Shin Kibayashi, the prolific manga storywriter also known under the pen name Tadashi Agi, has concluded his manga series, Blue Fight: Aoki Wakamono-tachi no Breaking Down. The manga, adapted from a live-action film, centered on young men involved in martial arts and the “Breaking Down” mixed martial arts tournament.
A Look at Blue Fight
Blue Fight: Aoki Wakamono-tachi no Breaking Down (stylized as Blue Fight: The Breaking Down of Youths) is a manga series written by Shin Kibayashi and drawn by Gohoubi. The manga is based on a live-action film of the same name, with YOAKE FILM credited as the original creator.
Story
The series follows Ryōma Akai and Ikuto Yagura, two young men who meet in a juvenile detention center. Their lives take a turn when they are introduced to “Breaking Down” by mixed martial artist Mikuru Asakura. “Breaking Down” is a mixed martial arts tournament where juvenile delinquents from all over Japan compete in one-on-one fights. The manga explores themes of youth, struggle, and the pursuit of change through martial arts.
Publication
The manga launched in Kodansha’s Young Magazine on October 11, 2024. It later moved to YanMaga Web on April 12, 2025. The final chapter was published on June 14, 2025. Kodansha published the first compiled book volume on January 20, 2025, and will release the third and final volume on July 4, 2025.
Live-Action Film
The original live-action film premiered in Japan on January 31, 2025. Takashi Miike (Crows Zero, As the Gods Will) directed the film, with MMA fighter Mikuru Asakura and entrepreneur Yūji Mizoguchi serving as executive producers.
Shin Kibayashi: A Prolific Writer
Shin Kibayashi (born July 22, 1962) is a Japanese manga storywriter, novelist, and screenwriter known for working under multiple pen names. Besides Shin Kibayashi, he also uses the names Tadashi Agi, Seimaru Amagi, Yuma Ando, Yuya Aoki, Jōji Arimori, Hiroaki Igano, and Ryō Ryūmon. He often collaborates with his sister, Yūko Kibayashi, under the pen name Tadashi Agi.
Kibayashi’s diverse body of work includes:
- As Seimaru Amagi:
- Kindaichi Case Files (original idea)
- Detective School Q
- Remote
- Zero: Kage Miko
- Y no Hakobune
- Gifted
- As Tadashi Agi:
- Drops of God
- Psycho Doctor
- As Yuma Ando:
- Psychometrer Eiji
- Sherlock Bones
- As Yuya Aoki:
- GetBackers
He has also written Kaze to Kaminari and Shima Kōsaku no Jiken-bo under his real name.
Kibayashi’s work extends beyond manga. He wrote the story for the fourteenth Fire Emblem game, Fire Emblem Fates. He is also involved in the creation of the original anime series Lady Napoleon for Netflix.
Gohoubi: The Artist Behind Blue Fight
Gohoubi is the artist who drew the Blue Fight manga. Not much information is readily available about Gohoubi, but they are credited as the artist for the series.
Reception and Availability
As the manga has recently concluded, reviews and broader reception details are still emerging. The manga’s volumes are available for purchase in Japanese.
Conclusion
The conclusion of Blue Fight marks the end of another project for the prolific Shin Kibayashi. While this particular series has ended, Kibayashi continues to be involved in numerous other manga and anime projects. For fans of martial arts dramas and the works of Shin Kibayashi, Blue Fight offers a glimpse into the lives of young fighters striving to change their circumstances through competition.
