Rent-A-Girlfriend Creator Breaks Cover to Teach Manga's Golden Rule

Reiji Miyajima rarely steps into the spotlight. The creator of Rent-A-Girlfriend, one of manga's most commercially successful franchises, tends to let his work speak for itself—and speak it has, with over 15 million copies sold worldwide. But recently, the reclusive artist made a rare public appearance to offer something far more valuable than another chapter: a masterclass in how to write a first chapter that actually matters.

Miyajima's core advice cuts through the noise that often surrounds manga creation: focus on a central theme. It sounds deceptively simple, but it's the kind of wisdom that separates series that get axed after three months from those that spawn anime adaptations and become cultural touchstones. A strong opening isn't about flashy artwork or convoluted plot twists. It's about knowing what your story is fundamentally about and communicating that with absolute clarity to readers who have roughly thirty seconds to decide if they care.

What makes Miyajima's guidance particularly compelling is that he didn't arrive at these principles through theory alone. Rent-A-Girlfriend launched in 2017 and became a phenomenon precisely because it understood its own DNA from page one—a premise simple enough to pitch in a sentence, yet rich enough to sustain years of serialization. The series proved that commercial appeal and artistic intent don't have to be enemies.

That balance between personal passion and market viability is the second pillar of his teaching. Many aspiring manga creators face an agonizing choice: chase what publishers think will sell, or pour their hearts into a story that might never find an audience. Miyajima's existence as a bestselling author proves the false dichotomy. You don't sacrifice one for the other. Instead, you find the intersection—the story that genuinely excites you and speaks to readers hungry for something fresh.

The timing of Miyajima's appearance is worth noting. With Rent-A-Girlfriend still generating revenue through its ongoing anime adaptation and merchandise ecosystem, he could easily disappear into comfortable anonymity. Instead, he's choosing to mentor the next generation. That suggests someone who understands that manga's future depends on creators who can think both creatively and commercially, who can build worlds that matter to them and to millions of strangers simultaneously.

For anyone staring at a blank page, wrestling with their first chapter, Miyajima's message is clear: know your theme, know your heart, and trust that the two can coexist. The sales figures prove he's not wrong.

Source: Somos Kudasai