Rockin’ Out With Sumiko Arai, The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All Manga Creator

when Sumiko Arai emission The person she is interested in is not a man at all On her twitter Accounts in 2021, she could not predict the rapid growth of its popularity. From social media to Pixel comicsthe serialization of four pages quickly attracted the attention of its striking green accent colors. Since its debut The person she is interested in is not a man at all won The best web comics Ranked No. 2 in 2023 at the next comic award in 2023 Kono Manga GA Sugoi! List of female readers, and Ranked the top 10 In the February 2025 Bookscan graphic novel list.

Readers continue to grow as fans watch cool and collect music store employee Mitsuki’s Gyaru Aya obsession. Mitsuki is actually the discovery of her female classmates, which adds a twist to the story as the relationship between the two girls evolves from friendship to something more driven by a shared love for western rock music.

Anime News Network sits down with Arai-san Anime adaptation Everyone is excited about it.

Can you discuss design protagonists Aya and Mitsuki? Who or what are you inspired when capturing the coolness of Mitsubishi?

Sumiko Arai: I magnified my most extroverted side and put it into AYA and brought my introverted side into Mitsuki. I think these are two very different aspects of myself that turned into characters, and I understand them best. In any story, I love polar Europe pairings, which has always been something I want to write about.

Are there other fictional couples that represent similar heat and cold as you, even if they don’t inspire Aya and Mitsuki directly?

Sumiko Arai: OK, obviously, it’s a completely different environment, but I like Shelby and Toni wilderness. I’m watching this when I create these characters, but it’s completely different. I really like their dynamics.

Can you share your artistic journey with us? When did you first start painting, and the appeal of storytelling through comic media?

Sumiko Arai: I started painting since I was a kid, but grew up with comics. I really don’t think I’ll do that in the future. I really like the art and the beautiful stuff in it, I just tried to copy it and get better. So this is my journey to art, I think it’s about comics, and a lot of Japanese kids are eager to be like that. Indeed, it’s a really cool job. However, I think the appeal of comics is usually that you feel more personal with all the characters because it comes with visuals. This is how I feel.

I can keep information better. I feel like I can connect with the characters better because I see them visually and see their expressions. This helped me. I’m not a big book reader, you know? Even the most mundane dialogue can be combined with the character’s expression, making it a very influential scene. That’s what makes it beautiful.

There are moments that are completely different when you can see the reaction on the character’s face compared to what you read in book form. That art really sticks to you. I think there are some visual images in comics and comic books that almost become pop culture images that we all interact with.

Sumiko Arai: Oh, yes, for sure. Too cool.

Your comic has a unique publishing format, each chapter is released in about four pages, and I think that’s how it first debuted on social media. Since you are restricted within four pages, this format is challenging for the storytelling you proposed?

Sumiko Arai: So personally, I think the longer format is more scary for me now. I feel like I’m more used to short-term formatting. I think it’s hard to send out four pages and say, “Oh, give enough.” Everyone wants to read a little more a week, but the challenge is that if it’s longer, I have to cut a lot of conversation or some details. I had to make sure it was short and concise and had its own rhythm so that everyone could get the information and information they needed from this chapter. But I think I like this format. Even if it can be frustrating at times, be brief.

The characters have dramatic rhythms at every point. Is the format harder, or is it because it already has its own rhythm and are you used to how it works?

Sumiko Arai: Yes, it works now. I think it was difficult before, but I will definitely be more satisfied with it now.

Western music plays an important role in connecting Aya and Mitsuki. Are there any Western music albums that play a major role in your life in a similar way? Do you think you’ve heard the most albums?

Sumiko Arai: So, since I was very young, my dad grew up in a lot of foreign music. I introduced Baker to me when I was a kid. I really like Baker’s album Therero. This is an album with a white, red and black cover. But it’s really cool. I think that was my favorite album in my life.

But for my music or album from the front to the back, I have a pair. It’s not necessarily rock; I think I listen to other genres, too. Can I list all?

certainly!

Sumiko Arai: I’ve been listening to the Beatles, Revolver It’s a big one, and it’s also a Deftones. Around the fur It’s a very good album. I think I listened to it for a long and a half months as a teenager. Black eyes It’s a very good album. There are many more Crolo. a lot of.

These are not rock bands, aren’t they?

Sumiko Arai: I think some people may be folk people. I think Half Moon Run is an alternative rock, but some of their albums are more popular.

How do you think music benefits people related to Mitsuki? People with “different rhythms”?

Sumiko Arai: I think when you have some way, you can write with people you don’t know and have a little bit of relying on. Like a friend, you don’t have someone who really knows it. I think that, it really benefits you. And, find a song you need for a community that really likes the type of things you like and can relate to. I think that’s how music is really beneficial.

This is a great way to connect people.

Sumiko Arai: Yeah yeah. To find a community, you know, seeing you are not alone in this world.

Have you been a fan of Yuri’s story before you started The person she is interested in is not a man at all? Do you think it makes Yuri comics unique?

Sumiko Arai: So I like Yuri, but I always search the internet for any kind of queer, women’s series or movies that love women, because there’s really nothing to watch. I’ve been looking for something that can be related to it; I’m a fan. I’m sure I’ve seen a lack [of options] In it, I want to do something to contribute. But only women who love women [media] Usually, it’s unique and special, and I think that’s what I like.

What did you feel when it was announced that your comic will be adapted from an anime? Can you share if green may play an important role in the visual effects of anime?

Sumiko Arai: I’m very excited. Very excited. I really want to get this information to the readers because I keep seeing people talking about it, like what they want to happen, it’s hard to know and not say anything.

People tweeted: “Oh, I hope this is anime” and you know will.

Sumiko Arai: Yes, I really want to get it out and see how everyone reacts. Very warm. That’s great. Unfortunately, I can’t say anything about the visual at the moment, but I really wish I could share something soon.

Is it important to see the specific songs Aya and Mitsuki listen together throughout the series? Do they represent progress in relationships?

Sumiko Arai: Yes, I think some of them will do that. You know, some of them are just songs they were listening to at the time and want to share with others. But I think a lot of times, I think of their headspace and how they felt and try to find a song that suits them. Sometimes the story is passed to me by listening to that song, and I think that’s what’s really special about this comic.

I saw that they ended up making official playlists for the series.

Sumiko Arai: It’s on Spotify, Apple Music and everything else. That’s the official playlist for me picking music for the series, but only if the characters pick it up, and I think that’s what makes it a personal one.

My last question is, what are the five music artists or songs currently in your playlist?

Sumiko Arai: OK, let’s see. I’m currently listening to the group and beehives. I’m listening to the cream, too.

Cream, such as Eric Clapton Cream Company?

Sumiko Arai: Yes. What else do I have? I have always loved the headrests of car seats. They will release new albums soon, so I feel a little attracted to it. There is another one, cure.

I think the treatment is permanently rotated, right?

Sumiko Arai: Yes, forever, forever.

The person she is interested in is not a man at all The comic is Have English From the Japanese Yen Press. The Japanese Yen Press will release the third volume on October 25, 2025.

Disclosure: Kadokawa World Entertainment (KWE), a wholly owned subsidiary of Kadokawa Corporation, is the majority owner of Anime News Network, LLC. Yen Press, BookWalker Global and J-Novel Club are subsidiaries of KWE.