Renowned manga creator Rensuke Oshikiri captured the hearts of Western readers with his ’90s arcade-gaming rom-com Hi Score Girl, which received a hit anime adaptation in 2018. Over his decades-long career, however, he has penned numerous other titles. While the supernatural horror Sayuri and the sci-fi action series Geniearth are the only others to receive English translations, we recently sat down with Oshikiri to discuss both his latest release and his expansive manga portfolio.
Your five-volume superpower series Geniearth, published in English by Titan Manga, originally ran in Weekly Shōnen Champion from 2021 to 2022. It is notably more violent and action-heavy than Hi Score Girl. Do you ever worry that your audience might struggle to follow you into entirely different genres?
Rensuke Oshikiri: I’ve worked across a broad spectrum of genres, including comedy, horror, and romance, and I consider myself lucky to have that flexibility. I simply draw whatever kind of story I feel like “watching” at any given moment—you could say I have an omnivorous appetite for storytelling!
Geniearth is where all my aggressive tendencies were let off the leash. As for worrying whether readers would keep up? Not at all. The first person to enjoy it was me, followed by my editor, Mr. Matsuoka. We focused entirely on making sure the two of us were having fun first.
Hi Score Girl is a nostalgic ’90s romance centered on gaming, whereas Sayuri is a grim, supernatural revenge thriller. These are vastly different from one another and from Geniearth. How do you choose the genre for your next project? Is it a conscious decision to switch things up?
OSHIKIRI: I’m just an artist who enjoys tackling many different genres. To put it simply, I get bored easily! There is zero chance I would draw back-to-back horror stories. When you walk, do you put your right foot forward and then immediately lead with your right foot again? That’s about how much desire I have to keep exploring new genres.
Though, funny enough, when I walk, I *am* the kind of person who awkwardly leads with the right foot over and over again! As for starting a new series, it feels like setting off on a journey—though I’m not great at traveling far. I might dream of going all the way to Yufuin in Kyushu, but I always end up settling for the nearby hot springs in Atami.
Lately, I find myself gravitating only toward things that are familiar and close by, and I really need to break myself of taking the easy route!
©押切蓮介/SQUARE ENIX・ハイスコアガールⅡ製作委員会
With its themes of an oppressed minority possessing mysterious superpowers, Geniearth bears some conceptual similarities to classic American superhero stories like the X-Men. Are you a fan of Western superhero comics or films, and do you have any particular favorites?
OSHIKIRI: Absolutely, I’ve watched nearly all of the Marvel films and have thoroughly enjoyed plenty of superpower-themed overseas television shows.
Shows like Heroes, The 4400, and The Boys—the list goes on! I love stories where heroes use extraordinary abilities to fight unjust villains. Everyone has a bit of a hero inside them, and watching these characters spring into action definitely stirs something up in me. Though, if you look at the characters in my own manga, they usually have pretty menacing expressions!
They certainly don’t look like classic heroes, which makes me wonder if what actually lurks inside me is more of a villain. Oh dear, that might be a problem!
One of the main characters in Geniearth gains physical strength by absorbing the negative karma generated by others, often provoking bullies so he can exact brutal revenge later. The fantasy of a victim striking back is incredibly powerful. Did this concept stem from any personal experiences?
OSHIKIRI: I’ve never been bullied, nor have I ever been a bully myself. But whenever I see bullying depicted in movies or TV dramas, it instantly makes my blood boil.
My tolerance for unreasonable cruelty is virtually nonexistent, which is why I crave a total reversal of fortunes in my stories. It might be exaggerated in places, but I want my readers to share in the cathartic satisfaction of those plot twists.
Another standout character in Geniearth can transform his body to mimic the traits of herbivorous animals, like elephants or gazelles. If you had that power, what animal attributes would you choose to try?
OSHIKIRI: Ah, I remember that character! He transformed into a herbivore out of pure affection, but I’m much simpler—I’d turn into a carnivore without a second thought. A great white shark sounds amazing; they’re so cool in both appearance and temperament.
If I could wield those massive jaws, I’d be unstoppable. If I’m being greedy, maybe even a Megalodon. Yeah, I think I’d just want to be a shark.
Despite your long career and extensive bibliography, only three of your works (Hi Score Girl, Sayuri, and Geniearth) have received English translations. Are there any untranslated series you are hoping will cross over next?
OSHIKIRI: I apologize that only three of my projects have made it overseas! Since we were just talking about bullying, perhaps Misumisō? That’s another story about a bullied girl who coolly fights back against her tormentors.
If you’re looking for something as high-octane as Geniearth, maybe Flame Eyes or Yuyami Special Attack Squad. But the one I most want to see published in English is Granba!
Much like Sayuri, it features an elderly protagonist fighting a desperate, solitary war against hundreds of monsters in a life-or-death scenario. However, Granba feels like a cursed project—a bookstore owner even told me, “Please never draw anything so self-indulgent again!”
Hi Score Girl remains your most famous work in the West, and many fans are hoping for an English release of your ongoing spin-off/sequel series, Hi Score Girl DASH. Do you know of any plans to license it internationally?
OSHIKIRI: I am thrilled to hear that Hi Score Girl is still resonating with overseas readers!
I desperately want Hi Score Girl DASH to be released in English as well. There haven’t been any announcements yet, but I’m crossing my fingers for it to happen soon.
I still receive direct messages from international fans demanding, “When are you going to release the sequel?!” I get so many that I can’t reply to them all individually. Once, a particularly passionate fan sent me a message yelling, “Why haven’t you put out the sequel yet, you bloody bastard!”
I was tempted to block and report them, but I held back—and instead, I’m just earnestly hoping for an overseas release!
Sticking with Hi Score Girl for a moment, the manga showcases a wealth of fantastic arcade classics. Are you still an avid gamer, and if so, what are you playing nowadays? Any recommendations?
OSHIKIRI: I am a gamer through and through! I’ve had a controller in my hands since I was two years old—truly. I simply can’t leave the gaming world behind. Lately, I’ve been completely hooked on Factorio!
It’s an incredible game. Aside from that, I play Dead by Daylight, the Dark Souls series, and Street Fighter 6—though I’m starting to lose hope in SF6 because I keep losing.
The newest game I picked up is Reanimal! I adore horror games; the black packaging alone was enough to catch my eye. That’s how dedicated I am to the genre. I love horror games even more than my mom’s ginger pork!
© 2015 OSHIKIRI RENSUKE, GENTOSHA COMICS INC.
Sayuri offers a chilling look at a family’s nightmare in a haunted house, evolving significantly in its second half into a tale of fierce revenge. The grandmother character is especially unforgettable. Was she inspired by anyone real? Was your own grandmother that terrifying?
OSHIKIRI: Sadly, my grandmother passed away before I was born. The grandmother in Sayuri is actually modeled after my mother. She was the first person to voice her frustration when watching movies where characters get picked off by spirits without fighting back, famously declaring, “Horror films are a lost cause!”
Don’t you find that many Western horror films feature characters who eventually stand up to supernatural forces? I love that fighting spirit! By contrast, Japanese horror often features characters who accept their doom without a real fight. It feels like a reflection of reserved cultural traits, trapping characters in a hopeless, looping nightmare.
It was my mom who pointed this out to me and inspired me to write Sayuri as a counter-narrative.
My mother has a will as unyielding as a vengeful spirit and still keeps me in line. Even now, at 46 years old, she’ll yell at me if my shoes aren’t lined up properly at the door—it’s a real pain! But she taught me strength, resilience, and how to live a straightforward life. Her philosophy is entirely behind the idea of fighting back against evil spirits!
Are there any core themes that tie your work together, and is there a message you’d like to share with your English-speaking fans?
OSHIKIRI: The common thread running through all my work is an emotional explosion! Whether it’s directed at injustice, malevolent spirits, or even intense romance, I’m always visualizing that burst of emotion as I draw. People—both in Japan and overseas—carry emotional “bombs” inside their hearts. But because we live in a society governed by rules, common sense, and laws, we can’t just let those feelings detonate however we please.
That is precisely why films, novels, and manga exist. I use my work to set off massive explosions with the feelings I’ve bottled up, and I’m endlessly grateful for the readers who enjoy and empathize with that release. I plan to keep detonating those creative bombs for their sake!