Reiji Miyajima, creator of Rent-A-Girlfriend, has kicked off a fresh round of debate after fans noticed new official artwork and recent chapters where protagonist Kazuya Kinoshita’s look—and even a celebratory color page—appear strikingly similar to the author himself. Social posts quickly branded it a “self-insert,” arguing that Miyajima had effectively drawn himself beside the series’ heroine, Chizuru Mizuhara.
What sparked the controversy
A color spread in Weekly Shōnen Magazine Issue 48 (2025) celebrating ~400 chapters shows Kazuya styled with features many fans say mirror Miyajima’s own hair and face shape. Around the same time, chapters giving Kazuya a makeover amplified the chatter that the mangaka “turned Kazuya into himself.” Entertainment outlets and viral posts highlighted the resemblance, fueling the self-insert narrative.
How fans are reacting
Online reaction is split. Critics call the move “cringe” meta-fantasy, saying it blurs the line between creator and character—especially in a romance whose heroine the author has publicly doted on for years. Supporters counter that rom-com leads often reflect their authors, and that visual tweaks are a harmless way to mark a new era for the series. The flare-up follows long-running discourse about Miyajima’s relationship to his cast and his public praise of Chizuru.
Context you should know
Miyajima has previously acknowledged that Kazuya’s personality draws from his own, which makes the current claims easier for fans to believe—even if there’s no formal statement confirming an intentional self-portrait on the page. The timing also matters: the manga recently crossed the 400-chapter mark and rolled out a visual refresh for Kazuya, making any resemblance more noticeable.
Industry perspective
Author stand-ins aren’t new—literature and manga are full of them—but doing it in a hugely popular rom-com with a fiercely discussed heroine magnifies the effect. To some, it reads as playful meta-commentary; to others, it heightens parasocial discomfort. Either way, the move keeps Rent-A-Girlfriend in the cultural conversation as it hits major milestones.
What’s (probably) next
Neither Kodansha nor Miyajima has issued a formal explanation about the resemblance. With new chapters and promotional art on the way, expect the “self-insert” debate to flare up whenever Kazuya’s updated design appears—especially on color pages and covers that place him alongside Chizuru. If the look sticks, it may become part of how fans read the late-series dynamics between author, avatar, and heroine.
