Moritaka Mashiro
Moritaka Mashiro |
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| Kanji | 真城 最高 |
| Rōmaji | Mashiro Moritaka |
| Age: | 24 (current) |
| Birthday: | February 18 |
| Height: | 171cm |
| Voice Actor | |
| Japanese | Atsushi Abe |
| English | Michael Sinterniklaas |
Moritaka Mashiro (真城 最高, Mashiro Moritaka), often called Saikō by his friends, is the main protagonist of Bakuman. He is a dedicated and hardworking mangaka who, alongside Akito Takagi, forms the duo Ashirogi Muto. Mashiro serves as the artist of their team, while Takagi handles the story and writing. His ultimate dream is to create a hit manga that gets adapted into an anime, fulfilling a childhood promise to his love interest and later wife, Miho Azuki. Throughout his journey, he faces numerous challenges, rivalries, and industry struggles, particularly against his greatest rival, Eiji Nizuma.
Background
Appearance in anime
Moritaka Mashiro comes from a family with a history in manga, as his uncle, Nobuhiro Mashiro, was a mangaka known for creating a relatively unsuccessful romance manga. As a child, Mashiro admired his uncle, who secretly had feelings for Miho Azuki’s mother but never confessed to her. Tragically, his uncle passed away due to overwork, which initially discouraged Mashiro from pursuing a career in manga.
However, his perspective changes when Akito Takagi, a talented writer and classmate, discovers Mashiro’s sketchbook filled with impressive drawings. Takagi convinces him to team up as a mangaka duo, promising that they will aim for serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump. Motivated by Takagi’s enthusiasm and the realization that Miho Azuki dreams of becoming a voice actress, Mashiro boldly proposes a pact with Miho: if their manga gets an anime adaptation, she will voice the heroine, and they will get married. Miho agrees, setting the stage for Mashiro’s relentless pursuit of success.
Appearance
Mashiro has short, dark blue hair with long bangs that slightly cover his forehead. His eyes are a deep shade of blue, reflecting his serious and determined personality.
His casual attire consists of striped shirts, hoodies, and jeans, reflecting his relaxed but focused demeanor. As he becomes a professional mangaka, his appearance matures, often seen wearing button-up shirts and jackets during meetings with editors.
During intense work sessions, Mashiro’s fatigue becomes evident, with messy hair, dark circles under his eyes, and a disheveled look, showcasing the harsh reality of the manga industry.
Personality
Mashiro is a determined, diligent, and somewhat reserved individual. Unlike his outgoing and talkative partner Takagi, Mashiro is introverted and serious, focusing solely on improving his art and achieving his goals. He is known for his strong work ethic, often sacrificing sleep, social interactions, and even his health to meet deadlines.
Initially, Mashiro lacks confidence and is hesitant about pursuing manga, fearing he might fail like his late uncle. However, as he gains experience and recognition, he becomes more confident in his abilities. His dedication to Miho Azuki serves as his primary motivation, and he is extremely loyal to their promise, refusing to rush their relationship until they achieve their shared dream.
Despite his serious nature, Mashiro has a competitive side, particularly when facing rivals like Eiji Nizuma and Fukuda. He takes pride in his work, and while he respects his competition, he never backs down from a challenge.
Role in the Story
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Forming Ashirogi Muto
Mashiro’s journey begins when Takagi convinces him to pursue manga seriously. Together, they form Ashirogi Muto and begin working towards getting serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump. They create multiple one-shots before finally getting their first serialized manga, Detective Trap. -
Overcoming Industry Challenges
Mashiro and Takagi quickly learn the harsh realities of the manga industry. Their first series is canceled due to low rankings, forcing them to rethink their approach. They create multiple new series, each facing different obstacles, such as editorial pressure, deadlines, and rivalries. At one point, Mashiro collapses due to overwork, landing him in the hospital. This serves as a major turning point, where he realizes the importance of balancing health with passion. Despite this setback, he persists, determined to prove himself. -
Competing with Eiji Nizuma
One of the biggest driving forces in Mashiro’s journey is his rivalry with Eiji Nizuma, a genius mangaka who sets the standard for success. Eiji, despite his eccentric behavior, acknowledges Mashiro’s talent and considers him a worthy rival. The two compete in serialization rankings, with Mashiro constantly pushing himself to surpass Eiji. -
Achieving His Dream
After years of struggle, Mashiro and Takagi finally create their biggest hit, Reversi, which eventually gets an anime adaptation. This marks the realization of Mashiro’s dream, allowing him to fulfill his promise to Miho. The two get married, bringing his story to a heartwarming conclusion.
Relationships
Akito Takagi
Takagi is Mashiro’s closest friend and partner, serving as the writer for their manga. While they sometimes clash over creative differences, their mutual respect and shared ambition keep their partnership strong. Mashiro relies on Takagi’s optimism when facing setbacks, and their chemistry as a duo is one of the core aspects of Bakuman.
Miho Azuki
Miho is Mashiro’s love interest and later wife. Their relationship is unique, as they rarely meet or talk, choosing to communicate through texts and letters. Despite this, their bond is unbreakable, as both are committed to fulfilling their dream together.
Eiji Nizuma
Eiji is Mashiro’s greatest rival, yet they share a mutual respect. While Eiji initially overshadows Ashirogi Muto, Mashiro is determined to surpass him. Over time, Eiji becomes less of an antagonist and more of a friendly competitor, even supporting Mashiro’s works.
Kaya Miyoshi
Kaya is Takagi’s girlfriend and later wife, as well as a close friend to Mashiro. She often encourages him and helps him navigate his relationship with Miho.