Saraba Seishun no Hikari presents the manga Gunyū wo Tsuzuru with their izakaya sketch

The comedy duo Saraba Seishun no Hikari appears in the promotional video for the manga Gunyū wo Tsuzuru (群雄を綴る), posted on the official Shūkan Shōnen Magazine channel. The piece marks the release of the series' first collected volume and adapts one of the duo's most iconic sketches: the izakaya one.

The video keeps the structure of the original number. The two comedians introduce the manga with a calm, almost deadpan exchange that moves along unhurriedly until it lands on the shout that closes the sketch: "Chūmon!" (The check, please!). The mix of manga promotion and the duo's dry humor makes for a deliberately odd piece.

This isn't the first time the publisher has turned to well-known figures to promote its titles. The magazine itself notes that several artists and celebrities have appeared in promotional videos before. What's new here is different: Saraba Seishun no Hikari not only appears in the piece, they also voice the magazine's animated logo.

That detail wasn't planned. The editorial department's PR manager, who handles the logo's production, admits no one told him: "I saw the video without knowing anything beforehand, it was a total surprise. Many celebrities have appeared in PVs up to now, but having them also record the logo's voice is a first. Thank you."

A logo that shifts in tone

The Magazine's animated logo was created in 2024 within the editorial team itself. The original version uses a child's voice and gives off a fresh image. With the duo's voices, the result is very different: the tone turns unsettling, almost disconcerting, and fits the overall mood of the video.

The choice of Saraba Seishun no Hikari isn't random. Their humor draws on the absurd and on dead air, two elements that define the izakaya sketch. Applied to the presentation of a fantasy manga, the contrast works precisely because the combination is so unexpected.

What Gunyū wo Tsuzuru is about

Gunyū wo Tsuzuru follows Shiro, a young man who dreams of becoming a novelist. His life changes when he meets Jin, a man who has risen up against the oppressive country of Shinka. Shiro sees in him the hero he always wanted to portray in his stories: honorable, skilled in combat, and with his eyes set on the future.

Jin is searching for the Shinsenhō, a weapon capable of toppling nations created by an immortal hermit. Shiro decides to go with him. The story is framed as a tale of revolution in which different ideas of justice collide, with the ambition of building a large-scale fantasy.

The first collected volume is now on sale in Japan. The series continues to run in Shūkan Shōnen Magazine.

Did you know Saraba Seishun no Hikari's izakaya sketch? Tell us in the comments if this kind of promotion works for you with a fantasy manga.