation for how it will be presented.
Evaluation in Japan
Anime
Evaluation from Original Work Fans
Fans of the original work highly appreciate the high level of faithfulness to the story and characters.
In particular, the realistic portrayal of the dark side of the idol industry and the charming characters are highly praised.
Evaluation from Anime Fans
Anime fans highly appreciate the high quality of the animation and direction. In particular, the impact of the live scenes and the expression of comical scenes are highly praised.
Evaluation from Critics
Critics highly appreciate the unique setting and themes.
The work is highly praised for its realistic portrayal of the dark side of the idol industry while simultaneously dealing with universal themes such as life and family love.
Manga
Sales
“Oshi no Ko” has sold over 5 million copies since the first volume was released in December 2020, and it remains popular as of April 2023.
Manga Awards
“Oshi no Ko” won the 67th Shogakukan Manga Award in the Shonen category in 2022, proving its high evaluation.
Evaluation from Readers
Readers appreciate the interesting story and characters, as well as the cute illustrations.
In particular, the realistic portrayal of the dark side of the idol industry and the charming characters are highly praised.
Overall Evaluation
“Oshi no Ko” is a highly acclaimed work in terms of the original work, anime, and manga.
The work is highly praised for its realistic portrayal of the dark side of the idol industry while simultaneously dealing with universal themes such as life and family love.
Staff and Cast
| Role/Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Cast | |
| Aqua | Tsuyoshi Otsuka |
| Ruby | Yurie Iguma |
| Arima Kana | Megumi Han |
| Kurokawa Akane | Maina Ishimi |
| MEM Cho | Rumi Okubo |
| Himekawa Daiki | Kouki Uchiyama |
| Narushima Melt | Shinji Maeda |
| Kamoshida Sakuya | Yusuke Kobayashi |
| Ai | Rie Takahashi |
| Staff | |
| Original Work | “Oshi no Ko” by Aka Akasaka & Mengo Yokoyari (Serialized in Shueisha’s “Weekly Young Jump”) |
| Director | Daisuke Hiramaki |
| Assistant Director | Chao Nekotomi / Kuniyasu Nishina |
| Series Composition | Hitoshi Tanaka |
| Character Design | Kanna Hirayama |
| Art Director | Tetsuya Usami (Studio Easter) |
| Art Settings | Kouta Mizumoto (Studio Easter) |
| Color Design | Kei Ishiguro |
| Director of Photography | Takafumi Kuwano |
| Editor | Kentaro Tsubone |
| Music | Takuro Iga |
| Sound Director | Takeshi Takadera |
| Sound Effects | Kiyotaka Kawada |
| Animation Production | Doga Kobo |
Conclusion
What did you think?
“Oshi no Ko” is a work that realistically depicts the dark side of the idol industry while simultaneously dealing with universal themes such as life and family love.
In the second season, it seems that there will be an even deeper story development and charming characters will appear.
If you haven’t seen “Oshi no Ko” yet, please watch the first season.
I’m sure you’ll be hooked on “Oshi no Ko” too!
Let’s all celebrate the second season of “Oshi no Ko”!
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