Fans of tennis and manga may have something new to add to their collection. A new title, Naomi Unrivaled [JP: アンライバルド NAOMI天下一(Unrivaled: Naomi Tenkaichi)] is set to be released on December 28th, featuring protagonist inspired by the two-time US Open tennis champion of the same name, Naomi Osaka (JPN). However, this is not a sports drama, or even a biopic. Rather, it is a sports sci-fi/fantasy, where Naomi “[battles] extraterrestrials in a super-enhanced version of tennis.“
Naomi Unrivaled was created by the Kamikita Twins (sisters Jitsuna and Kizuna) with additional consulting by Naomi Osaka’s sister Mari, who is both a pro tennis player and an illustrator. It will be published by Nakayoshi Magazine, a best-selling manga magazine for girls, sometimes dubbed the shojo demographic. Notable titles published in Nakayoshi include Princess Knight, Sailor Moon, and PreCure! manga editions–also helmed by the Kamikita Twins.
Naomi Osaka herself announced the upcoming manga debut on her personal Twitter: “Growing up reading manga/watching anime was something that bonded me and my sister immensely so this is really exciting for both of us! [smiley heart emoji]”
Fans can additionally take comfort in the fact that the depiction of Naomi in Unrivaled is both accurate and respectful. Unlike the whitewashing gaffe Nissin made in their animated commercial featuring Osaka, Nakayoshi took a more proactive approach during the creative process:
“[The staff at Nakayoshi] were the ones who came up to me, and they were like: ‘We have to get the skin color right. What percentage darkness should it be?”
-Mari Osaka, in an interview with the New York Times
While the “percentage of darkness” may sound odd to some readers, keep in mind that manga is usually drawn in black and white for increased productivity, save for covers or some concept art. Therefore, manga artists will most likely be working in terms of light vs dark, as opposed to pigment/color.
News of Naomi Unrivaled‘s upcoming debut was met with overwhelmingly positive reactions from both the English and Japanese-language communities. Many remarked on how adorable “Naomi-chan” looked and how meaningful this character will be for representation of multiracial Japanese children in popular media, which may potentially lead to acceptance
This was in opposition to the reaction towards a recent Nike Japan commercial that addressed bullying and racial discrimination. While Naomi Unrivaled‘s origin is arguably more lighthearted, an underlying goal is for the audience to see themselves embarking on adventures, overcoming adversity with the support of their communities and loved ones, whether in real life or in the far reaches of space.
