Blue Lock is not the work of a single creator: Muneyuki Kaneshiro writes the story, while Yusuke Nomura draws the manga. Kaneshiro’s path to the series included an early ambition to draw manga himself, a newcomer award, and a career built around writing stories. Here are 10 details about his work and the making of Blue Lock.
1. Blue Lock has two creators with different roles
Kodansha credits Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura for Blue Lock. Kaneshiro is the story writer; Nomura is the artist responsible for the manga’s illustrations. That distinction matters: Kaneshiro’s creator profile is about the stories he writes, not the series’ visual art. Kodansha’s series page identifies the creators, and UNIQLO’s profile describes Nomura as the artist.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Blue Lock Season 1 Part 1 Manga Box Set (Blue Lock Manga Box Set) | $35.12 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Blue Lock 1 | $9.10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Blue Lock Season 1 Part 2 Manga Box Set (Blue Lock Manga Box Set) | $31.53 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Blue Lock 2 | $9.25 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Blue Lock 19 | $9.74 | Buy on Amazon |
2. He recalls wanting to become a manga artist as a child
In a 2025 interview published by Osaka City’s Taisho Ward, Kaneshiro recalled saying he wanted to become a manga artist. He connected that childhood ambition partly to receiving praise and to seeing other children have dreams of their own. This is Kaneshiro’s retrospective account, rather than an independently documented childhood record. Read the Taisho Ward interview.
3. He gathered experiences for stories instead of studying drawing
Kaneshiro said he took part in events and club activities and paid attention to ordinary experiences because he thought he should collect material for manga. He recalled not studying drawing during that period. His early approach, as he described it, was to build a store of life experiences he could turn into stories.
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4. Professional artists changed how he viewed his own drawing
Seeing professional artists convinced Kaneshiro that their level of drawing was beyond what he could match. He also recognized that people who pursued drawing professionally had spent years developing that skill. His recollection suggests a practical turning point: he did not abandon manga, but began to see that the drawing and storytelling roles need not belong to the same person.
5. He found his place as a manga story writer
Kaneshiro described that shift directly in the Taisho Ward interview: “今は漫画家というより、漫画原作者ですけどね。絵のところではなく、お話を考えるというので落ちつきました。” A working translation is: “Now, rather than a manga artist, I’m more a manga original-story writer. I settled into thinking up stories rather than doing the drawing.” The Japanese is the source-language quotation; the English is a translation.
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6. An early story won a Weekly Shōnen Magazine newcomer award
UNIQLO’s creator profile says Kaneshiro received the Special Encouragement Award at the 80th Weekly Shōnen Magazine New Manga Artist Awards for Dokuchi Elementary School Story. The award is an early marker of recognition for his manga storytelling. UNIQLO’s profile gives the award name and work title.
7. As the Gods Will was his debut as a manga story writer
According to UNIQLO, Kaneshiro made his debut as a manga writer with As the Gods Will in Bessatsu Shōnen Magazine. Kodansha has also described the series as his 2011 breakout. The role-specific credit is notable: Kaneshiro’s debut was as a writer, consistent with the direction he says he found after stepping back from drawing.
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8. His writing credits extend well beyond Blue Lock
Kaneshiro’s other story credits include As the Gods Will 2, We Did It and Glashurós, according to UNIQLO. Osaka City’s profile also lists Jagaan and Super Ball Girls among his representative works. These are writing or original-story credits; they should not be confused with illustration credits.
9. Blue Lock has run in Weekly Shōnen Magazine since 2018
Blue Lock began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 2018, according to Kodansha and UNIQLO. Kodansha describes its premise as a project involving 300 young players, created to produce Japan’s decisive striker. The series’ central setup makes the writer-artist partnership visible in practice: Kaneshiro’s high-stakes football premise is rendered through Nomura’s artwork.
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10. A character book adds creator interviews and concept art
Kodansha released the first official character book, BLUE LOCK Character Book: EGOIST BIBLE, in Japan on October 17, 2022, according to ABEMA. It includes creator interviews, new character profiles and initial concept illustrations. ABEMA reported a Japanese release price of 1,045 yen including tax at the time; that is a historical price, not a current quote, and the source does not establish that an English edition is available. ABEMA’s announcement describes the book’s contents and release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How big Blue Lock had become by 2024
In a 2024 licensing interview, Kodansha reported that Blue Lock had more than 40 million copies in worldwide circulation and had been translated and published in more than 18 countries. Those are publisher-reported figures anchored to 2024, not a newer verified total or an independent audience study. Kodansha’s 2024 interview provides the dated figures.
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What Kaneshiro says about trying
When asked for advice in the Taisho Ward interview, Kaneshiro said, “とりあえずやってみるっていうことですかね。”—“I guess the first thing is to try it,” in translation. He also reflected on the unexpected direction his career took: “でも後悔は無いです。子どもの頃に思ってもみなかった職業になれたので。” (“But I have no regrets. I ended up in a profession I never imagined as a child.”) Both English renderings are translations of his Japanese remarks.
Readers who want to begin the manga can find print and digital listings, including Volume 1, in Kodansha’s Blue Lock catalog; edition and availability can vary.
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