The First Volume of Yasushi Baba's New Fantasy Manga "Itsuwari no Kenta" Hits Shelves
The first volume of experienced mangaka Yasushi Baba's new fantasy series Itsuwari no Kenta (偽りのケンタ) was released to readers in Japan on May 8th. This exciting development, announced by Natalie.mu, shows the mangaka bringing his unique style to a fantasy world.
Itsuwari no Kenta centers on the adventures of a child and a unicorn, revolving around the theme of "human-horse unity" (人馬一体ファンタジー). The series title "Itsuwari no Kenta" directly translates to "False Centaur" and forms the basis of the story, depicting a human and a unicorn merging to transform into an unwanted "false centaur" form. This duo embarks on an adventure in their new and unexpected state.
Yasushi Baba is a well-known name in the manga world, recognized for his long and successful career. He has a large fanbase, particularly for his martial arts manga Karate Shoukoushi Kohinata Minoru, which ran for over 12 years and comprised 50 volumes. He has also created popular series such as Golosseum (6 volumes) and The Ride-On King. The Ride-On King gained attention as an isekai fantasy and concluded in October 2024.
Baba's new series was announced in Monthly Shonen Sirius magazine in December 2025 and began serialization on the 25th of the same month. An experienced author venturing into a fantasy theme after a background heavily focused on martial arts and action has generated great curiosity among fans. Itsuwari no Kenta promises to offer readers a unique experience by combining Baba's characteristic art style and storytelling ability with mythological creatures and an adventure-filled universe. This series marks the mangaka's foray into the fantasy genre.
