How Oshi No Ko and Kaguya-sama are Related Explained

On the face of it, the two series have little in common. However, it’s been all but confirmed that Oshi no Ko and Kaguya-sama: Love is War are connected!

Both manga are created by Aka Akasaka and exist in the same universe. However, the lore goes even deeper, with fans noticing distinct links across both stories.

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What are Oshi no Ko and Kaguya-sama: Love is War About?

Many people are aware of Kaguya-sama from its long-running anime series. However, Oshi no Ko also has a rapidly-growing fanbase thanks to its more recent and hugely popular anime adaptation.

Oshi no Ko (roughly meaning Idol's Child) revolves around the twin children of Ai Hoshino, a popular idol who suffered from the darker side of the entertainment industry.

Both twins are, in fact, reincarnated fans who try to follow in their mother’s footsteps and face the evils that come with being a popular figure.

Kaguya-sama: Love is War, meanwhile, is a romantic comedy anime that follows two high-flying students who refuse to confess to each other first.

Both stories are conceived by Aka Akasaka. While Kaguya-sama is purely credited to Akasaka, Oshi no Ko sees Mengo Yokoyari (Scum’s Wish) produce the artwork.

Discover: Where to Watch Oshi no Ko

Are Kaguya-sama and Oshi no Ko Connected?

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It's been confirmed that both Kaguya-sama and Oshi no Ko’s stories take place in the same world. Aka Akasaka confessed as much during a Twitter Q&A back in 2021:

Beyond the mangaka's confession, there is also evidence in the overlapping cultural material, such as music and comics, that exist in both series.

One example is Sweet Today, an in-universe manga in Kaguya-sama: Love is War. There is a memorable moment in season 2 where Kei and Miyuki Shirogane, and later Ishigami, all cry from reading the manga.

While relatively inconsequential in Kaguya-sama, Sweet Today actually plays an important role in Oshi no Ko.

The series is credited to Yoriko Kichijouji, a mangaka and supporting character in Oshi no Ko. The series also receives a live-action adaptation early in the Oshi no Ko story, involving some of the main characters.

Another crossover between Oshi no Ko and Kaguya-sama is the idol group B-Komachi, which Oshi no Ko's star Ai Hoshino previously fronted. In Kaguya-sama's manga, Tsubame sings one of their songs in a karaoke scene.

What is the Timeline Between Kaguya-sama and Oshi no Ko?

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There are very few concrete dates in either series, but it’s assumed that Oshi no Ko takes place around a decade after the events of Kaguya-sama.

One of the main reasons for this idea is the references to B-Komachi as a popular group in Kaguya-sama. Beyond the early prologue in Oshi no Ko, that group has long since been disbanded.

Another reason in favour of this idea is the manga, Sweet Today, which has ended in the Oshi no Ko universe.

There are many theories about the exact amount of time between both stories. Some believe the gap might be just a few years, something Akasaka has alluded to before.

Generally, though, it’s believed there must be around a decade between Kaguya-sama and Oshi no Ko.

Note: Beware of major Kaguya-sama: Love is War Spoilers in the next section!

Do Kaguya and Shirogane Appear in Oshi no Ko?

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If the timelines mentioned above are correct, Kaguya and Shirogane will be young adults during Oshi no Ko.

So far, Kaguya-sama's stars have not appeared in the main Oshi no Ko story. However, last year, a special crossover chapter shone some light on what Kaguya and Shirogane are up to after the events of Love is War.

In a special crossover last year, it was revealed that "Kaguya Shirogane" now has a career as a photographer in the Oshi no Ko universe.

So far, Kaguya is the only member of the core cast from Kaguya-sama to appear in Oshi no Ko in any form. However, perhaps we shouldn't rule out some more surprise cameos in the future!

Other Character Connections Between Kaguya-sama and Oshi no Ko

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Beyond Kaguya-sama's core cast, there are a few links between other characters in Oshi no Ko and Kaguya-sama, mainly involving side characters.

One of the all-but-confirmed links is the Shiranui sisters. Koromo Shiranui is a classmate of Yu Ishigami and Miko Iino in Kaguya-sama, while Frill Shiranui is a classmate of Oshi no Ko’s Ruby Hoshino.

Both of the Shiranui sisters’ names are clothing related, and both are performers to some degree, so it’s believed that Koromo is Frill’s older sister.

There are also some theories linking some of the biggest characters together. While nothing has been confirmed, we will likely see some more details in the future given the series’ links and popularity so far!

Hopefully, if Oshi no Ko continues to achieve more success, we will see more Kaguya-sama characters appear!

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