Japanese actor, screenwriter, and film director Jirō Satō is set to launch a new manga titled Yamanami on Hero’s Inc.’s Comiplex website on October 31. This marks another expansion of Satō’s creative endeavors, following the debut of his first manga, Nanashi (Nameless), in October 2024.
“Yamanami”: A Story of Yakuza and Intrigue
The new manga, Yamanami, tells the story of a man named Ittsū who steals a significant sum of money from the Yakuza. Despite appearing frivolous, Ittsū demonstrates ruthless fighting skills against those attempting to reclaim the stolen money. Satō revealed on his X (formerly Twitter) account that the narrative for Yamanami originated from a movie script he wrote in January 2011, which had remained unproduced for 14 years. Manga artist Takeaki Yonemon is collaborating with Satō on this new series.
Satō’s Growing Presence in the Manga World
Following the Success of “Nanashi”
The launch of Yamanami comes on the heels of Satō’s initial foray into the manga industry with Nanashi (Nameless), which premiered on the Comiplex website in October 2024, with art by Ryō Nagata. Hero’s Inc. is slated to publish the second compiled book volume of Nanashi on October 29. Furthermore, Nanashi is inspiring a live-action film adaptation, set to open in May 2026, with Satō not only starring in the lead role but also penning the script himself. The manga’s story begins with an indiscriminate slaughter at a cafe, followed by police investigation leading to a suspected murderer, Tarō Yamada.
A Multifaceted Career
Jirō Satō, born on May 7, 1969, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, has a prolific career spanning acting, screenwriting, and directing. He has appeared in numerous live-action films and television dramas, including roles in films related to otaku culture. Most recently, he played Akikazu Yoshida in the live-action film adaptation of Kengo Hanazawa’s Under Ninja manga, which premiered in January earlier this year. His voice acting credits include Flanagan in Mary and The Witch’s Flower and Noboru Kamikawa in Cross Game. As a screenwriter and director, Satō has also been involved in projects like Brothers in Brothel (2019) and Memo (2008).
This expansion into manga writing further solidifies Satō’s diverse artistic portfolio, demonstrating his continuous exploration of storytelling across various mediums.
