Singer Ado Reveals The Manga That Helped Shape Her Career
To mark its 100th anniversary, Shueisha has launched SHUEISHA MANGA EXPO, a special online project that brings together a wide range of manga-related initiatives celebrating the publisher’s century-long history and influence.
The campaign features contributions from manga artists, entertainers, and notable figures from various industries, all sharing the works that have inspired them and played a role in shaping their lives and careers.
One of the featured programs, My Recommended Manga, asks well-known personalities to reveal both the manga that left the deepest impression on them and the titles they feel readers should be paying attention to right now.
Among the latest participants is popular singer Ado, who shared six manga selections across the two categories and offered personal insights into why each one resonates with her.
For the manga that has had the greatest impact on her life, Ado first chose ONE PIECE, explaining that her experience providing the singing voice for Uta in ONE PIECE FILM: RED gave the series a particularly special place in her heart.
She described the franchise as a life-changing work that continues to connect people across generations and cultures, adding that she hopes even more readers will discover and appreciate its enduring appeal.
Her second selection was Chainsaw Man, a series she has followed since her student days and one that consistently surprised her with its cast of wildly unpredictable and chaotic characters.
Ado noted that every chapter left a strong impression on her, while the introduction of Asa Mitaka and Yoru in the manga’s second part further deepened her affection for the story and made her feel rewarded for having followed it for so long.
The final title in this category was Girl Meets Rock!, which Ado revealed she has been reading for nearly two years and enjoying throughout its entire run.
She explained that the series allows her to experience a sense of youth she feels she may have missed, while its realistic conversations and character interactions make the story feel especially authentic and relatable.
According to Ado, each chapter leaves her feeling energized, and she singled out the manga’s concert sequences as particularly captivating, describing them as an important source of emotional inspiration.
She also expressed her hope that the series’ growing popularity will encourage more people to give it a chance, noting that the characters’ facial expressions become increasingly detailed and expressive as the story progresses, which keeps her eagerly anticipating every new chapter.
When asked which manga she most wants people to read right now, Ado once again selected Girl Meets Rock!, admitting that her enthusiasm for the series is so strong that she could not help recommending it a second time.
Another entry on her list was Death Note, which she surprisingly only finished reading recently despite its legendary status within the manga world.
After completing the series, she found herself wondering why she had waited so long to pick it up, adding that while most readers already know how highly regarded it is, anyone who has yet to experience it should make time to do so.
Her final recommendation was Suicide Girl, a manga she said she has loved for many years and one that immediately impressed her when she first encountered it due to her long-standing fondness for magical girl stories.
Ado praised the series for balancing a pervasive sense of despair with an equally powerful feeling of hope, creating a unique emotional atmosphere throughout the narrative.
She also highlighted the protagonist, whose ability to continue shining brightly despite the darkness surrounding her circumstances makes the character especially compelling and inspiring.
Concluding her recommendations, Ado stated that she believes Suicide Girl offers a fresh and distinctive perspective on the magical girl genre, setting it apart from many other works in the category.
The SHUEISHA MANGA EXPO website continues to showcase recommendation lists from a variety of other creators, celebrities, and public figures, providing readers with plenty of opportunities to discover new manga through the personal favorites of people they admire.
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