There have always been a lot of talks around diversity and inclusion in manga and anime. Even though the popular classic, Bleach, is considered the pinnacle of Black representation, the sparsity of people of color represented in Japanese media has still often raised many questions.

While modern anime and manga are trying to fix this issue, there are already two hidden gems that are leaps and bounds ahead. Atsushi Ohkubo’s works, Fire Force and Soul Eater, might have gone unnoticed, but they certainly need more recognition for avoiding any type of stereotypical portrayals.

Fire Force | Credit: David Production

In his past and latest works, Ohkubo has left no stone unturned to tackle the issue of diversity, and it is very much evident in his works featuring a world where inclusion isn’t a fad. When it comes to inclusivity, Fire Force and Soul Eater have set blazing standards for others to follow,...