To Celebrate the Release of "Girl Meets Rock!" Volume 8! Kenshi Yonezu’s “Umi to Sanshouuo”-Themed Transit Ads Appear in Tokyo & Osaka

The latest eighth volume of the popular manga "Girl Meets Rock!" (original work by Kuwahali, art by Tetsuo Idenuchi), serialized in "Shonen Jump+", will be released on Thursday, September 4. To commemorate the release, special transit advertisements featuring visuals themed after Kenshi Yonezu’s song “Umi to Sanshouuo” have been posted at Tokyo Station and Osaka Umeda Station, starting Monday, September 1.

The series depicts the dramatic youth and music journey of Chihiro Hatono, a first-year high school student who loves slightly niche Japanese rock music. She joins her school’s music club she has long admired and tackles band activities head-on, struggling and growing along the way. The manga is noted for its comedic portrayal of the daily lives of realistic high school students and “music club tropes,” as well as its dramatic scenes where the unique worries and impulses of teenagers are portrayed through real-life songs. Since the start of its serialization in 2024, the series has drawn attention for earning first place in the “Next Manga Awards 2024” Web Manga category, second place in “Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2025,” and third place in the “Manga Taisho 2025.”

In the latest eighth volume, the long-awaited live performance battle between the main character's band, Heartbreak, and rival band, protocol., finally concludes. Especially in chapter 69, protocol.'s vocalist Koki Takami depicted performing “Umi to Sanshouuo” while thinking of his older brother, Ryuki—a scene that drew a huge response. This chapter surpassed 900,000 views, marking the highest weekly view count in the series’ history.

For this transit ad campaign, visuals combining “Umi to Sanshouuo” and panels from the manga have been produced and are displayed for a limited time from September 1 to 7 near Marunouchi Central Underground Gate at Tokyo Station and in the concourse area inside the North Ticket Gate at Umeda Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line. In addition, a special spin-off chapter will be published in Weekly Shonen Jump issue 40 (on sale September 1), illustrating the Heartbreak members as they introduce their club at a school information session for middle school students.

At the same time, a collaboration café is being held in Osaka and Hakata until Thursday, September 11. Numerous goods featuring new illustrations drawn by Tetsuo Idenuchi are also on sale.