Runway de Waratte, serialized in Weekly Shonen Magazine, is a manga themed around the fashion industry, which is unusual for a boys' manga. However, it also depicts themes of friendship and hard work, typical of boys' manga, and above all, its content is captivating enough to draw even people who aren't interested in fashion, which has caused a great stir. Runway de Waratte will also begin airing as an anime in January 2020, and this time we'll introduce the main character, Tomura Ikuto. We'll summarize what kind of person he is and how his relationship with Fujito Chiyuki will develop.
Ikuto Tsumura's Profile
Ikuto Tsumura, the protagonist of "Smiling on the Runway," is a third-year high school student at the start of the story, struggling to decide what to do after graduation. Due to his family's financial situation, he originally wanted to attend a fashion school, but instead chose to pursue a career instead. However, after coming into contact with his classmate, Chiyuki Fujito, he is influenced by her and decides to pursue a career as a designer. He begins by creating "clothes that make Chiyuki Fujito look her most attractive," and from there, he begins to showcase some of his talent.
Living with his mother and three younger sisters
Ikuto Tomura grows up in a single-parent household with three younger sisters. His eldest sister, Honoka, is also a high school student and is responsible for the household finances and cooking, while his second sister, Aoi, is a junior high school student and actively participates in club activities. His youngest sister, Ichika, is still a young child attending nursery school, and their friendship is striking. Since their mother is hospitalized, the children share the household chores. While Ikuto Tomura can't cook, Honoka says that his coffee tastes very similar to the one his mother used to serve at the coffee shop she used to run.
Starting Living Alone After Graduating from High School
As the story progresses, Ikuto Tomura eventually begins living alone. He's busy every day preparing for the Geika Festival fashion show, and the story depicts him completing the project with the help of his younger sisters. After the Geika Festival, Ikuto is promoted from his internship to a full-time employee at "Aphro I dite" and begins living alone, courtesy of Fujito Chiyuki's father, Kenji. The building used to be Mille Neige's company housing, and Fujito Chiyuki lives on the top floor, often visiting his room.
He's so skilled he makes his sisters' clothes
In the Tomura household, where household chores are shared, Ikuto is a key contributor, primarily in the sewing department. His skill in making clothes makes a memorable scene, as Ichika, the youngest sister, delights in wearing the clothes he makes. Aoi also wears sporty yet stylish clothes, and Honoka wears more understated clothing, both of which Ikuto made. This highlights his expertise in creating clothes that reflect the individuality of each of the girls and are tailored to the wearer.
Ikuto Tsumura in High School
Ikuto Tsumura had planned to get a job after graduation, but after meeting Chiyuki Fujito, he decided to pursue a career as a designer. Until then, he had only made clothes for close friends, but he began to desire to have a wider audience wear his clothes. He grew as he was exposed to talented and stylish people. Let's take a look at the story of Ikuto Tsumura's high school days.
A Member of the Clothing Club While Living a Modest Life
Ikuto Tsumura spent his time alone in the clothing club as a high school student, and was considered rather modest even among his classmates. However, Chiyuki Fujito, who had to complete a career survey, spoke to him for the first time, leading to a fateful encounter. Concerned about his future, Ikuto Tomura was drawn to Chiyuki Fujito's positive attitude and asked her if he could become a designer even with only a high school diploma. Although she was harsh, she couldn't accept his situation and asked him to create "clothes that would make him look his most attractive."
Meeting Chiyuki Fujito and Entering the World of Design
It goes without saying that meeting Chiyuki Fujito completely changed Ikuto Tomura's world. When she asked him to create "clothes that would make her look her most attractive," he combined Mille Neige's clothing, which she provided as materials, to create the exact outfit she requested. When the snapshot was published, Mille Neige was inundated with inquiries. Chiyuki Fujito also passed the audition, and Ikuto Tomura's path as a designer began.
Working Part-Time Under Yanagida Hajime
He makes clothes for Chiyuki Fujito, but things get complicated because he's still a high school student. However, Kenji, the president of Mille Neige and Chiyuki Fujito's father, introduces Ikuto Tomura to a part-time job, hoping to encourage him to pursue a career as a designer. While working for Yanagida Hajime's brand "HAZIME YANAGIDA," where he previously worked as a designer for Mille Neige, Ikuto Tomura learns the rigors of the design industry. At the same time, he meets friends and rivals, and his new environment helps him grow both physically and mentally.
Competing with Toh Ayano and Kokoro Hasegawa at the Geika Festival
For Ikuto Tomura during his high school years, the biggest event was the fashion show at the Geika Festival, an annual event at the Geika University of Fashion. Tomura, despite being an external student, won the preliminary round and is considered one of the most talented designers in the university's history. He then challenges two teams: Toh Ayano, who is also a member of Yanagida Hajime's atelier and boasts some of the best fashion sense in the university's history, and Kokoro Hasegawa and Chiyuki Fujito, who work in the same Yanagida Hajime atelier. Along the way, he encountered trouble when his mother's health deteriorated, but he managed to complete 10 outfits, which he described as "clothes for traveling the world," captivating the audience and the judges.
Ikuto Tsumura After Graduating from High School
After the Geika Festival, Ikuto Tsumura's dream of becoming a designer became even stronger. However, when Yanagida Hajime announced that he would be closing down his company, "HAZIME YANAGIDA," he found himself without a working environment. He initially submits his application to get a scholarship to Fashion Art University, but there he finds a flyer advertising an internship at "Aphro I dite," where Toh Ayano works. He contacts Toh Ayano and accepts the internship, and from there, Ikuto Tomura's progress begins at a rapid clip.
Promoted to Full-Time Employment in Just Three Months
The internship at "Aphro I dite" is a challenging environment, requiring him to meet the strict demands of the employees without pay. Some interns have been there for months, and it's hard not to feel the awe of a top brand that is expanding not only in Japan but also globally. Despite this, Ikuto Tomura is promoted to full-time employment just three months after joining the company. While those around him look at him in surprise, Toh Ayano treats it as if it were only natural.
Successfully Creates a Capsule Collection with Hajime Yanagida
Ikuto Tomura returns to work under Hajime Yanagida at "Aphro I dite." The ambitious Yanagida Hajime takes one step after another to demonstrate his talents to the world. One of these is the capsule collection, for which Tomura Ikuto devotes himself wholeheartedly. While the capsule collection is a success, Tomura's contributions are so compelling that it's hard to imagine how successful it would have been without his efforts.
Appointed Chief of Novice
Mai Ayano, president of "Aphro I dite," has had her eye on Tomura Ikuto since the Geika Festival. While he worked as a pattern maker, she recognized his flair as a designer and promoted him to chief designer of "Novice," one of the brand's lines. However, since Sakuma Mii was already the chief of Novice, the two of them decided to work together to prepare for the collection in Tokyo. Despite the somewhat awkward atmosphere, Tomura Ikuto, unable to stop, pushes forward with his goal of making it to Paris Fashion Week.
Ikuto Tsumura's Evaluation as a Designer
"Smile on the Runway" tells the story of Ikuto Tsumura, who aspires to be a fashion designer, and Chiyuki Fujito, who aspires to be a Paris Fashion Week model. Tsumura's achievements in particular are particularly noteworthy. Not only does he work hard to realize his dream of becoming a designer, but he also discovers a new goal: to appear at the Paris Fashion Week with Chiyuki Fujito. Let's take a look at how Ikuto Tsumura is evaluated as a designer, based on the content of the show.
Creating Clothes That Fit the Wearer
Ikuto Tomura's clothes are always "close to the wearer." Apparently, he makes these clothes for his mother and sister, and models wearing his clothes at fashion shows have praised them for their beauty. While Ikuto Tomura's craftsmanship and ability to create clothes that delight the wearer are separate from his reputation as a designer. Throughout the story, we learn that a designer's reputation is only achieved by creating clothes that are imbued with the designer's ego and sense of style.
Hajime Yanagida's Skills Gradually Recognized
Ikuto Tomura works part-time at Hajime Yanagida's atelier, and again in "Aphro I dite," as a pattern maker. His job is to create clothes that express the vision of his boss, Hajime Yanagida, and the story depicts him carefully considering his thoughts and intentions as he creates his final pieces. Even during his part-time days, Hajime Yanagida highly praised Tomura's ability to interpret clothing patterns. For this reason, "Aphro I dite" encourages Ikuto to develop his skills as a pattern maker before expressing his desire to become a designer.
Toh Ayano Recognizes him as a Pattern Maker
In the series, Toh Ayano, who is known for his ingenuity, is Ikuto Tomura's greatest rival. He also recognizes his talent, but only as a pattern maker. It could be said that his sense as a designer is far inferior to that of Ikuto Tomura, who joined "Aphro I dite." However, their perspectives, such as the best materials to use in the clothes they are aiming for, are equally refined, so it's likely that one day he will surpass Toh Ayano.
Mai Ayano Recognizes both his designs and his direction
Mai Ayano, the president of "Aphro I dite," had been keeping an eye on Ikuto Tomura's performance at the Geika Festival. Thanks to Mii Sakuma's kindness, one of his designs caught her eye, leading to his promotion to Novice Chief Designer. He was also one of the people who highly praised the structure of the show at the Geika Festival. Although he wasn't a judge, his final performance, featuring simple, personalized clothing, was so compelling that he exclaimed, "I'll do that too."
Relationship with the Heroine, Chiyuki Fujito
After meeting Chiyuki Fujito, the heroine of "Smile on the Runway," Ikuto Tsumura embarked on his career as a designer. Without her, he would have gotten a job at a regular company after graduation and continued making clothes for his family and neighbors. Let's take a look at how the story portrays his relationship with Chiyuki Fujito, who guided him into the world of design.
They were classmates in high school
Ikuto Tomura and Chiyuki Fujito were in the same class, but they hadn't spoken a word until then. As Chiyuki Fujito was in charge of collecting career survey forms, they first spoke when she collected Ikuto's. Up until then, Chiyuki Fujito had repeatedly failed auditions to join Mille Neige, but as she interacted with him, she began to see her own situation and asked him to make her "the clothes that would make her the most attractive." The story begins with this.
Experiencing Their First Fashion Show Together
Chiyuki Fujito's father, Kenji, arranged for Ikuto to work at Yanagida Hajime's atelier. Despite harsh words being thrown at him, he persevered and finally experienced his first fashion show. Despite the chaos caused by a series of problems, Tomura Ikuto teams up for the first time with Chiyuki Fujito, who suddenly arrives as a model. He fits her with clothes and not only leads the show to success, but also becomes drawn to the appeal of the designer's work.
Becoming Ones Who Enhance Each Other
In numerous episodes, Tomura Ikuto is helped by Chiyuki Fujito. And vice versa, Chiyuki Fujito seems to be saved by Tomura Ikuto's presence. Their mutual support, even when they're apart, is heartwarming. After graduating, the two work hard in "Aphro I dite" and in the entertainment industry. With Tomura Ikuto living alone, their daily interactions increase, and the two eventually set their sights on walking in the Paris Fashion Week together.
Summary
"Smiling on the Runway" is a story about the fashion industry, but as a shonen manga, it's hard to take your eyes off the protagonists' growth. The development of his relationship with the heroine, Chiyuki Fujito, is also attracting attention, as he is portrayed as desperately striving to achieve his goals. It's only because of Chiyuki Fujito that Tsumura Ikuto is able to work hard, and it's fascinating to see how he grows and deepens his relationship with her.
