Eriko Kitagawa's Radio Show "Nobody's Listening, It's Okay" Features Shohei Manabe, Manga Artist of "Usijima the Loan Shark" and "Kujo's Great Sin"! What's the Real Story Behind the Author of Dark Tales?

The radio program "Nobody's Listening, It's Okay," produced by Japan FM Network Co., Ltd. (hereinafter JFNC), features screenwriter and film director Eriko Kitagawa as the personality for her first regular radio program. She freely discusses the behind-the-scenes of her own creative process and her daily thoughts, and through conversations with guests, rediscovers "realizations" in life!

For two weeks, starting July 8 (Wed) and July 15 (Wed), we will welcome manga artist Shohei Manabe, known for his representative works "Usijima the Loan Shark" and "Kujo's Great Sin," as our guest! (Broadcast times vary by station.)

"Usijima the Loan Shark," with over 23 million copies sold in total, and "Kujo's Great Sin," currently serialized in "Big Comic Spirits" and set to be adapted into a Netflix drama in April 2026, are generating buzz. Shohei Manabe, who continues to depict "the reality of human beings," will appear.

"The reason I draw darkness is for the 'salvation of the soul.'"

Kitagawa probes Manabe, who says this, asking, "Even though what you draw is incredibly tough, why is it salvation?" Manabe then reflects on his experiences in Shinjuku Ni-chome that lasted until dawn and reveals, "It's to save my own soul."

Why does he consistently depict the darkness of humanity? Why do "dark stories" save people?

Manabe himself will talk about the thoughts he poured into his debut work "Melancholy Slide," "Usijima the Loan Shark," and "Kujo's Great Sin."

He will also share surprising research episodes and the sources of his creativity, such as actually living on the streets of Koenji and being chased by a detective.

Furthermore, Manabe, who aspired to be a manga artist after reading "Doraemon," will explain why he created "Usijima the Loan Shark." His unexpected private life will also be revealed, including walking his dog in the morning and eating fermented foods...

Eriko Kitagawa, a screenwriter, and Shohei Manabe, a manga artist, both "depict human beings." Don't miss this dense and stimulating conversation that crosses genre boundaries!

[Guest Profile]

Eriko Kitagawa (きたがわ えりこ) Born December 1961 in Mino-Kamo City, Gifu Prefecture.

Graduated from Waseda University, Faculty of Letters, Department of Eastern Philosophy.

Debuted as a screenwriter for the TV drama "Sono Mama no Mama de" in 1992.

She has produced many hit works such as the TV dramas "Aishiteiru to Itte Kure," "Long Vacation," and "Orange Days."

Her transparent and beautiful stories have moved many hearts, earning her the nickname "God of Love Stories." She received the Mukoda Kuniko Award and the Hashida Sugako Award for "Beautiful Life," which recorded an average viewership rating of 32.3% and a peak rating of 41.3%.

Despite her success, she continues to create numerous works while battling intractable diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and unilateral hearing loss due to a vestibular schwannoma.

Her recent works include the NHK serial TV novel "Hanbun, Aoi.," "Yugure ni, Te wo Tsunagu," and "Ikishi Toshi Ikiru Mono." She has also expanded into the world of film with "Halfway" and "Atarashii Kutsu wo Kainakucha," demonstrating a wide range of activities.

Program Overview■

Program Name: Nobody's Listening, It's Okay

Program Website: Nobody's Listening, It's Okay https://jfn-pods.com/program/300013355

Broadcast dates and times vary by station. Please check the website of each station for details.

FM Aomori, FM Iwate, FM Yamagata, Fukushima FM, TOKYO FM, FM Gunma, FM Tochigi, FM Niigata, FM Nagano, FM Ishikawa, FM Fukui, FM Aichi, FM Gifu, FM Mie, Kiss FM KOBE, FM Okayama, FM Yamaguchi, FM Kagawa, FM Tokushima, FM Kochi, FM Kumamoto, FM Miyazaki, FM Kagoshima