The popular spring anime Oshi no Ko draws inspiration from the true story of a child actor.
According to a recent video, Oshi no Ko’s Kana Arima is directly inspired by the former Japanese child star Mana Ashida, known for playing the younger version of Rinko Kikuchi’s Mako in Pacific Rim. Kana is a child actor who is taken advantage of by her mother and agent, something that the real-life Ashida also faced, as a scandal involving her mother caused massive disruption to her career. Ashida’s mother infamously drew a lot of negative attention for taking advantage of her child’s success and forcing her to miss school to attend acting classes.
The Parallels Between Arima and Ashida
The video highlights another parallel between the fictional Arima and the real-life Ashida, as their careers drastically declined as they grew older. Ashida began her career at the age of 3, appearing in the Japanese drama film Looking Up at the Half-Moon, and would go on to star in a number of prolific titles in her youth. However, as her age advanced, her popularity faded, with the now 18-year-old performer no longer at the heights she once saw. This is reflected in Oshi no Ko’s Arima, who former fans see as a has-been and her search for a chance to get back into the limelight.
Oshi no Ko is a scathing satire of the Japanese entertainment industry, running the gambit of criticizing everything from the idol scene to film and television production. The series draws much inspiration from real life, focusing on the industry’s dark and sometimes violent side. This is reflected in the death of Ai Hoshino, a shocking event that triggers the main narrative focusing on her children Aquamarine and Ruby Hoshino. Arima is a major supporting character who forms a strong, and possibly romantic, connection with the male twin, Aqua.
Aka Akasaka’s Oshi no Ko is a Hit
Studio Doga Kobo’s adaptation of Aka Akasaka’s manga has taken the industry by storm, quickly becoming one of the hottest properties in anime. It rose to the top of My Anime Lists’ best anime of all time in its debut episode before being dethroned by Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. It focuses on a slew of genres, including comedy, music, romance, mystery, and even fantasy, thanks to its use of the reborn into another life trope.
Oshi no Ko is available to watch on HIDIVE, with the manga accessible via Shueisha MANGA Plus. The next episode will premiere on May 10, 2023.
Source: Tiktok
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