Daiki Yamashita, the voice actor for Izuku “Deku” Midoriya in My Hero Academia, recently shared an exciting gift he received from the series’ creator, Kohei Horikoshi, on Twitter.
The gift is a special mug featuring Japanese text along with images of Deku and his love interest, Ochako Uraraka. While the exact message on the mug is unclear, it is presumed to celebrate the milestone of the My Hero Academia manga reaching 100 million copies in circulation.
This assumption is supported by the presence of Horikoshi’s author avatar and a speech bubble on the mug, as well as the caption in Yamashita’s tweet.
Horikoshi’s Gift to My Hero Academia Voice Actor Inspires Optimism
Fans of My Hero Academia are particularly thrilled by this gift, interpreting it as a hopeful sign for the romantic pairing of Deku and Uraraka, known as “Izuocha” among fans.
Despite the series entering its epilogue, the canon status of this ship has been a topic of much anticipation and speculation. While there have been no explicit indications that the ship won’t happen, fans eagerly seek any subtle confirmations.
The choice of Deku and Uraraka for the mug, which Yamashita confirmed will not be reproduced, has been seen as a deliberate and significant decision by Horikoshi.
堀越先生からもらったぞい！！！！！
1億って本当にすごい！！！！！
もちろん転載はNG！！！ pic.twitter.com/wQ2uKZ4Vpg— 山下大輝 Daiki Yamashita (@DaiKing_boy) June 6, 2024
This exclusive gift suggests a special acknowledgment of the pair, and fans are celebrating this move as a near-official endorsement of the ship.
The reactions on social media have been overwhelmingly focused on this interpretation, with fans expressing their excitement and support.
Comments from fans have included exclamations such as “WE GOT IZUOCHA MUG” and “WE GOT A CRUMBLE OF THEMM AHH,” reflecting their joy at this “crumble” of confirmation.
Despite the mug being a unique gift for Yamashita, the enthusiasm among the fanbase highlights the importance of the Izuocha pairing to the community.
Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia manga began serialization in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in July 2014 and continues to be serialized.
The series is currently in its epilogue phase and is expected to conclude within the year, barring any unforeseen delays. Out of the 424 chapters published, 410 have been compiled into 40 volumes, with 38 volumes available in English.
The anime adaptation, produced by Studio Bones, is airing its seventh season and is anticipated to cover most of the manga’s final arc, except for the epilogue.
This special gift from Horikoshi to Yamashita has sparked a wave of excitement and speculation among fans, further fueling their passion and anticipation for the series’ concluding chapters and the fate of the beloved characters.
