"B No Hoshisen": New manga by Hayashi Mamoru starts in the "Weekly Shonen Jump"

From now on, the manga series B no Hoshisen (German: B’s Sternenlinie) by Hayashi Mamoru graces the pages of Weekly Shonen Jump. The premiere took place in Issue No. 11 of the magazine, released on February 10, 2025. The story follows former piano prodigy Yoru Sōichirō, who turned his back on the world of music after a disappointing competition and vowed never to play again. However, his supposedly final retreat is abruptly disrupted when a mysterious man appears—claiming to be Ludwig van Beethoven.

The plot combines emotional depth with surreal elements: Sōichirō, once celebrated as a piano genius, grapples with self-doubt and the burden of past expectations. His encounter with the self-proclaimed Beethoven, who tries to lure him back to the keys, raises questions about identity, artistic passion, and coping with failure. A published preview video for the series visually hints at how music and existential conflicts merge here.

Hayashi Mamoru, whose previous works have not yet gained international recognition, relies on dynamic artwork that captures both the intimacy of piano playing and the grotesque presence of the Beethoven doppelgänger. The character designs emphasize the contrast between Sōichirō’s gloomy present and the radiant aura of his past.