KADOKAWA Manga Academy Turns the Challenges of Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Athletes into Manga

KADOKAWA Manga Academy, operated by Vantan Inc.—which has a vision to "create the closest school to society in the world" by offering practical classes taught by active creators—and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co., Ltd., part of the MS&AD Insurance Group, have implemented an industry-academia joint project. The project adapts the challenge of para-triathlon undertaken by Satoshi Yoneoka, a para-athlete belonging to Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, and Kohei Tsubaki, a coach of the triathlon club, into manga. By collaborating with students studying manga, novels, and scenarios (hereinafter referred to as members) to create and disseminate manga content based on the true stories of athletes, we will contribute to the promotion of sports and the development of sports culture. 1. Purpose of the Initiative By expressing and disseminating the challenges, efforts, and human charm of athletes in the widely accessible format of "manga," we aim to convey the appeal and value of sports and athletes to society, deepen understanding, and improve the overall value of sports. Additionally, through the experience of constructing scenarios and creating manga based on true stories, we provide members with an opportunity to improve their creative skills for the future and broaden their social perspectives. 2. Manga Overview (1) Number of participating members: 14 (2) Number of completed works: 5 (3) Publication locations: Publication page within "MS&AD x SPORTS" *It will also be published sequentially on the Instagram account "MS&AD SPORTS" (@msad_sports). (4) Future developments: We plan to create a voice comic by members of the KADOKAWA Anime & Voice Actor Academy so that visually impaired people can also enjoy this work. [Synopsis and Character Introduction] In 2016, Kohei Tsubaki of the Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Triathlon Club fell ill. Although he returned to competition after a period of medical treatment, he was confronted with the reality that he would not be in time for the Japanese national team selection for the tournament that was the biggest goal of his athletic career. Meanwhile, Satoshi Yoneoka, a para-athlete also belonging to Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, was taking on the challenge of competing as a dual-sport athlete in para-triathlon and blind marathon. In 2019, the two, with different backgrounds, paired up as an athlete and a guide to aim for the world stage in para-triathlon.