Keigo Maki
Description
Keigo Maki is a Japanese manga artist best known as the creator of the romantic comedy series Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie. Maki is the sole author and illustrator of the series, which was serialized in Kodansha's Magazine Pocket digital manga magazine from February 2019 to February 2023. The manga originated from a short work Maki posted on Twitter on September 8, 2018, featuring the same characters, before being developed into a full serialization. The story follows the daily lives of a high school couple, Yuuki Izumi and Miyako Shikimori, exploring their relationship dynamics with the premise that the unlucky Izumi is often protected by his girlfriend, who has a hidden cool and heroic side.
The success of Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie led to a television anime adaptation produced by studio Doga Kobo, which aired from April to July 2022. The series achieved significant commercial success, with its cumulative circulation surpassing five million copies by April 2025. Following the conclusion of his debut work, Maki launched a new manga series titled NakiNagi, which debuted on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket service in March 2025. This series centers on a quiet witch named Nakika who lives on the surface to learn about human emotions while supporting her best friend Nagisa in romantic matters, described as a wholesome story of a girl in love and her watchful guardian.
Maki's artistic identity is characterized by his focus on wholesome romantic comedies with distinct character dynamics. In Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie, he subverts typical romantic comedy tropes by presenting a couple already in a relationship from the very first chapter, with the female lead possessing a dual nature as both adorable and princely when protecting her boyfriend. His work is published in multiple languages internationally, including Spanish and English editions. Maki is recognized for his engaging storytelling and character designs that blend romance and comedy in relatable high school settings, establishing him as a contemporary figure in the manga industry.
The success of Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie led to a television anime adaptation produced by studio Doga Kobo, which aired from April to July 2022. The series achieved significant commercial success, with its cumulative circulation surpassing five million copies by April 2025. Following the conclusion of his debut work, Maki launched a new manga series titled NakiNagi, which debuted on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket service in March 2025. This series centers on a quiet witch named Nakika who lives on the surface to learn about human emotions while supporting her best friend Nagisa in romantic matters, described as a wholesome story of a girl in love and her watchful guardian.
Maki's artistic identity is characterized by his focus on wholesome romantic comedies with distinct character dynamics. In Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie, he subverts typical romantic comedy tropes by presenting a couple already in a relationship from the very first chapter, with the female lead possessing a dual nature as both adorable and princely when protecting her boyfriend. His work is published in multiple languages internationally, including Spanish and English editions. Maki is recognized for his engaging storytelling and character designs that blend romance and comedy in relatable high school settings, establishing him as a contemporary figure in the manga industry.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview