About the Authors of "BLUE LOCK": Profiles and Introduction to Past Works

"BLUE LOCK" is a soccer manga that has drawn attention for its unique story of 300 promising high school forwards competing for a spot on the Japan national team. It received the 45th Kodansha Manga Award in the shonen category and has surpassed 40 million copies sold. In October 2022, it was adapted into an anime and broadcast nationwide on TV Asahi’s “NUMAnimation” slot.

This article focuses on the two creators of "BLUE LOCK," Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura. We have summarized their profiles and backgrounds, including their birthdays, hometowns, careers, genders, and past works.

About "BLUE LOCK"

"BLUE LOCK" is a soccer manga serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine (Kodansha) since issue 35 of 2018. The series abandons the conventional notion of soccer as a team sport, instead depicting a unique perspective centered on searching for the “ultimate egoist” who can claim victory through their own power.

The story is set in Japan in 2018, after the national soccer team ended their World Cup campaign in the top 16. In an effort to change Japanese soccer and make it competitive on the world stage, the Japan Football Union launches the “BLUE LOCK (Blue Prison) Project” to train future strikers. Three hundred promising high school strikers were selected for this project.

The students are sent to a training facility called BLUE LOCK, where they're told that only one talented striker will be chosen from among the 300. Under the harsh condition that those who fail will lose their right to join the national team forever, a survival competition begins among high schoolers aiming to become national team members.

For the first season of the anime adaptation, Tetsuaki Watanabe directed, Shunsuke Ishikawa served as assistant director, and Taku Kishimoto handled series composition and scripting. Animation was produced by Eight Bit.

Who Are Muneyuki Kaneshiro & Yusuke Nomura?

The creators of "BLUE LOCK" are Muneyuki Kaneshiro, who is in charge of the original story, and Yusuke Nomura, who is responsible for the artwork. Below are their respective profiles, including their birthdays, hometowns, and career paths.

Basic Information about Muneyuki Kaneshiro [Profile]

Muneyuki Kaneshiro was born in 1987 in Osaka Prefecture and was a member of the brass band in junior high school. After graduating from Osaka Prefectural Imamiya High School, he went on to Manga Production Course in the Department of Manga at Kyoto Seika University, where he graduated.

He began working as a manga artist during university. In 2008, he won the Special Encouragement Award at the 80th Weekly Shonen Magazine Newcomer Manga Awards for "Dokuchi Shougakkou Monogatari." However, he did not see much success after that, temporarily abandoning manga and aiming to become a comedian. After graduation, he was approached by a Kodansha editor, which launched his career as a manga story writer. He debuted as an original author in 2011 with "As the Gods Will."

Basic Information about Yusuke Nomura [Profile]

Yusuke Nomura, born March 2, 1987, hails from Kyoto Prefecture, the same generation as Kaneshiro. He worked as an assistant on Takeshi Hinata’s "Ahiru no Sora" and Hajime Isayama’s "Attack on Titan," then debuted as a manga artist in 2013 with "Isago no Ou."

Are the Authors Male or Female?

Both Kaneshiro and Nomura have not publicly disclosed their genders. However, information online suggests that both are “likely male.”

In issue 45 of Weekly Shonen Magazine (Kodansha) in 2022, Kaneshiro appeared in a special feature commemorating the anime adaptation of "BLUE LOCK," where he did a two-shot interview with professional soccer player Takumi Minamino. While his face was not revealed, his physique and clothing suggest he is male.

What Other Works Have the Authors of "BLUE LOCK" Done?

Here are the past works by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, the creators of the popular soccer manga "BLUE LOCK."

Past Works of Muneyuki Kaneshiro

Here are Kaneshiro’s past works listed by serialization start year.

・"As the Gods Will" (Art by Akeji Fujimura, "Bessatsu Shonen Magazine" March 2011–November 2012)
A survival horror story where ordinary high school students are suddenly dragged into a life-or-death struggle. It was adapted into a live-action film in November 2014 and was also made into a movie comic.

・"Dragon Collection: Ryu o Suberu Mono" (Art by Kyota Shibano, "Weekly Shonen Magazine" Issue 40, 2011–Issue 42, 2012)
A manga adaptation of the social game "Dragon Collection." The protagonist, Arata Nitta’s life changes after his brother’s disappearance. Suddenly, monsters and a mysterious boy appear and destroy his school. The ordinary high schooler Arata embarks on a journey to collect the "Dragon Collection" to save the world.

・"As the Gods Will 2" (Art by Akeji Fujimura, "Bessatsu Shonen Magazine" Issue 7, 2013–Issues 4/5, 2017)
A story set in the world of "As the Gods Will," depicting trials that begin at the same time on the same day.

・"Billion Dogs" (Art by Naoki Serizawa, "Manga Box" Issue 1, 2014–Issue 8, 2017)
Student council president Ichiru Mizunuma and vice president Kyosuke Hino team up and set their sights on 3 billion yen. A survival "game" involving high schoolers, politicians, and yakuza begins.

・"Invisible Joe" (Art by Kesera Sera, "Magazine SPECIAL" No.2, 2014–No.5, 2015)
High schooler Jo dreams of a normal life with his crush, Katase. However, he has a secret second life where he uses special powers to execute missions.

・"Bokutachi ga Yarimashita" (Art by Hikaru Araki, "Young Magazine" Issue 19, 2015–Issue 8, 2017)
A story about high schoolers who, after accidentally causing someone's death as a prank, go on the run. It was adapted into a TV drama in July 2017 on Fuji TV.

・"Jagaaaaaan" (Art by Kensuke Nishida, "Big Comic Spirits" Issue 10, 2017–Issue 49, 2021)
Police officer Shintaro Jagasaki is bored with his mundane dreams of married life, but one day, the “KAIJIN” suddenly appears, leading to a strange transformation in his right hand. It's a new dark hero story depicting destruction and despair.

・"Gurashurosu" (Art by Akeji Fujimura, "Weekly Young Magazine" Issue 31, 2017–Issue 38, 2018)
A primal epic depicting “humans (Cro-Magnons)” living 30,000 years ago.

・"Super Ball Girls" (Art by Akira Hiramoto, "Big Comic Superior" Issue 21, 2022–ongoing)
If you throw a mysterious super ball rolling out of the darkness, your ideal "beauty" appears!? A super harem story.

Past Works of Yusuke Nomura

Yusuke Nomura's previous works, listed by production year.

・"Isago no Ou" ("Weekly Shonen Magazine" Issue 18, 2013)
A special one-shot publication.

・"Dolly Kill Kill" (Story by Yukiaki Kurando, "Manga Box" Issue 37, 2014–Issue 43, 2017)
The world is overrun by giant insect-like “Dollies” that suddenly invade. Amid the despair, a lone boy clings to hope for survival.

Does the Author of "BLUE LOCK" Use Twitter?

At present, no Twitter account for Muneyuki Kaneshiro has been confirmed.

Yusuke Nomura has been using Twitter since August 2010 and currently has over 240,000 followers. On Nomura’s account, you can find tweets not just about "BLUE LOCK" but also his favorite manga and games, offering glimpses into his private life.

Temporary Suspension of "BLUE LOCK" Due to Author’s Break

"BLUE LOCK" was on hiatus for three weeks starting in Issue 45 of Weekly Shonen Magazine in 2021 due to Yusuke Nomura’s sudden illness. The series resumed from Issue 48, 2021 and is still ongoing. At the time of the hiatus, fans tweeted comments such as “Looking forward to the series coming back” and “I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

After that, there was another break in Issue 12, 2022 of Weekly Shonen Magazine. In recent years, not just "BLUE LOCK" but many series have been taking breaks on a rotational basis, so it is expected that breaks may continue to occur in the future.

Release of the Official Character Book Featuring Interviews

The first official character book fully supervised by Kaneshiro and Nomura, titled "BLUE LOCK Character Book: EGOIST BIBLE," was released on October 17, 2022 by Kodansha at a price of 1,045 yen (tax included). It features special interviews with Kaneshiro and Nomura, newly written character profile information, and initial concept illustrations.

As both Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura do not often appear in the public eye, this character book provides a rare opportunity to learn about their personalities and thoughts on the series, making it a valuable source of information.

Summary of the Authors of "BLUE LOCK"

Both Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura are highly talented creators who have each won the Weekly Shonen Magazine Newcomer Manga Award.

Though neither has officially disclosed their gender, Kaneshiro has appeared on television in the past and, based on a two-shot photo with professional soccer player Takumi Minamino published in Issue 45 (2022), is thought to be male.

Yusuke Nomura's gender is also not clearly stated. However, since he posts tweets that give glimpses into his private life, those interested in his personality might want to check out his Twitter.

The official character fan book featuring interviews with both creators was released on October 17, 2022. If you want information about the authors of "BLUE LOCK," be sure to check it out.

(C)MK,YN,K/BLP

List of images for this article