Manga Debuts: Kamaseinu no Oukan by Shinachiku

Welcome to Manga Debuts, a new semi-regular column in which I pick a new manga series that has recently started serialization or released its first volume and take you through why you should be excited about it. For my first outing, I've picked out Kamaseinu no Oukan (otherwise known as The Regalia of the Underdog) by SHINACHIKU, which has been granted a recommendation by My Hero Academia creator Kohei Horikoshi.

The series has been serialized on Mag Garden's MAGKAN since September 2024 and Volume 1 was released on February 14th. It's a fantasy/action manga that falls under the seinen demographic.

The Premise

Our story is set in the unified nation of Astoria and follows the story of Tart, who is studying hard every day to take the King Selection exam. Unfortunately, Tart comes from a noble family and has never wanted for anything, which has led him to believe there's no one who can stand in the way of his dream of becoming king. Then on the day of graduation, he's challenged to a duel by classmate Fego who Tart has always looked down upon and bullied for being a blacksmith and far weaker than him.

Since the last time they fought, Fego has been preparing himself for this second duel and put his all into creating a weapon that can effectively counter Tart's magic. In the end, Tart loses the fight and is left to face up to the fact that if he relies on nothing but his father's money, connections, and status he will never be able to become the king of Astoria. So he does what every plucky protagonist in his shoes would and runs away from home, setting off on a journey to learn more about the world and chase his dreams. Of course, his father isn't going to let Tart go alone, so he sends a talented maid and Tart's former teacher Romeo along for the journey. So begins a trip that will change Tart's life forever!

What Makes It Stand Out

You would be forgiven for thinking this sounds just like any other shonen or seinen out there because, on the surface that's exactly what this is. However, what makes it special is Kamaseinu no Oukan's cast of characters. Tart starts out off as entitled and a crybaby when things don't go his way (as evidenced by the volume cover!), but within the first chapter we see that he has a lot of heart and just needs to be guided in the right direction. He's certainly capable of becoming someone who could earn the position of king, but he needs to let go of the misconceptions he holds and stop looking down upon others who aren't as strong as he is. Honestly, in the first chapter, I didn't like Tart, but the depth of his character slowly won me over and by the end of this volume I was eager to see where his journey was headed from here.

This is where Romeo comes in, an adult who once held the same dreams as Tart but who came to be known as the 'dejected loser' due to a mishap during the finals of his King exams. He knows the qualities needed to succeed and wants Tart to grow as an individual and become someone who can fulfill the dreams he's chasing. Through this journey, Romeo himself may even begin to think differently about his position in the world.

As mentioned earlier, this is a title that has been granted a recommendation by Kohei Horikoshi on the obi of volume one. Horikoshi praises the manga for being a story that confronts the desire for self-approval head-on despite the difficulties Tart faces in affirming himself due to relying on the advantages of his family. It's easy to see why the mind behind the beloved My Hero Academia is so taken with it as there are several similarities here when it comes to the characters and their dreams.

Tart may not be powerless like Deku was at the start of his story, but he has a lot to overcome if he wants to be acknowledged by his peers. Now experiencing the world from a different perspective he'll learn so much from meeting new characters, many of which have struggles of their own to contend with. As the book goes on we meet another young boy who wishes to be King and by doing so he wants to create a world where humans and monsters can live side-by-side, something Tart has never even considered. By the end of My Hero Academia Deku had grown thanks to the influence of his classmates, mentor, and even the villains he'd fought against. To me, it feels like Tart's story is set to follow a similar trajectory.

Of course, it's not just the story and characters that are attractive here, SHINACHIKU's art is very attractive if you enjoy a fast-paced action series. This isn't the mangaka's first work as they've previously released Haburi and Pygmalion under another name: Chihiro Watanabe. They've also previously worked with Horikoshi as a research assistant, which explains some of the My Hero Academia influence on the character designs here I'd wager. The series is being serialized monthly on the web platform MAGKAN, which allows SHINACHIKU plenty of time to polish each chapter. This leads to each chapter having a lot of detail both for the cast, backgrounds, and perhaps most importantly for the battles, which are easy to follow and very immersive. You certainly find yourself wanting to keep flipping through the pages as Tart fights against others hoping to become king or watching Romeo step in with his own special skills. I hope this keeps running long enough to get adapted into anime, as I'm sure it would be thrilling with the right team adapting it.

In Closing

At first glance, Kamaseinu no Oukan may not look like anything special, but there's a surprising amount of depth here when it comes to the character development and some eye-catching battles that will keep readers on the hook for more. To me, this is the very definition of an exciting new debut in Japan and something I'm eager to see more of as time goes on. I sincerely hope that you have enjoyed reading this piece and look forward to me talking about other new titles coming out!

Kamaseinu no Oukan can be read in Japanese on MAGKAN.
©SHINACHIKU/MAG Garden