Aoashi (アオアシ)[a] is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yūgo Kobayashi and based on a concept by Naohiko Ueno. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Weekly Big Comic Spirits since January 2015. The series involves youth football player Ashito Aoi and his journey and experiences in the Tokyo Esperion youth academy.
Aoashi tells the story of young Ashito Aoi in his third year at Ehime City Middle School and his meeting with football coach Tatsuya Fukuda. Ashito, although talented, is a difficult boy, but Fukuda believes in him and invites him to join his own team. Ashito could well change the face of Japanese football.
Ashito joined Team Esperion from the Ehime Prefecture after impressing Coach Fukuda with his vision, dedication and commitment to improving. At the beginning, he played as a forward, but Fukuda converts him into a left back much to his chagrin.
The heiress of one of Tokyo Esperion's sponsors. She has substantial football knowledge and hopes to be a manager one day. She also develops a crush on Ashito.
Aoashi is written and illustrated by Yūgo Kobayashi, and based on an original concept by Naohiko Ueno. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's Weekly Big Comic Spirits since January 5, 2015.[16] Shogakukan has compiled its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on April 30, 2015.[17] As of March 29, 2024, 35 volumes have been published.[18] An alternate tankōbon edition for younger audiences, called Aoashi Junior-ban (アオアシ ジュニア版), began publication on March 17, 2022; this edition, published under Shōnen Sunday Comics imprint, features furigana and full-color guide written by former Kawasaki Frontale player Kengo Nakamura.[19] As of June 16, 2023, 31 volumes of the Junior-ban edition have been published.[20] The series is licensed in Southeast Asia by Shogakukan Asia.[21]
A spin-off manga series, also written and illustrated by Kobayashi, titled Aoashi Brotherfoot (アオアシ ブラザーフット, Aoashi Burazāfutto), was serialized for five chapters in Weekly Big Comic Spirits from July 12 to August 23, 2021.[22][23][24] Its chapters were collected in a single tankōbon volume, released on August 30, 2021.[25]
An anime television series adaptation was announced in May 2021.[59] The series is produced by Production I.G and directed by Akira Satō, with scripts written by Masahiro Yokotani, and character designs by Manabu Nakatake, Toshie Kawamura, Asuka Yamaguchi, and Saki Hasegawa, with Nakatake and Yamaguchi also serving as chief animation directors. Masaru Yokoyama composed the series' music. It aired from April 9 to September 24, 2022, on NHK Educational TV.[3][8] The first opening theme song is "Mushin Hakusū" by Alexandros, while the first ending theme song is "Blue Diary" by Rinne.[13] The second opening theme song is "Presence" by Superfly, while the second ending theme song is "Color Lily no Koibumi" by Kami wa Saikoro wo Furanai.[14]
Crunchyroll has licensed the series outside of Asia.[60] On April 11, 2022, Crunchyroll announced that the series would receive an English dub, which premiered on April 23.[61][4]Disney Platform Distribution licensed the series in Southeast Asia.[62]
"It's Just Soccer" Transliteration: "Takaga Sakkā" (Japanese: たかがサッカー)
Norihiro Naganuma
Daisuke Daitō
Norihiro Naganuma
July 9, 2022 (2022-07-09)
15
"Where I Ought To Be" Transliteration: "Irubeki Basho" (Japanese: いるべき場所)
Shōta Hamada
Sumika Hayakawa
Shōta Hamada
July 16, 2022 (2022-07-16)
16
"Just Like You" Transliteration: "Omae Mitai ni" (Japanese: お前みたいに)
Masamitsu Abe
Shingo Irie
Satoshi Shimizu
July 23, 2022 (2022-07-23)
17
"Tokyo Metropolis League Match 7 - Tama Sports University High School" Transliteration: "Tōkyō-to Rīgu Dai Nanasetsu Tama Taiiku Daigaku Fuzoku Kōkō Sen" (Japanese: 東京都リーグ第7節 多摩体育大学附属高校戦)
Sumio Watanabe
Ken'ichi Takeshita
Kazuki Yokoyama
July 30, 2022 (2022-07-30)
18
"Wind of Change"
Shinnosuke Tonaka
Ken'ichi Takeshita
Kazuki Yokoyama
August 6, 2022 (2022-08-06)
19
"What We Lack" Transliteration: "Oretachi ni Nai Mono" (Japanese: 俺達にないもの)
Kazumi Yū
Sumika Hayakawa
Kazumi Yū
August 20, 2022 (2022-08-20)
20
"The Truly Weak One" Transliteration: "Hontō ni Yowai Yatsu wa" (Japanese: 本当に弱い奴は)
Masahiko Suzuki
Sumika Hayakawa
Takashi Igari
August 27, 2022 (2022-08-27)
21
"Tokyo Metropolis League Match 8 - Tokyo Musashino Football Club Youths" Transliteration: "Tōkyō-to Rīgu Dai Hassetsu Tōkyō Musashino Shūkyūdan Yūsu Sen" (Japanese: 東京都リーグ第8節 東京武蔵野蹴球団ユース戦)
By April 2020, the manga had over 4.5 million copies in circulation, including digital versions;[72] over 10 million copies in circulation, including digital versions, by February 2022;[73] over 12 million copies in circulation by June 2022;[74] over 15 million copies in circulation by August 2022;[75] over 17 million copies in circulation by February 2023;[55] over 18 million copies in circulation by May 2023;[56] and over 20 million copies in circulation by March 2024.[76]
In March 2023, the manga was recommended by Spanish midfielder Andrés Iniesta.[77]
^Ao means 'blue", which is the colour of Japan national football team, while ashi means "feet". Ao (青) also comes from ("青春", lit. "youth", "blue spring"). The title also means "blue reed", which represents immaturity.[2]
^ abcInformation is taken from the ending credits of each episode.
Referencesedit
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^Yūgo Kobayashi (April 22, 2020). アオアシというタイトルを決めた日 (in Japanese). Yūgo Kobayashi' blog. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2020.
^ abcdefghijkPineda, Rafael Antonio (October 28, 2021). "Aoashi Soccer Anime's Teaser Unveils Cast, Staff, April 2022 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
^ abcdefMateo, Alex (April 22, 2022). "Crunchyroll Reveals English Dub Premieres, Casts for Aoashi, AMAIM Warrior at the Borderline Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
^ abcdeGann, Shawn [@ReadyKafka] (May 1, 2022). "Ep2 of @Crunchyroll's #Aoashi is out! Wave of soccer boies…GO! + @marisaduran_ as Hana! @ChrisLlewyn as Ohtomo @CliffordChapin as Tachibana @GameGuyNick as Hasegawa @DiMascioVO as Lee @coalsavoie as Kaneda @KevinDThelwell as Nakano @RobMcCollum as Date #JamalSterling as Benzen @DouglasLGill as Tsukishima" (Tweet). Retrieved June 13, 2022 – via Twitter.
^ abGann, Shawn [@ReadyKafka] (July 24, 2022). "Ep14 of @Crunchyroll's #Aoashi is out! Our boy is really going through it. @CiaranStrange @marisaduran_ @Rialisms 😭😭 Let's give a proper welcome to @austintindle as Mr. Defense, Takeshima—Also, @benbevoicing is doing the Lord's work covering for @ChrisLlewyn as Ohtomo! Bravo!" (Tweet). Retrieved July 31, 2022 – via Twitter.
^ abcdGann, Shawn [@ReadyKafka] (May 29, 2022). "Ep6 of @Crunchyroll's #Aoashi is out! And, the team is beginning to take shape… Welcome to #MitchellStephens as Asari, @RiccoFajardo as Yuma (properly), @RyMcKeand as Kuroda, and @StimacD as TOGASHI (CAPS appropriate). @KellyGrnshld & @MarianneDHobbit return as super fans, Midori & Emi!" (Tweet). Retrieved June 13, 2022 – via Twitter.
^ abcHodgkins, Crystalyn (February 9, 2022). "Aoashi Soccer Anime Reveals 2 More Cast Members, Visual, April 9 Premiere". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
^Gann, Shawn [@ReadyKafka] (May 7, 2022). "Ep3 of @Crunchyroll's #Aoashi is out! The boiees are up against it as they play against the Esperion Youth starters. Luckily, the ULTRA-friendly Akutsu (@BrienneOlvera) is around to lend our Ashito (@CiaranStrange) a hand. 😈⚽️😈" (Tweet). Retrieved June 13, 2022 – via Twitter.
^ abcdePineda, Rafael Antonio (February 27, 2022). "Aoashi Soccer Anime Adds 5 Cast Members". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
^ abGann, Shawn [@ReadyKafka] (June 13, 2022). "Double #Aoashi weekend, loverlies! Ep7-8 are streaming on @Crunchyroll. Welcome to the team! @mollozhang as Anri Kaido, @ElCidRecords as Taira, @CarterPGill as Nagano, @KylePhillipsFun as Kameyama" (Tweet). Retrieved June 14, 2022 – via Twitter.
^ abcGann, Shawn [@ReadyKafka] (June 19, 2022). ""Ya gotta OOOOOPEN yer body!" Ep9 of @Crunchyroll's #Aoashi is out! Got some new teammates to welcome: @DavidMatranga1 as Yoshitsune @ChrisWehkamp as Takasugi @GiovannieCActor as Kaneko and @AlexisTiptonVA popped in as Young Togashi" (Tweet). Retrieved June 19, 2022 – via Twitter.
^ abcdeHodgkins, Crystalyn (March 14, 2022). "Aoashi Soccer Anime's Promo Video Reveals More Cast, Theme Song Artists". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 10, 2022. Retrieved March 14, 2022.
^ abcdefHodgkins, Crystalyn (June 25, 2022). "Aoashi Anime Reveals 5 More Cast Members, Visual, New Theme Song Artists". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
^ abcGann, Shawn [@ReadyKafka] (September 4, 2022). "Ep19 of @Crunchyroll's #Aoashi is finally here! The gang head into enemy territory to scope out the competition. Welcome awesome first-timer in the booth @_katlozano as Miyako! Also, some talented rival All-Stars: @McMovieMan as Satake @iterrible103 as Muto @MarkAllenJr as Mikami ⚽️🔥🖤" (Tweet). Retrieved September 4, 2022 – via Twitter.
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External linksedit
Manga official website at Big Comic Bros(in Japanese)