# Aoashi

Aoashi (アオアシ) 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.
An anime television series adaptation produced by Production I.G aired from April to September 2022.
By January 2025, the manga had over 23 million copies in circulation. In 2020, the manga won the 65th Shogakukan Manga Award for the general category.

## Synopsis

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.

## Characters
### Tokyo Esperion
#### Ashito Aoi (青井 葦人, Aoi Ashito)

    Voiced by: Kōki Ohsuzu (Japanese); Ciarán Strange (English)
    Ashito joined Team Esperion from the Ehime Prefecture after impressing Coach Fukuda with his vision, dedication, and commitment to improving. In the beginning, he played as a forward, but Fukuda converts him into a left back, much to his chagrin.

#### Eisaku Ohtomo (大友 栄作, Ōtomo Eisaku)

    Voiced by: Tatsumaru Tachibana (Japanese); Christopher Llewyn Ramirez, Ben Balmaceda (14–24) (English)
    A central/holding midfielder for Esperion's B Team and Ashito's first friend at Esperion. Although he looks like a coward and has quite a childish personality, Ohtomo is praised by his teammates and coaches for his composure, leadership, and link-up ability.

#### Sōichirō Tachibana (橘 総一朗, Tachibana Sōichirō)

    Voiced by: Seiichirō Yamashita (Japanese); Clifford Chapin (English)
    A center forward for Esperion's B Team and friend of Ashito. He was a former player for Tokyo Musashino.

#### Keiji Togashi (冨樫 慶司, Togashi Keiji)

    Voiced by: Taku Yashiro (Japanese); Marcus D. Stimac (English)
    A center-back for Esperion's B Team and Ashito's roommate.

#### Kanpei Kuroda (黒田 勘平, Kuroda Kanpei)

    Voiced by: Shun Horie (Japanese); Ry McKeand (English)
    An Esperion academy graduate and central midfielder for Esperion's B Team.

#### Jun Martis Asari (朝利 マーチス 淳, Asari Māchisu Jun)

    Voiced by: Wataru Katoh (Japanese); Mitchell Stephens (English)
    An Esperion academy graduate and full-back for Esperion's B Team.

#### Yūma Motoki (本木 遊馬, Motoki Yūma)

    Voiced by: Junya Enoki (Japanese); Ricco Fajardo (English)
    An Esperion academy graduate and forward who was newly promoted to Esperion's A Team.

#### Ryūichi Takeshima (竹島 龍一, Takeshima Ryūichi)

    Voiced by: Kentarō Kumagai (Japanese); Austin Tindle (English)
    An Esperion academy graduate and center-back for Esperion's B Team.

#### Tatsuya Fukuda (福田 達也, Fukuda Tatsuya)

    Voiced by: Chikahiro Kobayashi (Japanese); Eric Vale (English)
    The head coach of Tokyo Esperion Youth Team A and former footballer.

#### Nagisa Akutsu (阿久津 渚, Akutsu Nagisa)

    Voiced by: Shunsuke Takeuchi (Japanese); Brienne Olvera (English)
    A center-back for Esperion's A Team. He tends to be Ashito's harshest critic.

#### Haruhisa Kuribayashi (栗林 晴久, Kuribayashi Haruhisa)

    Voiced by: Yūichirō Umehara
    The playmaker for Esperion's A Team.

#### Taira Nakamura (中村 平, Nakamura Taira)

    Voiced by: Kensho Ono (Japanese); Jason Liebrecht (English)

#### Yōichi Kiriki (桐木 曜一, Kiriki Yōichi)

    Voiced by: Koki Uchiyama

#### Eita Takasugi (高杉 榮太, Takasugi Eita)

    Voiced by: Makoto Furukawa (Japanese); Christopher Wehkamp (English)

#### Kenta Yoshitsune (義経 健太, Yoshitsune Kenta)

    Voiced by: Kazuyuki Okitsu (Japanese); David Matranga (English)

#### Nozomi Date (伊達 望, Date Nozomi)

    Voiced by: Hiroki Yasumoto (Japanese); Robert McCollum (English)
    The head coach of Esperion's B Team.

### Supporting characters
#### Hana Ichijō (一条 花, Ichijō Hana)

    Voiced by: Maki Kawase (Japanese); Marisa Duran (English)
    Fukuda's younger step-sister and nutritionist. She does not understand football, but she declares herself as Ashito's biggest fan.

#### Anri Kaidō (海堂 杏里, Kaidō Anri)

    Voiced by: Reina Ueda (Japanese); Molly Zhang (English)
    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.

#### Aoi Kaneko (金子 葵, Kaneko Aoi)

    Voiced by: Mikako Komatsu (Japanese); Giovannie Cruz (English)

#### Noriko Aoi (青井 紀子, Aoi Noriko)

    Voiced by: Mie Sonozaki (Japanese); Monica Rial (English)
    Ashito and Shun's mother. She is initially against Ashito joining Tokyo Esperion due to lack of funds.

#### Shun Aoi (青井 瞬, Aoi Shun)

    Voiced by: Yoshiki Nakajima (Japanese); Blake McNamara (English)
    Ashito's older brother and former footballer.

### Tokyo Musashino
#### Akinori Kaneda (金田 晃教, Kaneda Akinori)

    Voiced by: Takuya Eguchi (Japanese); Cody Savoie (English)
    A former trialist at Tokyo Esperion seeking revenge against Ashito.

#### Junnosuke Nakano (中野 淳之介, Nakano Junnosuke)

    Voiced by: Koutaro Nishiyama (Japanese); Kevin D. Thelwell (English)
    Another former trialist at Tokyo Esperion who makes friends with Ashito at the trial.

#### Chiaki Mutō (武藤 千秋, Mutō Chiaki)

    Voiced by: Yūki Ono (Japanese); Ivan Jasso (English)

#### Kōji Satake (佐竹 晃司, Satake Kōji)

    Voiced by: Tomoaki Maeno (Japanese); Landon McDonald (English)
    The head coach of Tokyo Musashino.

#### Miyako Tachibana (橘 都, Tachibana Miyako)

    Voiced by: Kei Shindō (Japanese); Kat Lozano (English)
    Sōichirō's younger sister.

## Media
### Manga

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. Shogakukan has compiled its chapters into individual tankōbon volumes. The first volume was published on April 30, 2015. As of December 25, 2024, 38 volumes have been published. The series is set to end with its 40th volume. 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 the Shōnen Sunday Comics imprint, features furigana and a full-color guide written by former Kawasaki Frontale player Kengo Nakamura. As of June 16, 2023, 31 volumes of the Junior-ban edition have been published. The series is licensed in Southeast Asia by Shogakukan Asia.
A spin-off manga series 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. Its chapters were collected in a single tankōbon volume, released on August 30, 2021.
A two-part spin-off manga by Kobayashi, titled Aoashi Midnight Diner (アオアシ ミッドナイト・ダイナー, Aoashi Middonaito Dainā) was published in Big Comic Original from May 20 to June 5, 2024. The first part was included in the main series' 36th volume, released on June 28, 2024.

#### Volumes

| No. | Release date | ISBN |
| 1 | April 30, 2015 | 978-4-09-186892-3 |
| 1. Fāsuto Tatchi (ファーストタッチ) 2. Tōkyō Shiti Esuperion (東京シティエスペリオン) 3. Fukaketsuna Hikari (不可欠な光) 4. Shikō-ryoku (思考力) 5. Issen (一閃) 6. Kangaeru Ashi (考える葦) 7. Kaigō Suru (会合する) |||
| 2 | July 30, 2015 | 978-4-09-187144-2 |
| 8. Chōsen (挑戦) 9. Saishū Shiken Kaishi (最終試験開始) 10. Honryō (本領) 11. Akutsu (阿久津) 12. Ressei (劣勢) 13. Jukensei ni Tsugu (受験生に告ぐ) 14. Tsumetai me (冷たい目) 15. Ganbatteru (がんばってる) 16. "Crow" 17. "Clock Strikes" 18. Sōkatsu (総括) |||
| 3 | October 30, 2015 | 978-4-09-187307-1 |
| 19. (合否) 20. Orenji-iro no Keshiki Zenpen (オレンジ色の景色前編) 21. Orenji-iro no Keshiki Chūhen (オレンジ色の景色中編) 22. Orenji-iro no Keshiki Kōhen (オレンジ色の景色後編) 23. J Yūsu no Tokken (Jユースの特権) 24. Saikai (再会) 25. Shōkaku-sei (昇格生) 26. Sukauto-sei (スカウト生) 27. Ichijo Hana 1 (一条花1) 28. Ichijo Hana 2 (一条花2) |||
| 4 | January 29, 2016 | 978-4-09-187433-7 |
| 29. Yūsu Uijin (ユース初陣) 30. "Walk" 31. Chōhatsu (挑発) 32. Masshiro (真っ白) 33. Mushi (無視) 34. Tenteki (天敵) 35. Hana no Tsui Iro (花の追爐) 36. Yoru Neri (夜練) 37. Dōshitsu no Otoko (同室の男) 38. Suparuta Rīzento (スパルタリーゼント) 39. Hirogaru Sashi Rikiichi (広がるサシ力一) |||
| 5 | April 28, 2016 | 978-4-09-187595-2 |
| 40. "A1" 41. "A2" 42. "A3" 43. Kyūjitsu no Sugoshi Kata 1 (休日のすごしかた1) 44. Kyūjitsu no Sugoshi Kata 2 (休日のすごしかた2) 45. Nyūgakushiki Tōjitsu no Fūkei (入学式当日の風景) 46. Yuzurenai Koto (譲れないこと) 47. Tōkyōto Rīgu Dai 1-setsu Narikyō Kōkō-sen (東京都リーグ第1節成京高校戦) 48. HT + kinkyū Mītingu (HT +緊急ミーティング) 49. Shikō no Nami (思考の波) 50. "Eye to Eye" |||
| 6 | July 29, 2016 | 978-4-09-187716-1 |
| 51. "3" 52. Kotae-awase (答え合わせ) 53. "Eagle Eye 1" 54. "Eagle Eye 2" 55. "Eagle Eye 3" 56. Shukushō no Yoru (祝勝の夜) 57. Saikō Kessaku (最高傑作) 58. Senbō no Taishō (羨望の対象) 59. Tōkyōto Rīgu Dai 2-setsu Kurume Dai Ichi Kōkō-sen (東京都リーグ第2節久留米第一高校戦) 60. Shisen (視線) 61. Ten (転) |||
| 7 | October 28, 2016 | 978-4-09-187897-7 |
| 62. "Piece" 63. Shiki-sha-tachi no Omowaku (指揮者達の思惑) 64. Takaga Sakkā (たかがサッカー) 65. Ki Ryō (帰寮) 66. Miwataseru (見渡せる) 67. Fujiyū (不自由) 68. Irubeki Basho (いるべき場所) 69. Jikaku (自覚) 70. "Please Tell Me" 71. Kubi (首) 72. Ari (蟻) |||
| 8 | January 30, 2017 | 978-4-09-189337-6 |
| 73. Omae Mitai ni (お前みたいに) 74. Mitaka-eki Kitaguchi Nite 1 (三鷹駅北口にて1) 75. Mitaka-eki Kitaguchi Nite 2 (三鷹駅北口にて2) 76. Ureshī (嬉しい) 77. Tōkyōto Rīgu Dai 7-setsu Tama Taiiku Daigaku Fuzoku Kōkō-sen (東京都リーグ第7節多摩体育大学付属高校戦) 78. Futatsu no Kōchingu (二つのコーチング) 79. Chō-kyū (超級) 80. Sentaku (選択) 81. "Wind of Change" 82. Omaega Ita Toko (お前がいたとこ) 83. Ukanaikao (浮かない顔) |||
| 9 | April 28, 2017 | 978-4-09-189487-8 |
| 84. Satake Kantoku (佐竹監督) 85. Oretachi ni nai Mono (俺達にないもの) 86. Kono Chīmu de Ichiban (このチームで一番) 87. In'nen no Honō (因縁の炎) 88. Besuto Menbā (ベストメンバー) 89. 3-nen Hira 1 (3年平刖1) 90. 3-nen Hira 2 (3年平刖2) 91. 3-nen Hira 3 (3年平刖3) 92. Hontōni Yowai Yatsu wa (本当に弱い奴は) 93. 10-bu Dake Inaku Naru (10分だけいなくなる) 94. Tōkyōto Rīgu Dai 8-setsu Tōkyō Musashino Shūkyū-dan Yūsu-sen (東京都リーグ第8節東京武蔵野蹴球団ユース戦) |||
| 10 | July 28, 2017 | 978-4-09-189605-6 |
| 11 | October 30, 2017 | 978-4-09-189721-3 |
| 12 | February 23, 2018 | 978-4-09-189796-1 |
| 13 | May 30, 2018 | 978-4-09-189878-4 |
| 14 | August 30, 2018 | 978-4-09-860062-5 |
| 15 | November 30, 2018 | 978-4-09-860133-2 |
| 16 | March 29, 2019 | 978-4-09-860244-5 |
| 17 | June 28, 2019 | 978-4-09-860316-9 |
| 18 | October 30, 2019 | 978-4-09-860404-3 |
| 19 | January 30, 2020 | 978-4-09-860465-4 |
| 20 | April 27, 2020 | 978-4-09-860596-5 |
| 21 | July 30, 2020 | 978-4-09-860679-5 |
| 22 | October 30, 2020 | 978-4-09-860753-2 |
| 23 | February 26, 2021 | 978-4-09-860855-3 |
| 24 | May 28, 2021 | 978-4-09-861047-1 |
| 25 | August 30, 2021 | 978-4-09-861126-3 |
| 26 | November 12, 2021 | 978-4-09-861179-9 |
| 27 | February 28, 2022 | 978-4-09-861251-2 |
| 28 | May 30, 2022 | 978-4-09-861336-6 |
| 29 | August 30, 2022 | 978-4-09-861394-6 |
| 30 | November 10, 2022 | 978-4-09-861468-4 |
| 31 | February 28, 2023 | 978-4-09-861585-8 |
| 32 | May 30, 2023 | 978-4-09-861705-0 |
| 33 | September 28, 2023 | 978-4-09-862518-5 |
| 34 | December 27, 2023 | 978-4-09-862618-2 |
| 35 | March 29, 2024 | 978-4-09-862689-2 |
| 36 | June 28, 2024 | 978-4-09-862776-9 |
| 37 | September 30, 2024 | 978-4-09-863033-2 |
| 38 | December 25, 2024 | 978-4-09-863085-1 |

### Anime

An anime television series adaptation was announced in May 2021. 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. The first opening theme song is "Mushin Hakusū" by Alexandros, while the first ending theme song is "Blue Diary" by Rinne. 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.
Crunchyroll streamed the series outside of Asia. On April 11, 2022, Crunchyroll announced that the series would receive an English dub, which premiered on April 23. Disney Platform Distribution licensed the series in Southeast Asia.

#### Episodes

| No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Storyboarded by | Original release date |
| 1 | "First Touch" Transliteration: "Fāsuto Tatchi" (Japanese: ファーストタッチ) | Akira Satō | Masahiro Yokotani | Akira Satō | April 9, 2022 (2022-04-09) |
| 2 | "Tokyo City Esperion" Transliteration: "Tōkyō Shiti Esuperion" (Japanese: 東京シティ・エスペリオン) | Hideki Tonokatsu | Masahiro Yokotani | Hideki Tonokatsu | April 16, 2022 (2022-04-16) |
| 3 | "The Final Stage of Assessment Begins" Transliteration: "Saishū Shiken Kaishi" (Japanese: 最終試験開始) | Tsuyoshi Tobita | Daisuke Daitō | Akira Satō | April 23, 2022 (2022-04-23) |
| 4 | "CROW" | Takatoshi Suzuki | Shingo Irie | Akira Satō | April 30, 2022 (2022-04-30) |
| 5 | "Orange Scenery" Transliteration: "Orenji Iro no Keshiki" (Japanese: オレンジ色の景色) | Norihiro Naganuma | Masahiro Yokotani | Norihiro Naganuma | May 7, 2022 (2022-05-07) |
| 6 | "First Fan" Transliteration: "Saisho no Fan" (Japanese: 最初のファン) | Shōta Hamada | Sumika Hayakawa | Takashi Igari | May 14, 2022 (2022-05-14) |
| 7 | "The First Youth Match" Transliteration: "Yūsu Uijin" (Japanese: ユース初陣) | Sumito Sasaki | Shingo Irie | Takayuki Hamana | May 21, 2022 (2022-05-21) |
| 8 | "Night Training" Transliteration: "Yoruren" (Japanese: 夜練) | Masahito Otani | Masahiro Yokotani | Marie Tagashira | May 28, 2022 (2022-05-28) |
| 9 | "A Broader Soccer" Transliteration: "Hirogaru Sakkā" (Japanese: 広がるサッカー) | Hiromasa Seki | Daisuke Daitō | Jun Soga, Takayuki Hamana | June 4, 2022 (2022-06-04) |
| 10 | "No Compromises" Transliteration: "Yuzurenai Koto" (Japanese: 譲れないこと) | Sumio Watanabe | Sumika Hayakawa | Kiyoko Sayama | June 11, 2022 (2022-06-11) |
| 11 | "Tokyo Metropolis League Match 1 - Seikyo High School" Transliteration: "Tōkyō-to Rīgu Dai Issetsu Seikyō Kōkō Sen" (Japanese: 東京都リーグ第1節 成京高校戦) | Masahiko Suzuki | Shingo Irie | Akira Satō, Jun Soga, Eisuke Shirai | June 18, 2022 (2022-06-18) |
| 12 | "Eagle Eye" | Shūji Saitō | Shingo Irie | Jun Soga | June 25, 2022 (2022-06-25) |
| 13 | "Turn" Transliteration: "Ten" (Japanese: 転) | Jun Soga | Masahiro Yokotani | Jun Soga | July 2, 2022 (2022-07-02) |
| 14 | "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) | Shūji Saitō | Shingo Irie | Kazuto Nakazawa | September 3, 2022 (2022-09-03) |
| 22 | "Like A Demon" Transliteration: "Shura no Gotoku" (Japanese: 修羅の如く) | Shōta Hamada | Shingo Irie | Tetsuya Takahashi | September 10, 2022 (2022-09-10) |
| 23 | "Do Your Best. Don't Lose. Fight to Your Limits" Transliteration: "Ganbare Makeru na Chikara no Kagiri" (Japanese: 頑張れ負けるな力のかぎり) | Sumio Watanabe, Jun Soga | Masahiro Yokotani | Takashi Igari, Jun Soga | September 17, 2022 (2022-09-17) |
| 24 | "From Now" Transliteration: "Koko kara" (Japanese: ここから) | Akira Satō | Masahiro Yokotani | Jun Soga, Akira Satō | September 24, 2022 (2022-09-24) |

## Reception
### Manga

By April 2020, the manga had over 4.5 million copies in circulation, including digital versions; over 10 million copies in circulation, including digital versions, by February 2022; over 12 million copies in circulation by June 2022; over 15 million copies in circulation by August 2022; over 17 million copies in circulation by February 2023; over 18 million copies in circulation by May 2023; over 20 million copies in circulation by April 2024; over 21 million copies in circulation by September 2024; and over 23 million copies in circulation by January 2025.
Aoashi was nominated for the 10th Manga Taishō awards in 2017, and ranked fourth with 60 points. In 2020, along with Kaguya-sama: Love Is War, the manga won the 65th Shogakukan Manga Award for the general category. The series ranked 20th on the 2022 "Book of the Year" list by Da Vinci magazine.
In March 2023, the manga was recommended by Spanish midfielder Andrés Iniesta.

### Anime

Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network reviewed the complete anime series: She was critical of the first half for Ashito's interactions with the adults being made up of "cryptic statements and ultimatums" instead of actual coaching, the one-dimensional supporting players and the scarce character designs but was positive towards Ashito's motivation and the potential development for him and the rest of the cast. While critical of the lack of coaching, a better "balance between development and gameplay" and Hana's character going into "stereotypical territory", Silverman praised the second half for Ashito and his friends going through "strong character growth", the payoff to "baffling plot choices" from the previous half and a "solid finale", concluding that "Aoashi has its issues, but it still ends on a particularly strong note, with Ashito lacing up and taking the field with the big boys. It's a good show when all is said and done, and we can only hope that someone licenses the manga or decides to animate more so that we can find out what happens next." Silverman placed Aoashi at number four on her top 5 best anime list of 2022, calling it "an addictive experience, with everything dialed up almost as high as it can go without making it feel like a parody of itself. It's frustrating, it's intense, and I desperately hope we get another season."