Io Sakisaka’s popular shojo manga series, Strobe Edge, is set to receive a new live-action series adaptation, scheduled to air and stream on WOWOW starting in Fall 2024. This new adaptation will consist of two seasons and reunites the production staff behind WOWOW’s live-action series of Sakisaka’s Blue Spring Ride (also known as Ao Haru Ride), which premiered in 2023 and 2024.
A New Adaptation for a Beloved Shojo Romance
The upcoming live-action series of Strobe Edge will star Riko Fukumoto and Kyohei Takahashi in the leading roles. Masato Kimura and Yūsuke Matsuda are slated to direct the series, with Sayaka Kuwamura penning the script, bringing back the team that worked on Blue Spring Ride.
This marks the second live-action adaptation for Strobe Edge, following a film released in March 2015 that starred Kasumi Arimura as Ninako Kinoshita and Sota Fukushi as Ren Ichinose. The manga series has been highly popular, having sold over 4.5 million copies across its 10 volumes.
What is Strobe Edge? Exploring the Manga’s Plot
Strobe Edge is a Japanese shojo manga series written and illustrated by Io Sakisaka. It was serialized in Shueisha’s Bessatsu Margaret magazine from 2007 to 2010. Viz Media has released the 10-volume series in English.
The story centers on Ninako Kinoshita, a high school freshman who has never experienced love. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Ren Ichinose, a handsome and enigmatic popular boy at her school. Ninako gradually falls in love with Ren, but she soon discovers that he is already in a long-term relationship with Mayuka Korenaga, a model who is also the older sister of Ninako’s childhood friend, Daiki.
The manga delves into the complexities of unrequited love and explores Ninako’s journey as she grapples with her feelings while trying to respect Ren’s existing relationship. The narrative also features a love triangle, with Ninako’s friend Daiki harboring feelings for her, and another character, Takumi Ando, also showing interest in Ninako. The series is known for its sweet, innocent, and at times emotionally heavy depiction of youthful romance, exploring themes of discovery and understanding one’s own feelings.
Io Sakisaka’s Other Notable Works
Io Sakisaka is a renowned manga artist known for her compelling romantic storylines that often focus on the struggles of adolescence. In addition to Strobe Edge, her other well-known works include:
- Ao Haru Ride (Blue Spring Ride): This 13-volume manga also inspired a television anime series, an original anime DVD, and a live-action film in 2014. A new live-action series adaptation premiered in September 2023, with a second season planned.
- Love Me, Love Me Not (Omoi, Omoware, Furi, Furare): This manga ran from 2015 to 2019 and inspired both an anime film and a live-action film in 2020.
- Sakura, Saku!: This series concluded in September 2023.
- Yume ka Utsutsu ka (Is This a Dream or Reality?): Sakisaka launched this new manga series in June 2024.
The upcoming Strobe Edge live-action series is poised to offer fans a fresh interpretation of Sakisaka’s beloved romantic tale, building on the success of her previous adaptations.
