// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Kuzushiro say to its date? You shiro-ly impress me.
Kuzushiro | |
|---|---|
| Native name | くずしろ |
| Born | Iwate Prefecture, Japan |
| Pen name | Hajime Katsuragi |
| Occupation | Manga artist |
| Language | Japanese |
| Period | 2009–present |
| Notable works | |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
Kuzushiro (くずしろ), also known as Hajime Katsuragi (葛城一, Katsuragi Hajime), is a Japanese manga artist. She is known for her works Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san and A Mangaka's Weirdly Wonderful Workplace, which received anime television series adaptations in 2014 and 2025 respectively. An anime adaptation of her series The Moon on a Rainy Night has been announced.
Career
[edit]Early years
[edit]In her third year of high school, Kuzushiro submitted a work to a contest and won a small award. Later, while attending university, she became an assistant for a weekly manga series, and would sometimes work all night.[1] She described the experience as enjoyable and one that contributed to her eventually becoming a manga artist as a career.[1] Throughout university, she drew manga with the hope of making her professional debut before graduating, a goal which she accomplished in her fourth year.[2]
In December 2007, under the name Hajime Katsuragi, she received an Honorable Mention in the 61st Shogakukan Newcomer Comic Awards for the short shōnen manga "BBC".[3][4]
Professional career
[edit]Kuzushiro made her professional debut in April 2009 with the publication of the one-shot story "Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san" (神さんと猫山さん, lit. 'Inugami-san and Nekoyama-san') in Manga Life Selection Munko Special.[3] She later expanded the story into a full series also titled Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san, which began running in Ichijinsha's Comic Yuri Hime in November 2011.,[5] The manga series was adapted into a short anime television series that premiered in April 2014.[6] It concluded in February 2017[7] with six tankōbon volumes published in total.[8]
In March 2010, Kuzushiro launched Kimino Tamenara Shineru (姫のためなら死ねる, lit. 'I Would Die for Your Sake, My Lady') in Takeshobo's Manga Life Win.[9] The series concluded with the release of its fourteenth and final tankōbon volume in April 2024.[10]
Kuzushiro began Living With My Brother's Wife in Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine in December 2015.[11] In 2017, the series placed fifteenth in the print category of the Next Manga Awards.[12] Its sixteenth and final tankōbon volume was published in March 2025.[13]
In February 2019, Kuzushiro published a one-shot in Kodansha's Kiss magazine,[14] which later was expanded into the serialized manga A Mangaka's Weirdly Wonderful Workplace on Kodansha's Comic Days website in May 2019.[15] An anime television series adaptation aired from October to December 2025.[16] As of July 2026, the series has been collected into fifteen tankōbon volumes.[17]
In April 2019, Kuzushiro began serializing Eisei Otome no Tatakai-kata (永世乙女の戦い方, lit. 'How to Fight for the Lifetime Girl's Grandmaster') in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior.[18] As of July 2026, the series has been collected into fifteen tankōbon volumes.[19]
In June 2021, Kuzushiro started publishing The Moon on a Rainy Night on Comic Days.[20] The series was nominated for the Next Manga Awards in the digital category in 2022 and 2023.[21][22] An anime television series adaptation was announced in November 2024,[23] with a key visual and short interview with Kuzushiro being released in December 2025.[24] As of July 2026, the series has been collected into twelve tankōbon volumes.[20]
Style and influences
[edit]As a child, Kuzushiro enjoyed reading picture books and inventing her own stories, often imagining alternative possibilities when she disliked a certain plot development. She cited Mitsuru Adachi's H2 and Yoshio Sawai's Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo as works that influenced her decision to become a manga artist. She also read shōjo manga magazines such as Ribon that her older sister bought, which sparked a desire to draw similar works.[1]
Many of Kuzushiro's characters are inspired by people she has encountered in her own life. However, she also draws from a variety of literature, including documentaries, essays, nonfiction, and I-novels, to better understand different perspectives on the world.[25] She has stated that in every work she creates, she includes at least one character with a strong sense of morality to ground the story, preventing readers from becoming annoyed by other characters' problematic behavior.[26]
Kuzushiro's work typically goes through four stages: storyboards, rough sketches, inking, and finishing. She receives assistance with the last two stages.[27] She often begins drawing storyboards before completing her character designs, an approach that she feels other manga artists might find surprising.[28]
In a 2025 interview, Kuzushiro said that her idea of a good drawing is one where the audience can immediately recognize its author, rather than one which is just skillfully created.[28]
Personal life
[edit]Kuzushiro was born in Iwate Prefecture.[29][30] In interviews and other public appearances, Kuzushiro prefers to be represented in photographs by a large stuffed animal based on a sketch she drew in high school.[31]
Kuzushiro described herself as naturally "gloomy",[a] which she felt is reflected to an extent in her works. She tries to remain mindful of this and avoid emphasizing this tendency too strongly.[2] She has stated that she struggles with motivation sometimes, which she overcomes by relying on support from her assistants and editors as well as enjoying her favorite music or movies.[32]
Kuzushiro is a fan of the idol group Shiritsu Ebisu Chugaku, with an incident involving one of the group's members influencing her development of The Moon on a Rainy Night.[33] She also enjoys comedy films and often incorporates a straight man role into her works.[34]
Works
[edit]All release dates are for tankōbon volumes.
- Kimino Tamenara Shineru (姫のためなら死ねる) (14 volumes, 2011–2024, Takeshobo)[35][10]
- Gekibu no (げきぶの。) (3 volumes, 2011–2013, Square Enix)[36][37]
- Lasboss x Hero (4 volumes, 2012–2014, Shogakukan)[38][39][b]
- Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san (神さんと猫山さん) (6 volumes, 2013–2017, Ichijinsha)[40][8]
- Living With My Brother's Wife (兄の嫁と暮らしています。, Ani no Yome to Kurashiteimasu) (16 volumes, 2016–2025, Square Enix)[41][13]
- A Mangaka's Weirdly Wonderful Workplace (笑顔のたえない職場です。, Egao no Taenai Shokuba Desu) (15 volumes, 2019–present, Kodansha)}[42][17]
- Eisei Otome no Tatakai-kata (永世乙女の戦い方) (15 volumes, 2019–present, Shogakukan)[43][19]
- Akuma no mama (あくまのまま) (2 volumes, 2019–?, Square Enix)[44][45]
- The Moon on a Rainy Night (雨夜の月, Amayo no Tsuki) (12 volumes, 2021–present, Kodansha)[20]
Notes
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 アニメ『えがたえ』ねこのて役・花井美春×原作・くずしろ【連載インタビュー:第8回】. Animate Times (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 14, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- 1 2 『笑顔のたえない職場です。』が描く漫画家の世界のリアル. Friday Digital. October 14, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- 1 2 くずしろ(漫画家) - マンガペディア. Mangapedia (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 10, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ これまでの受賞者|小学館 新人コミック大賞. Shogakukan Newcomer Comic Awards. Archived from the original on August 9, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ コミック百合姫 1月号 (発売日2011年11月18日). Fujisan.co.jp. Fujisan Magazine Service Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on August 31, 2024. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ↑ "Key Visual for "Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san" Yuri-themed Comedy TV Anime Revealed". Crunchyroll. January 18, 2014. Archived from the original on November 21, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ↑ 百合姫の「犬神さんと猫山さん」、今月号で最終回に. Yuri Navi (in Japanese). February 20, 2017. Archived from the original on August 1, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
- 1 2 くずしろ「犬神さんと猫山さん」&「れんあいこわい」完結巻が同時発売. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 3, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ↑ 姫のためなら死ねる(漫画). Mangapedia (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 23, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- 1 2 姫のためなら死ねる 14. Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ Pineda, Rafael (November 14, 2015). "Inugami-san to Nekoyama-san, Working!! Authors to Each Launch New Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ↑ 「次にくるマンガ大賞」発表会、上位入賞者による記念イラストも公開. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 23, 2017. Archived from the original on December 31, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- 1 2 【3月25日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. March 25, 2025. Archived from the original on March 24, 2025. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
- ↑ 実はズボラなバリキャリ女子とオカン系の後輩男子「わたしのお嫁くん」シリーズ連載. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. February 25, 2019. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ↑ くずしろが描く、少女マンガ家を主人公とした女子たちのワーキングコメディ. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. May 18, 2019. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ↑ Cayanan, Joanna (September 4, 2025). "A Mangaka's Weirdly Wonderful Workplace Anime Reveals 2 New Cast, October 6 Debut". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 4, 2025.
- 1 2 笑顔のたえない職場です。 15. Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ 「兄の嫁と暮らしています。」のくずしろが将棋を描く、スペリオールで新連載. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. April 26, 2019. Archived from the original on February 21, 2025. Retrieved December 11, 2024.
- 1 2 【2026年6月29日~7月5日】週間マンガ単行本売り上げランキング. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 7, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- 1 2 3 雨夜の月(漫画) [The Moon on a Rainy Night (Manga)]. Mangapedia (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 15, 2026. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ Morrissy, Kim (June 23, 2022). "Voting Opens for Next Manga Awards 2022". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 22, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ↑ Loveridge, Lynzee (June 25, 2023). "Voting Opens for Next Manga Awards 2023". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
- ↑ Mateo, Alex (November 15, 2024). "The Moon on a Rainy Night Manga Gets TV Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 15, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
- ↑ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (December 29, 2025). "The Moon on a Rainy Night TV Anime Reveals Visual, Main Staff". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 29, 2025. Retrieved December 29, 2025.
- ↑ アニメ『えがたえ』佐藤 楓役・雨宮 天×原作・くずしろ【連載インタビュー:第3回】. Animate Times (in Japanese). Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ アニメ『えがたえ』間 瑞希役・伊藤美来×原作・くずしろ【連載インタビュー:第2回】. Animate Times (in Japanese). Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ (2ページ目)「一転して、すごい攻め将棋で…」人気漫画家の心をつかんだ女流棋士の“ギャップ”とは | 観る将棋、読む将棋. Bunshun Online (in Japanese). June 1, 2022. Archived from the original on August 12, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- 1 2 アニメ『えがたえ』梨田ありさ役・小林ゆう×原作・くずしろ【連載インタビュー:第4回】. Animate Times (in Japanese). Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ くずしろ. Toyo Keizai. Archived from the original on December 21, 2024.
- ↑ Ito, Kazuhiro (February 25, 2022). 大切なことは目に見えない くずしろ「雨夜の月」(第130回)|好書好日 ["The important things are invisible to the eye"—The Moon on a Rainy Night by Kuzushiro (Number 130) | Good books, good days]. Book Asahi (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun. Archived from the original on December 7, 2025. Retrieved May 15, 2026.
- ↑ アニメ『えがたえ』間 瑞希役・伊藤美来×原作・くずしろ【連載インタビュー:第2回】. Animate Times (in Japanese). Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ 「単行本発売前ウツ」もよくある話!人気作家が描く「漫画家あるある」マンガが話題. Gendai Media (in Japanese). September 10, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ 【マンガ】他人との間に壁を作ってしまう…クラスで浮いた女子高生が"前に進めた"瞬間 [[Manga] "I end up building walls between myself and other people..."—the moment a high school girl who feels out of place in her class is able to "move forward"]. Gendai Media (in Japanese). March 17, 2022. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ↑ アニメ『えがたえ』間 瑞希役・伊藤美来×原作・くずしろ【連載インタビュー:第2回】. Animate Times (in Japanese). Archived from the original on March 1, 2026. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ 姫のためなら死ねる 1. Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ げきぶの。1. Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ げきぶの。3. Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ "LASBOSS×HERO 1". Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ "LASBOSS×HERO 4". Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ 【1月18日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc. January 18, 2013. Archived from the original on January 21, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
- ↑ 【7月25日付】本日発売の単行本リスト. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. July 25, 2016. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ↑ 笑顔のたえない職場です。1. Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ 女流棋士の勝負を描く漫画『永世乙女の戦い方』発売 監修は香川愛生女流三段. Oricon News. September 30, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
- ↑ 悪魔が小4女子の“ママ”になる?くずしろが贈る日常コメディ「あくまのまま」1巻. Comic Natalie. Natasha, Inc. September 23, 2018. Archived from the original on February 28, 2025. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Akuma no mama 2". Media Arts Database. Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved July 28, 2026.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Kuzushiro at Anime News Network's encyclopedia