Since its debut on the digital manga platform GANMA! in 2018, I Wanna Be Your Girl (Japanese title: カノジョになりたい君と僕) has touched the hearts of millions of readers in Japan—and now, it’s finally reaching English-speaking audiences through Random House Graphic’s newest brand, InkPop. Behind this moving series is Umi Takase, a manga artist and writer whose work fearlessly explores the blurry, sometimes painful questions that come with adolescence, identity, and human connection. Takase writes from a place of vulnerability, authenticity, and quiet resilience—qualities reflected deeply in the lives of protagonists Akira and Hime.

We had the pleasure of speaking with Takase to discuss the origins of I Wanna Be Your Girl, the complexity of self-discovery, and the messages she hopes her readers carry with them.

Interview with Umi Takase

What inspired you to create I Wanna Be Your Girl and its characters?

Takase: Honestly, the idea for the story began with a pretty mundane moment. When I was still a rookie trying to get published in magazines, I was constantly pitching one-shot ideas to editors—most of which got rejected. One day, I suddenly pictured Akira in a girl’s uniform. I vaguely thought, “This child was born male but has always dreamed of wearing a girl’s uniform and being a girl.” Then I thought, “If that’s Akira, I want to create a girl in a boys’ school uniform who supports her,” and that’s how Hime was born. That one-shot was rejected at the time, but years later I revisited it as a serialized project, pouring in all my thoughts and experiences. That’s how I Wanna Be Your Girl came to life.

The story explores transgender identity and queer themes with care. What influenced your approach?

Takase: My own experiences—getting lost in life, meeting different people, and clashing
with others—are the foundation of the story. One of the things I struggled with was my sexual orientation. I’d wonder things like, “Maybe I’m a lesbian? But if that’s the case, is it weird that
I like male characters in anime?” and I’d feel a contradiction within myself. I compared myself to others and thought, “Other queer people probably have it all figured out,” and I’d get discouraged. Eventually, I came to accept that it’s okay not to have all the answers. Honestly, how many people truly understand themselves? We question our career paths, our choices—sometimes we don’t even know what we want to eat. So I now see confusion as something normal. Through this story, I wanted to tell people who are lost, “It’s okay. You’re not
alone.”

Akira’s journey is central, but Hime’s growth is also key. How did you approach that balance?

Takase: Honestly, I didn’t consciously try to balance them. I was overwhelmed by deadlines, so I’m thankful my editor helped with the bigger picture. To me, it was a simple story, a girl falls in love with her childhood friend, who turns out to be a girl. Hime grows because she wants to understand someone she cares deeply for. Their arcs unfolded naturally.

How did you handle sensitive themes like LGBTQ+ identity and bullying for a younger audience?

Takase: To be honest, I didn’t write it specifically to reach young readers. I didn’t intend to present LGBTQ+ themes as something “special” that readers had to understand. Feelings like “the person I love doesn’t love me back” or “I can’t become my ideal self” are universal. Rather than emphasizing the struggles of being a minority, I focused on making it a story that people could empathize with. I didn’t want to label the characters—I wanted to depict them as individuals with feelings. Instead of conveying delicate themes, I hoped readers would think, “Yeah, I get
that,” or “That was me too.”

Many readers say the series made them cry. Were there any particular scenes that were emotionally significant or difficult for you to write?

Takase: Honestly, I was surprised when readers said they cried. I wasn’t aiming for that—I was just desperately doing my best, so those responses mean a lot. A scene I personally love is from Volume 2, when Akira confesses, “I’m scared of living as someone like me.” Before that, most portrayals of transgender people I saw in books or media seemed very confident in their identity.
They seemed to know who they were and had already found their “right answer.” But I think many trans people have different personalities and stories. What if someone like Akira—timid, ordinary—struggled with confidence and couldn’t easily explain her choices? I depicted Akira as a realistic girl, shaken by her father’s words, uncertain of herself, frustrated when people questioned her. That’s why I really love that scene.

Many readers related personally to the characters. Were there any particularly memorable messages or episodes from your readers?

Takase: It meant a lot to hear that readers saw themselves in the characters. Messages like “This gave me hope” or “I finally felt like I could exist” gave me encouragement too.
One moment that stood out was in the GANMA! comments section. Someone wrote, “To be honest, I still don’t fully understand LGBT issues. But when I see someone crying, I want to be someone who can accept them.” Others replied with things like, “It’s okay not to force yourself,” and “You don’t need to change who you are—just don’t be hateful or hurtful.” It wasn’t a fight—it was gentle kindness. Witnessing that moment really stayed with me.

In addition to the web serialization, this series was also published through crowdfunding. How did the direct support from readers and digital platforms impact your creative process?

Takase: It made me more aware of the need to succeed as a creator. Before, I thought wanting to “sell well” felt greedy. But thanks to the support of readers, I realized that success means being able to keep creating. Selling a work allows you to publish volumes, deliver stories to readers, and support all the people involved—editors, marketers, designers. Now, I seriously ask myself, “How can I create something worth paying for?” Of course, it’s hard to achieve my ideal—but I’m always striving.

The title I Wanna Be Your Girl seems to carry multiple meanings. Could you share the intention behind it?

Takase: The phrase has two meanings; One is Hime’s wish to become Akira’s girlfriend. The other is Akira’s desire to be recognized as a girl. “Your” and “I” in the title are deliberately ambiguous. Is “I” Akira, born male? Or Hime, in her boys’ uniform? Since it’s a dual-protagonist story, I wanted the title to reflect both of them.

With over 8 million views in Japan, the series is now being released in English. What message would you like to share with international readers discovering your work for the first time?

Takase: First of all—thank you so much for picking up this story. It’s overwhelming to think a one-shot idea that was once shelved has reached readers overseas. This may sound odd coming from the author, but… if while reading you ever feel, “This is too much for me,” please don’t force yourself. Close the book if you need to. There are a lot of different characters—some might make you uncomfortable. But even feelings of dislike are clues to understanding yourself. Of course, I love all of my characters, so I’d prefer not to hear “I hated this!”—at least, not where I’ll see it! (laughs) Still, what matters most is that readers honor their own feelings.

LGBTQ+ representation has been increasing in manga recently. What are your thoughts on the current state of the industry and what stories would you like to see going forward?

Takase: I don’t have particularly strong opinions, but if I had to say something, it’s that this feels like a natural progression. LGBTQ+ people have always existed—it’s just that we’re finally starting to see them in stories. If, in the future, I Wanna Be Your Girl is seen as “a bit outdated and hard to relate to,” I’d be thrilled. That would mean society has evolved to a point where this topic is no longer seen as something “special.”

Your art style is soft and expressive, especially in how you capture emotion. Do you feel your style or techniques have evolved since the beginning of the series?

Takase: Since this was my debut series, the beginning was pretty rough. But over time, I got more comfortable, and I started to get a feel for things like character expressions and pacing.
I truly appreciate your kind words about my art.

Your follow-up series, I DON’T WANT A VISIT FROM A STORK explores more mature themes like marriage and family. Did working on I Wanna Be Your Girl influence that project?

Takase: To be honest, I saw I DON’T WANT A VISIT FROM A STORK! as a completely separate work. Initially, I approached it with the mindset of, “This is going to be a tense drama about a troubled couple!” (laughs) But a friend told me, “This feels very you.” They pointed out that both stories feature characters from marginalized or hard-to-voice positions. I wouldn’t say I write with the intention of “standing up for the minority,” but I’m naturally drawn to those vague, hard-to-name feelings—like the loneliness of wondering, “Is it just me who feels this way?”

If you could say one thing directly to Hime and Akira, what would it be?

Takase: Hmm… I usually don’t talk to my characters, it’s kind of embarrassing…
But if I had to say something, maybe “Take care, and thank you!” Hime and Akira both made their own choices in the story, but that doesn’t guarantee lifelong happiness. Still, I just hope they’re doing well out there somewhere—that would be enough for me. Thanks to them, I was able to tell this story. During the serialization, I went through a lot, and honestly didn’t expect the series
to reach so many readers. Now, I’m just filled with gratitude.

Lastly, what message would you like to share with young readers—especially those who may be struggling with their identity?

Takase: The phrase “struggling with identity” sounds kind of cool, but the reality is messy,
awkward, and painful. You might not be able to define yourself in one word, or you might say, “This is who I am!” and then immediately second-guess it. That was my adolescence, honestly—awkward, embarrassing, painful, and full of hurt. There were times I thought, “Maybe it’d be better if I weren’t here.” But now, I see that all of that was my own treasure. No one can take away those struggles, and they’ve become the foundation that supports me. Thanks to those painful, uncool moments, I get to do the work I love today—creating stories. (laughs) So even if you hate yourself right now, or feel like a mess, that’s okay. Just maybe—maybe—trust that someday, those struggles might become something precious. Even if you don’t believe me, please tuck that idea into the corner of your heart.

I Wanna Be Your Girl Vol. 1 will be available in English through Random House Graphic. Takase’s work stands as a moving and accessible entry point for queer storytelling in manga—one where identity, confusion, and kindness intersect with empathy and hope.

Still on the fence on reading “I Want To Be Your Girl”? Read our review here.

Acknowledgements

I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to Takegami of the GANMA! Editorial Department at Comisuma Co., Ltd., for their generous support and guidance throughout this interview process. Most importantly, heartfelt gratitude to Takase-sensei for taking the time to thoughtfully answer my questions and share insight into her creative journey. This feature would not have been possible without you both. Thank you.

For more interviews and coverage from Anime Expo 2025, follow The Kitsune Network.