The latest issue of Weekly Young Magazine has surprised fans with a unique cosplay collaboration featuring the cast of the TV anime Yani Neko. While model and cosplayer Kokoro Shinozaki appeared as the series’ protagonist, it was veteran voice actor Toru Inada who stole the spotlight after cosplaying the very character he voices.
Following the magazine’s release on July 21, fans quickly began sharing images online, with many joking that the cosplay was “almost too authentic.”
The cosplay gravure, published in Weekly Young Magazine Issue #34, features Kokoro Shinozaki dressed as Yani-ko, alongside Toru Inada, who appears as the apartment landlord (“Ōya”), the character he voices in the anime.
Because of Inada’s striking resemblance to the character, fans flooded social media with reactions praising the casting.
Comments included:
“Don’t bring the real one.”
“This looks like they could film a live-action short drama.”
Many also described the cosplay as being “basically the real character.”
Toru Inada Reacts
Inada himself also responded to the overwhelmingly positive reception on X, joking about the opportunity.
“A once-in-a-lifetime miracle!”
He also encouraged fans to pick up the magazine, adding with a laugh:
“I think one person can probably buy as many copies as they want, so please buy lots of them.”
Originally serialized in Weekly Young Magazine, Yani Neko is a comedy manga created by the manga team Nyannyan Factory.
Set in a world where humans and beastfolk coexist, the series follows the lazy beastfolk protagonist Yani-ko and the bizarre everyday situations surrounding her.
The manga received a TV anime adaptation in July 2026, attracting attention both in Japan and overseas for its unconventional humor and over-the-top storytelling.
The cosplay collaboration has become one of the anime’s latest viral moments, with fans praising both Kokoro Shinozaki’s faithful recreation of Yani-ko and Toru Inada’s unexpectedly perfect portrayal of his own character.
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About Yani Neko
Yani Neko is a comedy manga written and illustrated by Nyannyan Factory and serialized in Weekly Young Magazine. The story is set in a world where humans and beastfolk live together, following the carefree beastfolk Yani-ko as she gets caught up in chaotic everyday life. The series received a TV anime adaptation in 2026, introducing its eccentric cast and offbeat comedy to a wider audience.
Source: Official Website
