Enjoyment of a series can often depend on how successful an author is at getting you to connect with certain characters. In the case of Aka Akasakaās
Editorās Note: There are Oshi no Ko volume 1 spoilers regarding Ai Hoshino below.
Before we even get to meet Ai Hoshino in Oshi no Ko volume 1, the manga kicks off by letting us see why others care so much about her. In the case of Sarina, we see the hope that she offers. Even though that young girl was sick, she was essentially able to live vicariously through the idol by watching her performances. With the doctor Gorou, thereās the initial connection due to his patient, but then we also see how he appreciates her talent.
By the time she shows up pregnant at Gorouās hospital, weāve gotten to see her built up to be something special. But instead of staying on a pedestal, everything happening humanizes her. Sheās 16 and pregnant. She isnāt sharing who the father is, even with her business contact and official guardian Ichigo Productions President Ichigo Saitou. Sheās very aware of what the idol industry is like and the lies that need to be told to get ahead, and even considers herself selfish for wanting to maintain her career and have her children. Seeing through Gorouās eyes as we hear from this girl who grew up without a family, determined to raise her children and do what she loves, is so motivating. He wants to help her do it, and itās the first moment in which the first volume of Oshi no Ko made me hope she could do it too.
- Image via Yen Press
Once the viewpoint shifts to show things through Aqua and Rubyās perspective, we get to feel even more for what Ai is going through in Oshi no Ko. Sheās a young mother whoās doing her best. She isnāt always perfect. She almost gives away the fact that she did have twins during her first interview back. The weight of the job gets to her, as sheāll see negative comments from people online and show concerns about how the position sheās in wonāt properly provide for the twins. Both of her children idolize and adore her, in part because of their past lives, but with Aqua especially weāre seeing how sheās struggling and the toll it takes.
Especially as Aqua gets older and sees how the entertainment industry works. We watch as she gets sidelined in a show because sheās too cute. How deals need to be made to get her more attention. Even more importantly, Oshi no Ko never shies away from the more horrifying aspects of the job. The foreshadowing and flash forwards hint at whatās coming before it happens, and when the terrifying moment does arrive, itās heartwrenching. Because leading up to that second, we see how Ai keeps essentially winning. Things are working out for her. Even as she shows concerns about her family life and connections to her children, sheās on the verge of greatness, and we see everything fall away. Yet even as we do, we get this moment where she still gets to enjoy this last, formative moment with Aqua and Ruby.
The first volume of the Oshi no Ko manga is really a testament to Akasakaās characterizations and storytelling efforts, as both really ensure Ai Hoshino matters to the reader by the end of it. The way we get to see all sides of her from different perspectives sets up the series perfectly. The connections formed help us bond with her, while also reinforcing why Aqua and Rubyās journeys going forward will seem so plausible.
Yen Press is handling the English localization of the Oshi no Ko manga. Volume 2 arrives on May 23, 2023. The anime is streaming on HIDIVE, and the original Japanese and an English dub are available.
Published: May 21, 2023 03:00 pm