Sasaki and Miyano is a “boys life” series about two high school boys who fall in love in their everyday life. The series has garnered high praise since its web manga serialization days, and has now been made into an anime. ANN spoke with the creator of the manga Sho Harusono and anime director Ishihira Shinji about how they created this sweet and soft series.
©2022 Sho Harusono /KADOKAWA/ Sasaki and Miyano partners
you have described Sasaki and Miyano as a work whereDegree in Law” stands for “Boy’s Life”. What does this term mean to you?
Sho Harusono: The reason why I use Degree in Law as an abbreviation for “Boy’s Life” when talking about Sasaki and Miyano It’s because of a suggestion from my first editor. I thought it was a great way to express how it is both a story about everyday life and a love story between children. I hope it can be a useful word for people looking for what they want to read.
The interesting thing about the manga is how it combines 4-comma with traditional manga style panels. Some parts of the story are also told out of chronological order. How did you decide on this type of presentation?
HARUSON: I started to draw Sasaki and Miyano as a hobby. Back then, it was called A little story about Sasaki and Miyano. I only drew the bits I wanted to draw; I made the panels compact and concise with the 4-comma [panel] structure.
Later, I received an offer from the editorial department of Gene, and my manga began its commercial serialization. My first editor suggested combining the structure of a manga story and 4-comma for serialization. In this way, the original style would be kept for the fans who enjoyed the parts I drew to draw myself, while the manga parts of the story would express the feelings of the characters in a clearer way.
The reason there are flashbacks between story progression is because the main focus is on SaSaki and Miyano’s current relationship. I definitely wanted each chapter to have an interaction between the two as a showcase. I also wanted to include some backstory without diluting the main interactions; as a result of that thought, the story took on a structure that gradually incorporates past memories like in volume 1.
©2022 Sho Harusono /KADOKAWA/ Sasaki and Miyano partners
i really enjoy how Sasaki and Miyano it has the theme of “meeting someone through what you love”. What was the inspiration for this kind of story?
HARUSON: The topic came naturally to me. I myself like to listen to people’s stories (like asking a store clerk about his work and what parts he likes about it, and from there the conversation flows to what he likes in private). Perhaps that context may have influenced the story.
What was your first impression of the manga?
Ishihira Shinji: I thought it was cute from the moment I first saw the art. The expressions were very charming and the story doesn’t have characters playing seemingly antagonistic roles, so it was comfortable to read. The characters besides SaSaki and Miyano may be dealing with their own pasts and issues, but seeing them casually live out their youth puts me at ease. Also, the parts that are in color leave a strong impression.
©2022 Sho Harusono /KADOKAWA/ Sasaki and Miyano partners
An important part of the story is about the characters discussing their feelings about the Boys-Love manga. Are you a fan of Boys Love manga?
SHIHIRA: When I decide which titles to direct, I consider the content, not the genre. I think about how attractive the characters are, if the story is interesting, if I want to try to adapt it to anime, if it’s feasible from a production point of view and other things like that. Also, I usually don’t read much manga in my personal life. I hardly watch any anime either. I dedicate my time to movies, television series, video games and novels.
What was the biggest challenge in adapting? Sasaki and Miyano for anime?
SHIHIRA: The challenge was to find a way to translate the overall impression of the manga into a movie. I was very particular in depicting the necessary parts of a youth story, such as the tone, atmosphere, and feeling of the characters living their lives. Because I passed on some specific reference examples to the assistant director. Takehiro Ueno, I think we were able to capture the atmosphere quite well within the footage. The team has also been hard at work animating the “hands” and depicting the cats, among other things. We have also been mindful of live action dramas while creating the soundtrack for this anime.
©2022 Sho Harusono /KADOKAWA/ Sasaki and Miyano partners
To what extent can you relate to Miyano’s struggle to be a fan of something that he thinks is embarrassing?
SHIHIRA: I think the definition of “embarrassing” changes depending on the setting and time, but by the time I was in high school, anime was already starting to gain social recognition (it was around the time that Ghibli’s works were starting to become hits). In my case, I simply felt a difference within the realm of acceptable interests. Well, now that I live in a time where even a grown man like me can play games and make anime every day, I don’t think I have much experience feeling embarrassed about my interests. I’m the type to forget unpleasant things.
Do you have any comments for your fans abroad?
HARUSON: Pleased to meet you! Konnichiwa! am Sho Harusono. I am very glad that Sasaki and Miyano it is enjoyed by fans all over the world. Thanks to the support of the fans, the series has received an anime. And due to the powerful support from foreign fans, there are also translated versions of the manga. Thank you very much! Thanks to everyone who has picked up a copy, I’m delighted that we can release new volumes.
The desire to be liked by the person you like, wanting to be with that person and wanting to treasure it – that story will continue through Sasaki and Miyano. I couldn’t be happier if this manga is there for you when you take a break. The world may still be in a tough place right now, but I hope you can take good care of yourselves in your everyday lives. I will do my best from Japan to keep creating stories for others to read. I hope we can cross paths again!
ISHIHIRA: The real world can be hard to live in right now thanks to COVID-19, but I hope that finding a hobby you can immerse yourself in, like an anime you like, can make the days a little more fun.
Sasaki and Miyano is streaming on Funimation. The original manga is published in English by Yen Press.