Koji Koseki

Koji Koseki (こせきこうじ, Koseki Kōji) is a Japanese manga artist best-known for his baseball focused manga series, Kenritsu Umisora Koko Yakyu Buin Yamashita Taro-kun.

Koseki is a neighbour and old acquaintance of Hirohiko Araki, having been the first manga artist that Araki met in person. He is also referenced multiple times throughout the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure series, most notably earning the respect of Rohan Kishibe.

History

Koseki loved manga since he was a child and started drawing it while in high school, inspired by series such as Tetsujin 28-go. In 1978, when he was only 19-years-old, Koseki won the 16th Tezuka Award for his debut manga "Oh, Ichiro", which was then later serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1980 to 1981.^[1]^[2]

Work with Araki

Koji Koseki was the first manga artist that Araki witnessed in person. He was also present at both the Tezuka and Akatsuka award ceremonies which Araki attended.

In a postscript for the fifth volume of Koseki's manga, "Yamashita Taro-kun", Araki wrote that Koseki's works are what influenced JoJo the most out of any manga, and that Koseki is the manga artist that he holds the most respect for. He also wrote "I was taught that the heroes in manga should grow up with a purpose and have a passion more than anyone else in their hearts", in reference to the series main protagonist.