"Labyrinth Black Company," which will be adapted into an anime in July 2021, has been running since 2016 on the webcomic distribution site "MAGCOMI" and since 2018 in "Monthly Comic Garden." The story follows a charismatic man who, thanks to unearned income, is transported to another world—a dungeon of incredibly shady companies. Despite the inhumane corporate strategies, he devises every possible scheme to rise to the top. Today, we'd like to introduce the author, Yohei Yasumura!
Profile of Manga Artist Yohei Yasumura
迷宮ブラックカンパニーのアニメ情報が公開されました！是非是非…見てください！
— 安村洋平 (@pizagasukidesu) January 29, 2021
■公式HPhttps://t.co/kZyiETrexx
■公式Twitter@meikyubc_anime pic.twitter.com/exF7YnTZUl
Yohei Yasumura is a Japanese manga artist whose "Labyrinth Black Company" is currently being serialized on the webcomic distribution sites "MAGCOMI" and "Monthly Comic Garden." His current age is unknown, but he has stated on Twitter that he is in his 30s. He used to work for a company, but after quitting, he seems to be devoting himself to being a manga artist.
What kind of work is "Labyrinth Black Company"?
"Labyrinth Black Company" is an isekai-themed story about the protagonist, Kinji Ninomiya, who has earned a living as a NEET through passive income thanks to his skills. One day, he is transported to another world, only to find that his new workplace is a homey one, filled with smiles (an extremely black company). The work is brutal, demanding, and low-paying, with strict quotas imposed as if it were a given. In order to escape this environment, he and his friends devise all sorts of schemes to rise to the top.
Yohei Yasumura is a former company employee and manga artist.
Recently, the issue of black companies has become a social problem, but shows no signs of improvement. The number of modern people suffering from mental illness and being forced to take leave from work continues to grow. This work focuses on such companies. Furthermore, some manga artists are former company employees. Sankakuhead, the creator of "Himouto! Umaru-chan," is a former company employee, and Yohei Yasumura also apparently used to work for a company.
Black Company... Working for a Company... Ah
"Labyrinth Black Company" is a work set in another world, depicting a brutal working environment, power harassment as if it were a given, and meager salaries. Without work, you can't survive, and job hunting is impossible without the time and mental strength. Black companies rob their employees of the time and energy to find new jobs, but the portrayal of this situation seemed awfully realistic. Yasumura used to work for a company... Perhaps this work is based on the author's own experiences.
Was he originally a doujinshi artist?
会社辞めて、デビューするまでの間に描いた同人のデータが出てきた。100部くらい刷ったような気がするけど…全部配ってしまって手元に無いという…。しかも後編をいまだ描けてないいわくつきの漫画。 pic.twitter.com/EAy8QaC772
— 安村洋平 (@pizagasukidesu) December 6, 2019
He's currently serializing "Labyrinth Black Company," but it seems he drew doujinshi between the time he left his company and his debut. He apparently published a Kill la Kill fanzine, but only printed about 100 copies, and debuted before the second part.
Manga artists are a profession where they sacrifice their lives to create their works.
Manga artists, especially those with weekly serializations, are often perceived as having a tough job, and some even end up damaging their health. The job of a manga artist often means no stable time off, leading to unhealthy lifestyles. Yasumura himself frequently warns about his health on Twitter. While Yasumura seems to be suffering from diabetes, some manga artists also suffer from severe back pain and tendonitis.
What kinds of illnesses are manga artists prone to?
Lifestyle-Related Diseases
Lifestyle-related diseases are defined as "a group of diseases whose onset and progression are influenced by lifestyle factors such as eating habits, exercise habits, rest, smoking, and drinking." Manga artists' demanding and unhealthy lifestyles, coupled with a lack of time and a tendency to lack exercise, put them at high risk of developing lifestyle-related diseases, including diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia, and high blood pressure. Yasumura suffers from diabetes and seems to be battling blood sugar levels day and night. If he loses weight rapidly despite not exercising, caution is advised.
Low Back Pain and Tendonitis
For manga artists who often draw manga in the same position for long periods of time, back and neck pain can be considered an occupational hazard. Some artists have even had to take a break from their work due to back or neck pain. Recently, World Trigger's Daisuke Ashihara took a break from his manga due to a neck injury and then moved to a monthly publication. Many other manga artists have also developed tendonitis from drawing continuously. While the key to treating tendonitis is to keep your hands still, this isn't always possible for manga artists.
Mental Illness
Some manga artists suffer from mental breakdowns due to the stress of a demanding serialization. One of Jump's flagship artists ended his Yu Yu Hakusho series due to the overwhelming stress and back pain caused by the series. He then began serializing Level E monthly. He then resumed a weekly series, but with frequent hiatuses. Some artists experience burnout and are no longer able to draw, but popular manga artists may feel they can make a living without working, so continuing to serialize at this point may seem foolish. It's not unreasonable to continue being bound by the Earth's gravity.
What other works does Yohei Yasumura have?
Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon
This is a comic book adaptation of the light novel "Anti-Magic Academy: The 35th Test Platoon," published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko, and has been published in two volumes by Media Factory. The original work, written by Fuyuki Yanagi, began serialization in 2012 and concluded in 2016. It consists of 15 volumes. An anime adaptation began in October 2015.
Synopsis of "Anti-Magic Academy 35th Test Platoon"
150 years have passed since the Witch Hunt War, a battle between humanity and the "witches" who terrorized people with their powerful magic. Young applicants continue to train hard at the Anti-Magic Academy, a training institution for "inquisitors" who crack down on the remaining threat of magic. Kusanagi Takeru, a master swordsman, is also a member of the Anti-Magic Academy. However, the pinnacle of military power has shifted from swords to magic and then to guns, and Takeru's "sword" has already become outdated. Takeru, who has a hopeless talent for guns, leads the "35th Platoon," commonly known as the "Weakling Platoon," a ragtag unit of underachievers, including Takeru. One day, a former inquisitor, Ouka Otori, joins the platoon.
【Labyrinth of Black Company】Author Summary
This time, we introduced Yohei Yasumura, the author of "Labyrinth of Black Company." There are some concerns about the author's health, so we urge him to take care of himself. The anime "Labyrinth of Black Company" will begin airing in July 2021, and it's highly recommended, so please check it out!
