Io Sakisaka
GUEST OF HONOR 2026
Mangaka of Blue Spring Ride, Strobe Edge, Sakura, Saku, and more...
Io Sakisaka
Io Sakisaka, the queen of modern shōjo, is the guest of honor at Heroes World featuring Made in Asia 2026!
An essential mangaka, author of romantic stories and coming-of-age tales of rare emotional depth, Io Sakisaka is a major figure in contemporary Japanese pop culture. With her soft and expressive art style, unique sensitivity, and perfect mastery of teenage emotions, she has redefined the codes of shōjo, captivating the hearts of millions of readers around the world.
An exceptional guest of honor thanks to Kana
This is one of the major events of the year: Io Sakisaka will be the guest of honor at the 2026 edition! Her appearance on October 17 and 18 at Heroes World featuring Made in Asia at Brussels Expo is a unique and rare opportunity for European fans. This exceptional event has been made possible thanks to the collaboration of Kana, the author’s long-standing publisher in French-speaking countries. For two days, the public will have the chance to meet this iconic mangaka in an exclusive setting.
Phenomenal success in French-speaking countries
While Io Sakisaka’s talent shines internationally, her connection with French-speaking audiences is truly historic. Led by her cult masterpiece Blue Spring Ride (Ao Haru Ride), all of her series published by Kana have surpassed the symbolic milestone of one million copies sold in French-speaking countries. An exceptional achievement that reflects the cultural impact of her stories, which have become definitive, cross-generational classics of romantic manga.
Iconic works adapted into anime and films
Io Sakisaka’s success goes far beyond the printed page. The strength of her stories and the beauty of her artwork have inspired numerous anime adaptations as well as theatrical films, bringing her stories to screens around the world.
Beyond the Blue Spring Ride phenomenon, Io Sakisaka has made her mark on the industry with a succession of major hits:
Strobe Edge: The touching work that revealed her talent for portraying the first stirrings of love with great sincerity.
Love, Be Loved, Leave, Be Left: A poignant, interwoven romance exploring the different facets of love during adolescence, also adapted into an animated film and a live-action film.
Sakura, Saku: A recent manga series about personal growth.
Dream or Reality?: Her brand-new series, which confirms her status as an exceptional analyst of human emotions.
An exclusive masterclass on Saturday
On Saturday, October 17, Io Sakisaka will give an exclusive one-hour masterclass. This exceptional event will be the perfect opportunity for fans and manga enthusiasts to discover her creative secrets, look back on her entire career, and gain insight into the behind-the-scenes process behind her iconic stories. A must-see opportunity for fans to meet and engage with her!
Autograph sessions and meet-and-greets
To celebrate her appearance at Heroes World, Io Sakisaka will also take part in autograph sessions throughout the weekend.
Saturday, October 17:
- 10:30 AM to 12 PM
- 3:30 PM to 5 PM
Sunday, October 18:
- 10 AM to 11:30 AM
- 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Please note:
taking a photo with the author is allowed, but posting it on social media is prohibited.
How to Meet Her?
An exclusive masterclass
On Saturday, Io Sakisaka will give an exclusive masterclass!
Saturday – from 2 PM to 3 PM at Auditorium 2000
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- Please note: a paid Made in Asia admission ticket is still required.
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- A collector’s ticket for the masterclass will be handed out at the entrance to the Auditorium. Once the room is full, no further access will be permitted. First come, first served.
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- The conference will be translated into French.
- Taking photos or videos is prohibited.
Three people will be randomly selected from the audience to receive a Made in Asia poster signed and illustrated by the author.
Get an autograph
The autograph sessions will take place on Saturday and Sunday. To have the opportunity to meet the author and get her autograph, you will need to
go to the autograph stand and purchase her latest manga, Dream or Reality?, in either the standard or collector’s edition.
Each purchase of a volume at the stand will grant direct access to an autograph session
(limited number of tickets per session),
with an exclusive art print offered for the occasion (while stocks last).
The autograph can be made on the medium of your choice:
either the complimentary art print or any manga by the author of your choice (Dream or Reality?, Blue Spring Ride, Strobe Edge, Sakura, Saku, Love, Be Loved, Leave, Be Left).
