Sai Naekawa
Description
Sai Naekawa is a Japanese manga artist and writer, best known as the creator of the ongoing supernatural series This Monster Wants to Eat Me. Naekawa began serializing this work in ASCII Media Works' Dengeki Maoh magazine on August 27, 2020. As of early 2026, the series has been compiled into eleven tankōbon volumes, with an English language release by Yen Press. The manga’s growing popularity led to an anime television adaptation, which aired for 13 episodes from October to December 2025. The anime was produced by Studio Lings, with Naekawa credited as the original creator.
Naekawa’s artistic identity is deeply rooted in a fascination with Japanese folklore and the coastal landscapes of their upbringing. They have stated that a childhood love of yokai, particularly the works of renowned artist Shigeru Mizuki, heavily inspired the monster elements of the story. Naekawa still lives in the Ehime Prefecture by the Seto Inland Sea, and the region’s calm yet isolated atmosphere directly shapes the manga’s setting and tone. The character of Shiori, a mermaid, was specifically designed to embody the duality of being both beautiful and ominous, a characteristic Naekawa feels distinguishes Japanese ningyo from Western mermaids. The protagonist’s last name, Yaotose, is also a deliberate reference to the Japanese legend of Yaobikuni, a nun who achieved immortality by eating mermaid flesh.
A recurring theme in Naekawa’s work is the exploration of dark emotional states and complex relationships, often framed through a lens of love, obsession, and the desire for death. This Monster Wants to Eat Me follows a girl named Hinako who wishes to die and a mermaid who promises to eventually eat her, creating a dynamic where the two are enemies working toward the same goal. Naekawa has noted that early concepts for the story were lighter, but the series was shifted in a darker direction on the advice of an editor. The creator cites Arina Tanemura as a major early influence on their art style, while the serious themes in their own work may have been inspired by series like Rozen Maiden and fan works for Touhou Project and Kantai Collection, both of which feature predominantly female casts.
In the manga industry, Naekawa has developed a reputation for both efficiency and a high level of detail. Editor Takumi Kamemaru has noted that Naekawa has a rare talent for maintaining beautiful artwork while submitting work early and never missing a deadline. Naekawa reportedly handles most of the illustration work personally, including intricate backgrounds, believing it to be more efficient than directing assistants. This dedication contributed to the manga’s adaptation, with producer Ena Hamabe citing the first chapter’s emotional impact as the direct inspiration for pursuing an anime. The anime adaptation sought to balance the beauty of Naekawa’s original art with the realistic landscapes of Ehime Prefecture, further cementing the creator’s vision.
Naekawa’s artistic identity is deeply rooted in a fascination with Japanese folklore and the coastal landscapes of their upbringing. They have stated that a childhood love of yokai, particularly the works of renowned artist Shigeru Mizuki, heavily inspired the monster elements of the story. Naekawa still lives in the Ehime Prefecture by the Seto Inland Sea, and the region’s calm yet isolated atmosphere directly shapes the manga’s setting and tone. The character of Shiori, a mermaid, was specifically designed to embody the duality of being both beautiful and ominous, a characteristic Naekawa feels distinguishes Japanese ningyo from Western mermaids. The protagonist’s last name, Yaotose, is also a deliberate reference to the Japanese legend of Yaobikuni, a nun who achieved immortality by eating mermaid flesh.
A recurring theme in Naekawa’s work is the exploration of dark emotional states and complex relationships, often framed through a lens of love, obsession, and the desire for death. This Monster Wants to Eat Me follows a girl named Hinako who wishes to die and a mermaid who promises to eventually eat her, creating a dynamic where the two are enemies working toward the same goal. Naekawa has noted that early concepts for the story were lighter, but the series was shifted in a darker direction on the advice of an editor. The creator cites Arina Tanemura as a major early influence on their art style, while the serious themes in their own work may have been inspired by series like Rozen Maiden and fan works for Touhou Project and Kantai Collection, both of which feature predominantly female casts.
In the manga industry, Naekawa has developed a reputation for both efficiency and a high level of detail. Editor Takumi Kamemaru has noted that Naekawa has a rare talent for maintaining beautiful artwork while submitting work early and never missing a deadline. Naekawa reportedly handles most of the illustration work personally, including intricate backgrounds, believing it to be more efficient than directing assistants. This dedication contributed to the manga’s adaptation, with producer Ena Hamabe citing the first chapter’s emotional impact as the direct inspiration for pursuing an anime. The anime adaptation sought to balance the beauty of Naekawa’s original art with the realistic landscapes of Ehime Prefecture, further cementing the creator’s vision.
Works
- Topics: Anime overview