Manga maestro Gosho Aoyama, the genius behind iconic series like "Magic Kaito," "Yaiba," and "Detective Conan," recently sat down for an interview on Yomiuri TV's "Kawashima & Yamauchi's Manga Numa" special, "Gosho Aoyama SP! Part 2." Beyond his manga creations, he dished on his personal life, future plans, and even his hobbies.
Among the topics, Aoyama revealed his favorite games, including none other than Kantai Collection! This tidbit immediately piqued fan interest, especially when he declared that playing the game is his absolute best way to unwind.
▼ Gosho Aoyama's other go-to games include "Animal Crossing," "Pokémon Sleep," and "Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket."
For the uninitiated, "Kantai Collection" is a web browser game that launched way back in 2013. Despite being over a decade old, it still boasts a dedicated fleet of "Admirals" actively playing. The game continuously introduces new "Kanmusu" (ship girls), and the franchise has spawned a wealth of anime, manga, novels, and countless fan creations at doujin events and cosplay gatherings.
However, hearing Aoyama describe "Kantai Collection" as his ultimate relaxation might lead some to believe it's a chill, easy-breezy game. But for anyone familiar with the title, the immediate reaction is usually: "So drawing manga must be brutal, huh?"
That's because "Kantai Collection" is notoriously demanding, requiring significant time and mental effort to grind through its challenging stages. It's far from a casual romp. The fact that Gosho Aoyama, a top-tier Admiral who consistently clears the highest difficulty events, considers it "relaxing" just goes to show his incredible skill. For the average player, it's a constant struggle, filled with lamentations over difficult progression, let alone tackling the brutal "Admiral-level" operations.
Aoyama's love for "Kantai Collection" isn't exactly a secret. He's mentioned it before in the "Detective Conan Super Encyclopedia PLUS SDB" book, and his in-game ID, "Yamamoto Harlock Isoroku," is widely known among players. He even personally drew a 10th-anniversary illustration for the game!
The official "Kantai Collection" staff themselves have lauded Aoyama, stating, "Despite his incredibly busy work schedule, he consistently challenges and successfully clears the highest difficulty Admiral-level operations in every limited-time event." This dedication has earned him the affectionate nickname "Master Admiral Aoyama" among the player base.
It's clear that even amidst his demanding creative work, Gosho Aoyama never neglects his duties as an Admiral. His unwavering dedication (and perhaps generous investment) keeps the game thriving, earning him immense respect from fellow "Kantai Collection" players!