:Bkub Okawa
{{Short description|Japanese manga artist (born 1986)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Bkub Okawa
| native_name = {{Nobold|大川ぶくぶ}}
| native_name_lang = ja
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|10|3}}
| birth_place = Japan
| other_names = {{Nihongo|Fuminbain|フミンバイン}}
| occupation = {{Flatlist|
- Illustrator
- manga artist}}
| years_active = 2008{{ndash}}present
| website =
| module = {{Infobox YouTube personality|embed=yes
| channel_id = UCtRAWUYADbQh2nY5r2DP2wA
| channel_display_name = Miyakko Kuso Chūnen
| years_active = 2021–present
| genre = {{Flatlist|
| subscribers = 44.9 thousand
| views = 3.09 million
| network =
| associated_acts =
| silver_button =
| stats_update = September 4, 2024
}}
}}
{{Nihongo|Bkub Okawa|大川ぶくぶ|Ōkawa Bukubu|extra=born October 3, 1986|lead=yes}} is a Japanese illustrator and manga artist. With his work consisting of 4-panel comics, Okawa debuted professionally in 2008 with the manga series Super Elegant and rose to popularity with his 2014 series Pop Team Epic. Okawa is also a regular contributing artist for the Ensemble Stars! media franchise.
Career
Prior to making his commercial debut, Okawa drew {{Transliteration|ja|dojinshi}} under the circle name Fuminbain, and continued to do so throughout most of his professional career. In 2008, he entered the 8th Dengeki Comic Grand Prix, where his comic 3LDKM won the Shōnen Manga Division Excellence Prize. Later that year, he released his first series, Super Elegant, through Dengeki G's Festival! Comic. In addition to drawing manga, as a contributor, Okawa regularly collaborates with other franchises such as Ensemble Stars! and King of Prism.{{cite news | url=https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20211021018/ | title=「KING OF PRISM -Shiny Seven Stars-」×「大川ぶくぶ」第2弾コラボアイテム7種の受注受付を開始 | language=ja | work=4gamer | date=October 21, 2021 | accessdate=July 16, 2022 | archive-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717092033/https://www.4gamer.net/games/999/G999905/20211021018/ | url-status=live }}
On October 3, 2021, Okawa launched a YouTube channel to celebrate his 35th birthday.{{cite news | first=Lynzee | last=Loveridge | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-10-08/pop-team-epic-creator-launches-youtube-channel-introduces-cats/.178224 | title=Pop Team Epic Creator Launches YouTube Channel, Introduces Cats | work=Anime News Network | date=October 8, 2021 | accessdate=July 16, 2022 | archive-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717092032/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2021-10-08/pop-team-epic-creator-launches-youtube-channel-introduces-cats/.178224 | url-status=live }} He later debuted as a VTuber on June 21, 2022, using a model designed by Nekosuke Okogemaru and sold on the resource website Nizima.{{cite news | first=Kara | last=Dennison | url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/06/23/pop-team-epic-creator-bkub-okawa-debuts-as-catboy-vtuber | title=Pop Team Epic Creator Bkub Okawa Debuts as Catboy VTuber | work=Crunchyroll | date=October 8, 2021 | accessdate=July 16, 2022 | archive-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717092033/https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2022/06/23/pop-team-epic-creator-bkub-okawa-debuts-as-catboy-vtuber | url-status=live }}
=Copyright violations=
Okawa's Twitter account was temporarily suspended on June 8, 2018.{{cite news | first=Jennifer | last=Sherman | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-06-08/pop-team-epic-manga-creator-twitter-account-suspended/.132645 | title=Pop Team Epic Manga Creator's Twitter Account Suspended | work=Anime News Network | date=June 8, 2018 | accessdate=July 16, 2022 | archive-date=July 21, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210721235208/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-06-08/pop-team-epic-manga-creator-twitter-account-suspended/.132645 | url-status=live }} After his account was reinstated, Okawa stated that the reason for the suspension was due to copyright infringement from a drawing he posted of MS-09B Dom from Mobile Suit Gundam;{{cite news | first=Lynzee | last=Loveridge | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-06-11/pop-team-epic-manga-creator-twitter-account-is-back/.132718 | title=Pop Team Epic Manga Creator's Twitter Account is Back | work=Anime News Network | date=June 11, 2018 | accessdate=July 16, 2022 | archive-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717092037/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-06-11/pop-team-epic-manga-creator-twitter-account-is-back/.132718 | url-status=live }} however, some online commenters have discussed that the suspension may have been a result of a coordinated attack from his detractors or from flippant death threats Okawa had made towards Lawson.
On October 4, 2018, manga artist Buichi Terasawa accused Okawa of copyright infringement over a collaboration sweatshirt from Pop Team Epic and fashion brand Candy Stripper.{{cite news | first=Jennifer | last=Sherman | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-10-04/space-adventure-cobra-creator-calls-out-pop-team-epic-for-using-design-without-permission/.137634 | title=Space Adventure Cobra Creator Calls Out Pop Team Epic for Using Design Without Permission | work=Anime News Network | date=October 4, 2018 | accessdate=July 16, 2022 | archive-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717092036/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2018-10-04/space-adventure-cobra-creator-calls-out-pop-team-epic-for-using-design-without-permission/.137634 | url-status=live }} The sweatshirt had parodied Terasawa's manga series Cobra and directly referenced the series in its product description. Okawa posted an apology, while the sweatshirt was removed from sale.
Personal life
On April 30, 2022, Okawa announced through Twitter that he had gotten married. Prior to this, he and his wife had been living together since 2020.{{cite news | first=Crystalyn | last=Hodgkins | url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2022-05-01/pop-team-epic-creator-bkub-okawa-gets-married/.185210 | title=Pop Team Epic Creator Bkub Okawa Gets Married | work=Anime News Network | date=May 1, 2022 | accessdate=July 16, 2022 | archive-date=July 17, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717092041/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2022-05-01/pop-team-epic-creator-bkub-okawa-gets-married/.185210 | url-status=live }}