I am very happy and honored to receive the Excellence Prize in the Manga Division at the Japan Media Arts Festival. This story has been classified as an 'entrance exam introduction manga', but I regard it as a drama about people who grow and progress through effort and indomitable spirit. I will take this prize as a form of encouragement and I will strive to produce even better manga to be enjoyed by readers. Thank you so very much again.

This manga has also been dramatized on television. It is an entrance examination version of the "Spokon (sports grit) Manga" genre. It is the story of a teacher who takes on an unsuccessful student and, using Spartan methods, tutors him to pass the entrance exam for TokyoUniversity. The theme is not new, the composition is somewhat orthodox and it is true that there was criticism of the drawing skill. However, the story is told with such great conviction and pathos that these weaknesses are easily overlooked. It is a very entertaining manga, which is probably the most important thing.