‘Baki’ Creator Keisuke Itagaki Praises Daughter and ‘BEASTARS’ Author Paru Itagaki: “I Think She’s a Genius” Father and Daughter Speak on Mutual Respect

The creators of "Baki," Keisuke Itagaki, and "BEASTARS," Paru Itagaki, appeared together at the Netflix 10th Anniversary Special Talk Show "Baki Series × BEASTARS" in Tokyo on the 5th. The father and daughter openly shared their respect for each other as fellow manga artists.

During the discussion, Paru thought about her childhood with her father's books. "Since 'Baki' was always at home, I read it from a young age. At first, it seems like a story about a man's love life, but what I really loved were the poetic descriptions. I realized my father was quite romantic. I think those emotional elements are the reason why more female readers were drawn to the series," she said, admiringly.

On the other hand, Keisuke praised his daughter's work without hesitation. He also spoke about the anime series BEASTARS. He said, "Honestly, I think she's a genius. It's amazing. As a reader, I knew it would sell well. Even before her debut, when I saw her work in elementary and middle school, I thought she would end up creating stories professionally."

Paru remembered her student days, saying, "I created Legoshi while I was in college, and my father told me, 'Legoshi will feed you for life.' At the time, I didn't believe it, but looking back, he predicted the huge success of 'BEASTARS.'"

The "Baki" series has sold more than 100 million copies. It tells the story of Baki Hanma's battles against his father, Yujiro Hanma (the "strongest creature on Earth"), and other fighters from around the world. Right now, Netflix is streaming 'Baki' and 'Baki Hanma' without anyone else having access to them

Meanwhile, "BEASTARS" is a drama about high school students that follows the struggles and growth of a gray wolf named Legoshi as he learns to live with other species. The last part of the series, called "BEASTARS FINAL SEASON Part 2," will be available on Netflix in 2026.

Source : ORICON NEWS