After "Akatsuki no Yona": Special Interview with Mizuho Kusanagi Published

The creator of the long-running manga "Akatsuki no Yona" (Yona of the Dawn), Mizuho Kusanagi, appeared before fans with an interview revealing what they were curious about after the series' finale. This special talk, featured in the June 17, 2025 issue of Quarterly S (季刊エス) No. 94, is said to include Kusanagi's process of concluding the series, character creation stories, and previously unseen drawings.

Starting in 2009 in Hana to Yume magazine and concluding with chapter 264 in January 2025, "Akatsuki no Yona" has influenced millions of readers for over 15 years. The series tells the story of Queen Yona's struggle with her friends after being dethroned. With a 24-episode anime adaptation released in 2014-2015, the work became one of the leading works of its genre, especially with its strong female character and dramatic story.

This special issue of Quarterly S magazine is not limited to the interview; it also offers an archive of rare sketches, character notes, and unfinished drawings used by Kusanagi throughout the series. Magazine editors state that these materials provide "an unprecedented look into the creation process of the series." In the interview, Kusanagi sincerely shares the emotional moments she experienced while writing the relationship between Yona and Hak, and what she felt while drawing the final chapter.

With many long-running series recently concluding in the manga world, the farewell of "Akatsuki no Yona" carries a bittersweet meaning for readers. Such interviews help solidify the series' cult status and allow fans to better process the closure. Especially anime fans hope that the incomplete parts of the story might one day be brought to the screen with a new season. For now, Kusanagi's special interview is an unmissable resource for anyone wishing to say goodbye to the series.