Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! Creator Syundei Leaves X Due to Harassment Allegations

Syundei, the talented mangaka behind the Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! (Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!!) series, has decided to leave the social media platform X. In their final posts, the artist stated that they were exhausted by the endless complaints regarding their creative choices and comments that had escalated to harassment. Syundei bid farewell to the platform, explaining that the accusatory messages, particularly those asking "Why did you draw something like this?", pushed them to make this radical decision.

First serialized in 2014 in Akaneshinsha's Opera magazine, Go For It, Nakamura-kun!! gained a massive global fanbase by blending the retro art style of the 80s and 90s with a modern BL (Boys' Love) story. The story follows Okuto Nakamura, a shy high school student, and his platonic crush on his classmate Aiki Hirose, detailing his funny yet sincere efforts in the process. The success of the series led to a sequel titled Motto Ganbare! Nakamura-kun!! in 2017.

This sad news comes in the midst of a very active period for the series' fans. As will be remembered, it was announced in August 2024 that the series would receive an official anime adaptation, which created great excitement in the community. However, toxic interactions on social media continue to undermine artists' desire to communicate directly with their fans. Syundei's departure has reignited discussions in the manga industry regarding the mental health of creators and the pressure of social media.

While the artist's departure from X is a significant loss for followers who expected to receive updates directly from them, many fans have met this decision with understanding for the sake of the artist's peace of mind. Unfortunately, it is not rare for artists in the manga world to switch platforms or withdraw entirely due to harassment. For now, fans will continue to follow Syundei's work through official publication channels and count down the days for the highly anticipated anime adaptation.