Bkub Okawa, the mastermind behind the wildly popular "Pop Team Epic" and known for his distinct art style, frequently shares his illustrations on X. In recent years, he's even launched a YouTube channel, streaming games as a VTuber and actively engaging with his fans.
Last weekend, the Osaka World Expo hosted the "Cool Japan Showcase Anime Manga Tourism Festival," and its "Manga Artist Message Board" section blew up online, leaving many who missed it kicking themselves. Among the artists featured was Bkub Okawa, who, yesterday (May 4th), dropped a bombshell: he shared the illustration he *originally* submitted, which was "politely declined" by the organizers. Naturally, the internet exploded with laughter.
On May 4th, Okawa posted the rejected artwork on X. True to his signature absurd style, the illustration boldly declared "LOVE Hyogo."
With the 2025 Expo being hosted by Osaka, there's a long-standing, subtle rivalry between Hyogo Prefecture and Osaka in terms of geography and culture. So, this "forceful insertion of Hyogo love" was widely interpreted by netizens as a deliberate, dark-humored jab at the organizers. (Turns out, Okawa is actually from Hyogo himself!)
While the official reason for the rejection wasn't explicitly stated, netizens almost universally agreed: it was simply "too Okawa" for the Expo's approval.
One netizen hilariously quipped, "Seriously, how did you ever think this would get approved?!" Others chimed in, "He literally crossed a prefectural line he shouldn't have," and "That 'LOVE Hyogo' part is definitely a landmine LOL."
Some eagle-eyed fans also pointed out that the illustration included phrases like "Japanese Yakuza," and when you combine that with the Hyogo element, it's basically a straight-up red card. "Yakuza *and* Hyogo? That combo is just asking for trouble," one commented. "Did you honestly think this could represent Japan's image? lol."
Later, netizens dug up the official version of Okawa's illustration that *did* get approved. While his signature style was still recognizable, the content was noticeably "much milder." One fan jokingly remarked, "It looks so normal I almost didn't recognize it!" Another added, "No 'LOVE Hyogo'? Yeah, that's definitely safer."
This illustration kerfuffle not only highlighted Bkub Okawa's unique creative style once again but also showcased "Pop Team Epic's" knack for stirring up trouble. From a single rejected drawing, it sparked a whole series of "Hyogo vs. Osaka" memes and jokes. Honestly, there was a *very* good reason Okawa's original submission got the boot!
via： togetter