Deep Dive into This Year's 'Manga Taisho' Nominees! What Works Does Kitchomu Recommend to Higashino and Yamasato? 'Higashino Yamasato no Input' #61, Airing Sunday, March 29 at 23:00

Episode #61 of the BS Yoshimoto program 'Higashino Yamasato no Input,' featuring Koji Higashino and Ryota Yamasato (Nankai Candies), will air on Sunday, March 29 at 23:00. (Regular broadcasts air on the 3rd and 4th Sundays of every month at 23:00; if there are five Sundays, it airs on the 4th and 5th).

Finally a 'Manga Taisho' Selector!

'Higashino Yamasato no Input' is a show where Higashino, who holds numerous regular programs and serves as the BS Yoshimoto Publicity Director, and the popular Yamasato, MC of the morning information program 'DayDay.', get "input" by having young comedians present popular content and hidden entertainment gems. The theme for #61 is the "Manga Taisho," which was also featured last year, with manga-loving comedian Kitchomu Yoshikawa serving as the presenter.

The "Manga Taisho" is an award established in 2008 where various "manga lovers" selected by the executive committee serve as judges. Past winners include 'Chihayafuru' (Kodansha/2009) and 'Golden Kamuy' (Shueisha/2016). Yoshikawa, whose passion for manga led to his appointment as a selector this year, says, "Perhaps it was triggered by Higashino and Yamasato asking last year why I wasn't selected." Yoshikawa introduces the 12 nominees for the "Manga Taisho 2026" and presents recommendations for Higashino and Yamasato.

Manga Recommendations for Higashino & Yamasato

First, the recommendation for Higashino is 'Mano no Ichi' (Shueisha/Original Story: Osamu Nishi, Art: Shiro Usazaki). Yoshikawa predicts, "An anime adaptation is guaranteed. It might become a global hit." Currently serialized in 'Weekly Shonen Jump,' it is considered one of the magazine's pillars following the conclusion of 'My Hero Academia' and 'Jujutsu Kaisen.' When Yoshikawa explains his reasoning by saying, "Higashino-san, you like works that get anime adaptations, right? You like hits, don't you?", Yamasato chuckles, "That's an embarrassing way to put it..." and Higashino retorts, "Kitchomu-san, are you making fun of me?" drawing laughter.

Next, the recommendation for Yamasato is 'Dan Mitsu' by Toru Seino (Kodansha), which Yoshikawa claims "Yamasato, whose wife is a celebrity, will enjoy twice as much." Seino, who married talent Dan Mitsu in a surprise announcement, has previously depicted unique characters in Akabane, Tokyo, but now draws the person closest to him. Yoshikawa passionately argues that it is a subject "only Toru Seino could draw." The story begins with Dan Mitsu proposing to Seino upon their first meeting during a location shoot. The episode is packed with high-impact stories that keep both Higashino and Yamasato intrigued. The show continues to dive deep into the nominees, and as in the previous episode, Yoshikawa attempts to exchange LINE contacts at the end...

'Higashino Yamasato no Input' airs every Sunday at 23:00 (including rebroadcasts). It is available for two weeks from the broadcast date on the BS Yoshimoto archive page.