Kenji Inoue

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Lore & Background

Kenji Inoue is the writer of *Grand Blue Dreaming*, a manga series serialized in Kodansha's *Good! Afternoon* since April 2014. The series is illustrated by Kimitake Yoshioka. Inoue's writing shapes the story of Iori Kitahara, a first-year Mechanical Engineering student at Izu University who moves to the Izu Peninsula to stay above his uncle's diving shop "Grand Blue." The plot follows Iori as he is quickly swept up by the local Diving Club, a group of buff men who spend more time drinking, partying, and stripping naked than diving. Despite his attempts to distance himself, Iori gets drawn into their antics while his cousins try to show him the wonders of diving. The manga has been adapted into an anime television series by Zero-G that aired from July to September 2018, a live-action film released in August 2020, a second anime season by Zero-G and Liber that aired from July to September 2025, and a third season by Zero-G and Saber Works that premiered in July 2026.

In Their Own Story

Kenji Inoue writes the story of *Grand Blue Dreaming*, which begins when Iori Kitahara looks forward to his new life on the Izu Peninsula as he prepares to start college. He stays in a room above his uncle's diving shop "Grand Blue," but is quickly shocked as he meets the local Diving Club, a group full of buff men who spend more time drinking, partying, and stripping naked than actually diving. Despite his attempts to distance himself from the group, Iori gets quickly swept up in their antics, while his cousins try to show him the wonders of diving into the ocean and sea. The series includes characters such as Iori's cousin Chisa Kotegawa, a composed and intelligent young woman devoted to diving, and Kōhei Imamura, Iori's best friend and rival who is an eccentric otaku. The manga has been published in English by Kodansha USA under the Kodansha Comics imprint.

Reader's Guide

Kenji Inoue is the writer of *Grand Blue Dreaming*, working with illustrator Kimitake Yoshioka. The series is serialized in Kodansha's *Good! Afternoon* magazine since April 2014. Inoue's writing focuses on the comedic and chaotic adventures of the Diving Club at Izu University, where characters like Iori Kitahara, Chisa Kotegawa, and Kōhei Imamura navigate college life, drinking parties, and diving. The manga has been adapted into multiple anime seasons and a live-action film. The first anime season by Zero-G aired from July to September 2018, the live-action film was released in August 2020, the second anime season by Zero-G and Liber aired from July to September 2025, and the third season by Zero-G and Saber Works premiered in July 2026. The English version is published by Kodansha USA under the Kodansha Comics imprint.

Did You Know?

• Kenji Inoue is the writer of *Grand Blue Dreaming*, which has been serialized in Kodansha's *Good! Afternoon* since April 2014.
• The manga has been adapted into three anime seasons: the first by Zero-G in 2018, the second by Zero-G and Liber in 2025, and the third by Zero-G and Saber Works in 2026.
• A live-action film adaptation of *Grand Blue Dreaming* was released in August 2020.
• The series is published in English by Kodansha USA under the Kodansha Comics imprint.
• The story follows Iori Kitahara, a first-year Mechanical Engineering student at Izu University, who gets involved with a diving club that spends more time drinking and partying than diving.