AOASHI

DESCRIPTION

CAST

CHAPTERS

ANIME SportsAoashi
MANGA SportsAoashi: Brother Foot
MANGA Slice of LifeAoashi: Midnight Diner
ANIME SportsAoashi 2nd Season

REVIEWS

• 

  sakuyamons

  90/100
  A manga for football fans, and deserving of a spot as one of the greatest of the sport genre,

  Well, it's over.

  I've been reading Ao Ashi for about 2-3 years now, and today the last chapter was released. I wanted to wait until it was done so I could so the review of the series with everything laid out and with all the characters' arcs completed. It was a pleasure, and it is bittersweet that we won't see them anymore, but Kobayashi did a really good job in most areas. From character work to references to real games. It is something that you'll enjoy if you know nothing about football, but you'll like it even more if you have even a basic understanding of it.

  ~!!~

  The story begins with a kid called Ashito from Ehime (which I believe the author also comes from) who is a striker and is very boastful, determined and arrogant and has trouble with his temper, although he has a good heart. Ashito is someone you are endeared to root for - not just because he is the protagonist, but because he is the second child of a single mother, and they aren't that well financially. Ashito gets scouted by Fukuda, who is the coach of Esperion Youth FC, and goes to Tokyo for the tryouts, where he meets future friends Otomo and Tachibana. Football is a dream for Ashito, as any kid of his age who plays football will dream to go pro, but he never quite forgets that he comes from a humble beginning and not spending his mother's money in vain is a sign of determination for him. One of the most touching scenes is the letter his mother sends him when he's off to Tokyo, and that's at the start of the series!

  However, once he arrives at Esperion, it is obvious that there is a huge gap between him and the other students, and he is forced to throw away his previous idea of football to basically start over and to try things and positions he would never have before. Ashito (and the reader) are forced to learn from 0 with help of his friends, who are Otomo (midfielder) Tachibana (forward) and Togashi (defense). There are other players, but as they are all from scouting and from tryouts, they have a special bond other minor characters do not have. Another unforgettable character is Kuribayashi, who is Esperion's most talented player and Akutsu, who is a defender and Ashito's foil but also who triggers his development as a player. Akutsu is probably one of the best characters of the series once you see the completed picture, and while it doesn't justify (and never tries to) his treatment of a kid he barely knows (especially since as a main character we see everything from Ashito's pov) it is obvious that they are more alike than they want to admit.

  Ashito as a character - with all his endearment and flaws, especially recklessness are not just on the pitch but also off the pitch, and sometimes it is frustrating and it exists since chapter 1 making him realistic, they lose the high school tournament because he cannot keep his temper under wraps. His romantic "subplot" and "love triangle" is by far the weakest part of the series (though I believe Hana and Anri are fine characters on their own) and seeing him improve as a player is him letting go of that immaturity, and how he does that is meeting people who are better than him. There's a point of no return when he meets Tripone that changes how he views the world around him. Tripone and Ren were great, and I wish we could've seen a cameo of them before the series ended, but they were great characters and while some people underestimated Ashito, they never do.

  The matches are interesting -- though sometimes due to the explanations they can feel a little slow, compared to mangas like Be Blues where games were very intense and focuses more on the art rather than a narration. Yet AA focuses on the professional side and how hard it is to become a pro off the academy as Fukuda is very influenced by the European/Barca mode. Yet it never disrespects Japanese football nor wants it to be like euro football 100%. The last arc is a love letter to Japanese football and how they can take examples of other leagues and grow at it's time.

  In a very similar way to the sport - not everyone is a star in the last arc, some players we grow to care for get to the bench without a chance to prove themselves. But so is in the academies. The end, as a lot of sports manga, starts at the "beginning" but we get to see the ending of the journey for Ashito to be the player he is meant to be, as Ao=Inmaturity and Ashi=thinking read. The ability to think that hasn't matured yet. This journey is about him gaining these abilities.

  Thank you, a pairof2, thank you Kobayashi, goodbye Ashito.

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• 

  SeeEssThough

  100/100
  I'll Take You To The World... (Spoiler Free)

  ___This is my first review ever so please bare with me. Aoashi has gave me the motivation to write my thoughts about this series and I'm really excited for that.___ ___This is going to be a spoiler free review, and even if I discuss about spoilers I will make sure to mark them so don't worry about getting spoiled.___ ___I want to present my thoughts on various aspects of this story and express my pure love for it.___ __Basic premise__ The premise of Aoashi is simple. Ashito Aoi, a third year middle school student from Ehime loves football. He is very passionate about the game and we can immediately grasp onto that. He has a raw, street-level understanding of football. After one of his games he meets Fukuda Tatsuya, a J Youth League coach who invites him to Tokyo for tryouts where he’s thrust into a world where technique, discipline, and tactical thinking matter just as much as passion. Meaning of the name "Aoashi" The name "Ao Ashi" (アオアシ) is a combination of two Japanese words: "Ao" (アオ / 青) – This means blue, often symbolizing youth, growth, or even the color of the Japanese national football team (the “Blue Samurai”). "Ashi" (アシ / 足) – This means foot or leg, clearly referencing football (soccer). Meaning of the name "Aoi Ashito" 葦 (Ashi) — This kanji means “reed”, a plant that grows in wetlands. Reeds are known for being flexible, resilient, and capable of growing in tough conditions. Symbolically, it can represent someone who adapts and grows despite adversity — just like Ashito's journey in the manga. 人 (To / Hito) — Literally means “person” or “human.” "Aoi Ashito" as a name carries the message of “A young, adaptable person with potential to grow and thrive in tough conditions, like a reed under a blue sky.” __Ashito's Character__ Ashito, much like a reed, starts off as someone raw and unrefined, but he bends, learns, and grows with time. He’s not naturally elite, but thrives through adaptability, learning, and effort. His name reflects the theme of growth that is central to Ao Ashi. Ashito is refreshingly flawed, a protagonist who often fails, reflects, and adapts. He’s emotional, impulsive, and arrogant at times, but watching him evolve is deeply satisfying. He is a determined teenager who plays for his passion of the game. But as the series progresses he realises that his recklessness is what's holding him and his teammates back. I really enjoyed the growth of his character because him in the early chapters and him in the later chapters are very different. He learned to adapt and grow his game. __Characters__ Now let's talk about some other characters in this series. In pure honesty I feel this series has one of the best cast of characters. What stands out is how the manga gives attention to every player, not just the MC, building a full, believable team. It is not only Ashito that is trying to go pro there are several others who share the same dream as him. Not only his teammates even people not involved in the game are very interesting characters. In Aoashi it is not like everyone is gonna see sunshine. You could be cheering for one but he may still be on the bench in the final saga of the manga. Every character has their own motivation for their dreams. It's not only Ashito that we are following we are following various individuals towards their future. Some of my favourite moments of this series has been the stories of these characters who make this series what it is. They are pillars who support this series. __Football and realism__ Now Aoashi shows the real game of football. It explains the tactics the rules the plays the formations the position and everything you can ask from a football series. It breaks down the sport technically and mentally, highlighting: • How formations work • The importance of spatial awareness • The grind of Japan’s youth academy system Me myself as a football fan and who casual plays football I really appreciate it. You can pick up the argument that Aoashi is slow because they dive deep into all these tactics and plays, but that is what made Aoashi superior for me. All the tactics and the plays the thoughts of players and all the real world references that this series has made me enjoy it so much more then I thought I would. This is what made me appreciate it even more. It’s less about “crazy powers” and more about real-world strategy and development, making it a great read for football enthusiasts. __Art__ The art of Aoashi is pretty good in the beginning but as the series progresses the art progresses as well. Tactical plays and positioning are often illustrated from a bird’s-eye view, a smart choice for a series focused on strategy. __What makes it beautiful__ Aoashi is beautiful because it tells a story rooted in realism, growth, and emotional depth. Instead of relying on over-the-top powers or flashy action, it focuses on the tactical and mental aspects of football. The kind that demands discipline, awareness, and teamwork. Ashito’s journey isn’t about instant greatness, it’s about failure, learning, and slowly evolving into someone who truly understands the game and his place within a team. That grounded, honest progression makes every small success feel earned and deeply satisfying. What elevates Aoashi is how human it feels. Every character not just the protagonist is given space to grow, doubt, and rise again. It shows that football isn’t just a sport but a test of character, vision, and resilience. Through quiet struggles, emotional setbacks, and the relentless pursuit of improvement, Aoashi becomes more than a sports manga, it becomes a heartfelt story about chasing dreams the hard way, and finding beauty in the process.
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• 

  mikquella

  95/100
  Learning to Think the Game

  It starts with Ashito, young striker of Ehime. Ashito is pretentious, hot-blooded, and talented, and yet he is very serious-minded and kind. He is frustrating at times with his arrogance and temper but it is hard not to root him on. He is a single child and his mother is short of finances, making him lovable and giving extra merit to his incentives and motives.

  The coach of Esperion Youth FC, Fukuda, scouts Ashito and they go to Tokyo to have a trial. There, he encounters future teammates and good friends: Otomo and Tachibana. As most of children his age, Ashito fantasizes about becoming a professional footballer. However, the necessity not to squander the efforts of his mother and his unprivileged origins make him strive even harder to achieve that dream. One of the most emotional moments of the show and it also occurs at the very beginning of it is a letter his mother sends him off as they send him to Tokyo.

  When Ashito comes to Esperion it is established that he is in over his head. He needs to forget all the things he believed to know about football and reinvent himself. Through his friends Otomo, Tachibana and Togashi. Ashito starts his own change of image. They contrast with other characters because of their bond due to scouting and pain.

  Another character worth mentioning is Kuribayashi, who is the most talented in the team Esperion and Akutsu a defender, who is kind of a foil to Ashito. The antagonism portrayed by Akutsu is hard to accept, even as we see the action through the eyes of Ashito, but with time we find out that they have much in common than they would care to admit. Akutsu turns out to be one of the most complicated and fascinating possibilities in the story.

  It is not in the pitch where Ashito develops. His lack of maturity and impetuousness that can be seen as early as the first chapter touch his life on a personal level too. As a matter of fact, he ends up losing high school tournament due to his inability to control his temper. The action against a romantic background (the love story between Hana and Anri) is the most likely weak narrative of the series; both are good characters in their rights. The actual growth and improvement of Ashito is that he keeps encountering players who are stronger than he is, like Tripone or Ren, two characters that force him to reconsider his worldview and come to remember. They should have had a dinosaur moment, too; I wish we had seen them returned to that state after the series had finished.

  Matches are good, even though the overly-explained tactics can sometimes drag the pace down - in comparison to battle manga such as Be Blues that focus on speed of action and overdramatization of artwork. Nevertheless, Ao Ashi excels at the realistic display of what it means to become pro. Fukuda is obviously influenced by European models such as the one in Barcelona, yet the manga does not disgrace Japanese football. Indeed, the last arc is so much a sentimental love letter to the way Japan handles the game, it makes total sense to show us how this approach can progress without destroying what it is.

  One similarity between the real football academies and this fiction is that not all the characters are made stars at the end. We become attached to some players who never get their chance even though they end up on the bench which is part of what makes the story seem so realistic in its scope. The series has no final victory, but a sense of origin, Ashito is the player he was supposed to be. Even the title is symbolical, Ao indicates youth and immaturity and Ashi (indicates thinking. The story of Ashito is eventually the discovery of how to think on and off the pitch.

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