In recent years, manga readers have increasingly embraced works that challenge conventional storytelling. One such title is HORIZON, a series that blends philosophical themes, grounded realism, and an unusual narrative tone that shifts between genres.
Created by Shiten Akiyama, HORIZON explores the relationship between fiction and reality while following a protagonist navigating personal history and unresolved emotions. With its distinct pacing, cinematic composition, and thought-provoking ideas, the series has sparked curiosity among readers searching for something outside traditional manga structures.
Although the manga itself remains relatively niche in Japan, HORIZON recently circulated widely on social media following controversy surrounding creator Shiten Akiyama posting an English-translated version of the first chapter online in an effort to reach overseas readers—a move that reportedly drew concern from the series’ Japanese publisher.
In this interview with The Kitsune Network, Akiyama-sensei discusses the origins of HORIZON, the themes that shaped its creation, and how his perspective on storytelling continues to evolve.
Interview With Shiten Akiyama – HORIZON
The Origins of HORIZON
Krystal: To begin, could you tell us what inspired you to create HORIZON?
Shiten Akiyama:
Originally, I planned to draw only short works. However, if I wanted to pursue manga professionally, serialization was essentially the only path forward. I created several proposals and storyboards, but most of them did not work out.
During discussions with my editor, I encountered a barrier—the idea that “a project must be fully understood before it can be approved.” At that point, I decided to stop overthinking and simply create a storyboard for a first chapter. That draft became the early concept for HORIZON. From there, I began developing the series’ concept and setting.
Meaning Behind the Title
Krystal: The title HORIZON suggests ideas like distance and perspective. What meaning does the title hold for you?
Shiten Akiyama:
In the earliest concept, the series was actually titled Because the Earth Is Ending. However, the core theme of the work eventually became “fiction and reality.” I chose the word HORIZON because it represents the boundary between those two worlds.
Interestingly, I discovered the word while working on music production in a DAW. I noticed a plugin called “Horizon” by Waves that I frequently used.
I also designed the logo myself. The base font is “Plaza,” which was used in the logo for director Satoshi Kon’s animated film Perfect Blue. I also like the symmetrical arrangement of the “O” letters centered around the “I.”
The Reader Experience
Krystal: When you began drawing the series, what kind of experience or emotions did you want readers to feel?
Shiten Akiyama:
My goal was to create the feeling that the genre changes with each volume. Chapters 1 through 6 were intentionally written with the tone of a light romantic comedy. The reason for that is to betray the reader’s expectations in Chapter 7.
Another core theme is the relationship between fiction and reality—something I constantly think about. Ultimately, this leads to a paradoxical message to the reader: “Don’t read manga.”
Even the discomfort someone might feel from reading a manga can be part of what makes manga interesting.
Character Inspiration
Krystal: Were the characters in HORIZON inspired by real people or society, or do they reflect parts of yourself?
Shiten Akiyama:
Each character has a real-life model among people close to me. I sometimes ask them about subtle nuances in dialogue, their thought processes, or their values.
However, because I am the one drawing them, my own personality inevitably enters every character. Sometimes that even feels a little unsettling.
Creating the Series’ Atmosphere
Krystal: HORIZON has a distinctive atmosphere from the very beginning. How did you approach building that tone visually and narratively?
Shiten Akiyama:
For me, realism is always the most important factor, so I never intentionally tried to create something unusual.
However, readers often comment on the dialogue. Since much of the story is conversation-driven without action scenes, I try to make those exchanges engaging enough to carry the scene.
Even within those dialogue-heavy moments, I spend a lot of time thinking about camera angles and panel layout. My approach is heavily influenced by the directing style of Akio Jissoji, known for his work on Ultraman.
Silence, Pacing, and Visual Rhythm
Krystal: The series also uses silence and panel spacing in striking ways. What role do these elements play in the storytelling?
Shiten Akiyama:
I personally dislike overly “manga-like” techniques, so I always imagine a live-action camera when composing scenes.
I try to avoid elaborate paneling and instead focus on the rhythm of time as experienced by the reader. This includes background-only panels and carefully adjusting the amount of dialogue within a panel.
These decisions help the story feel less like an exaggerated fictional world and more like the lives of people who might exist nearby in reality.
Artistic Influences
Krystal: Were there particular artists or works that influenced the tone of HORIZON?
Shiten Akiyama:
The foundation of my manga comes from the works of Inio Asano. However, although I’ve been influenced by many manga, I rarely incorporate those influences directly.
Most of my inspiration comes from films and novels.
For HORIZON, I often thought about Night on the Galactic Railroad by Kenji Miyazawa and 2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke.
Toward the later chapters of the story, The Consumer Society by Jean Baudrillard also served as an important conceptual influence.
Introducing HORIZON to New Readers
Krystal: How would you describe HORIZON to readers discovering it for the first time?
Shiten Akiyama:
I often see readers struggling to describe the series, and honestly, I feel the same way. It is not an easy work to introduce.
In truth, I create manga primarily for myself. As I get older, I find myself disliking more things—even becoming bored with manga that I once loved.
So I created the kind of manga that would still excite someone like me.
If it reaches readers who feel the same way I did in the past, that would make me very happy.
Message to International Readers
Krystal: What would you like to say to international readers discovering your work through HORIZON?
Shiten Akiyama:
Overseas readers often know a great deal about Japanese culture, and communicating with them is always enjoyable.
First of all, I want to sincerely thank readers for their interest in Japanese culture.
The freedom and diversity of manga culture are supported not only by creators but also by the diversity of readers. Because I am not a mainstream author, reaching international readers and communicating with them can positively influence my creative work.
Thank you very much for reading HORIZON. I will continue doing my best so that one day readers can confidently call it a masterpiece.
HORIZON is currently published in Japan by Shōnen Gahōsha, and an official English-language release has not yet been announced. Readers interested in experiencing the series and supporting creator Shiten Akiyama can find the manga available through retailers such as Amazon(JP account required) and Kinokuniya Books (US).
To celebrate our interview with Shiten Akiyama, The Kitsune Network is giving readers a chance to win a copy of HORIZON. This giveaway is independently organized by The Kitsune Network and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Shiten Akiyama, the manga HORIZON, or its publisher Shōnen Gahōsha. Go to the NEXT PAGE and enter for your chance to win and experience the thought-provoking series for yourself.