Highlights
- The time period in which Oshi no Ko takes place is around 2008-2010, indicated by the use of specific technology such as phones and search engines.
- The series features real-life brand references, including YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok, as well as sponsorship from Kodansha.
- The characters' actions and knowledge suggest that Memcho is an adult with internet experience, while Aqua's medical background allows him to recognize signs of self-harm and the perfect spot for suicide.
Oshi no Ko's first season has officially ended, but there are some small details viewers may have missed, that will help piece together the overarching narrative of the story. An Idol with a double life, living in an industry that centers itself around deceit; while finding her own truth and what it means to love someone.
But maybe this is more than standard criticism of the entertainment industry - perhaps even something much darker. From the time period the show takes place, to the mystery behind the perpetrator, Oshi no Ko's rewatch value may be a lot higher than we initially speculated.
What Year Is It?
When the anime initially premiered, viewers theorized where the timeline takes place. In episode 1, we see Goro using Zahoo!, which is clearly a reference to Yahoo!, for news. Around 2010, Yahoo! was the most popular search engine in Japan. Additionally, we see Goro using what looks to be an iPhone 3G model, which was released in 2008 unlike the iPhone 4 model, which came out in 2010. However, later on, we see him using his phone's flashlight, so this may very well have actually been an iPhone 4. Sarina on the other hand, has a gara-kei flip phone, which were Japan's version of the iPhone (given that they could send emails, surf the web, etc.) around the late 2000s. We can conclude that the time period this takes place in is around 2008-2010.
Sponsored By...
There are multiple references to real life brands in Oshi no Ko, the most obvious ones being YouTube, Twitter, and Tiktok. But it looks like even Kodansha had a part in sponsoring this series. When Aqua and Ruby are playing in the playground, Aqua is reading a book, that's definitely not of preschool age. Looking at the cover, it's reminiscent of a real horror novel by Kodansha. We can assume it was released before Goro's death, which is how he knew where to find it.
Catching Up With The Times
In episode 2, when Ruby receives a phone call from Aqua pretending to be a recruiting agent, we see she has an iPhone 13, which came out in 2021. However, given the fact that the school year in Japan begins in April, we can conclude that this actually takes place in 2022. Since Ruby and Aqua are 15 years-old (high school begins in 10th grade in Japan), this means Ai gave birth to them in 2007, which adds up because gara-kei phones and the iPhone 3 came out that year. In this case, it means that Goro couldn't have had the iPhone 4 - so this may have been an oversight on the animators' part.
A Grown Up's Instinct
When Akane goes out during a hurricane to "buy groceries", Memcho and Aqua are quick to catch on. Memcho, having been on the internet for a long time, knows what cyberbullying can do - and likely has witnessed similar incidents. This can allude to the fact that she's an adult. Aqua on the other hand, is a doctor - and even those in the medical field are often trained in mental health and recognizing signs of self-harm. That's why he knew exactly where to find her, and given the location he lives in, he's likely familiar with the city layout and knows the perfect spot to commit suicide: a bridge overlooking the highway.
The "Truth"
In Japanese legend, the goddess, Amaterasu is associated with crows, and crows represent "truth". When Aqua makes a vow for vengeance, we see his pupil take the shape of a crow before it becomes his iconic "black star", hinting that now he's not just out for revenge - but for the truth as well. In episode 12, when Ruby is visiting her mother's grave, we see a flock of crows in the foreground. Manga readers will recognize this specific scene as their father's first introduction.
Oshi no Ko is greenlit for a second season, though no further information has been released yet. In the meantime, the manga is available on MangaPlus.