Skip Beat! (Japanese: スキップ・ビート!, Hepburn: Sukippu Bīto!), shortened to Sukibi, is a Japanese shōjo manga written by Yoshiki Nakamura. The story follows Kyoko Mogami (最上 キョーコ, Mogami Kyōko), a 16-year-old girl who learns that her childhood friend and love interest, Shotaro Fuwa, only keeps her around to work as a maid and help pay his living costs while he tries to become Japan’s top pop idol. Kyoko feels angry and sad. She promises to beat him in the entertainment industry.
In Japan, the manga first appeared in the shōjo magazine Hana to Yume by Hakusensha in February 2002. In the United States, it was published by Viz Media under the Shojo Beat label starting in 2006. Japan has released 52 volumes and one fanbook, while the United States has released 50 volumes. In 2002, a drama CD version of the manga was created by Marine Entertainment and covers the first five chapters of the first volume. An anime version was made by Hal Film Maker and aired in Japan from October 5, 2008, to July 12, 2009, with 25 episodes.
Plot
Skip Beat! tells the story of Kyoko Mogami, a sixteen-year-old girl who loves her childhood friend, Shotaro Fuwa. Kyoko grew up at Shotaro’s parents’ inn and learned about hotel work and other jobs. Shotaro does not want to take over his family’s business, so he asks Kyoko to leave her home in Kyoto Prefecture and move to Tokyo with him. He promises to help her start a new life so she can support his music career. In Tokyo, Kyoko lives very simply, works many jobs, and spends little money on herself. She gives everything she can to help Shotaro, who becomes one of the top twenty most popular male celebrities in Japan.
One day, Kyoko overhears Shotaro talking to his manager. Shotaro says Kyoko is boring and plain, calling her a doormat, which means someone who lets others take advantage of her. He then acts kindly and flirts with his manager, which is very different from how he usually treats Kyoko.
When Kyoko learns that Shotaro only wanted her to handle housework, she does not cry. Instead, she decides to take revenge. As she is taken away by security, Shotaro mocks her, saying she must become a bigger star than he is if she wants revenge. Kyoko changes her appearance and enters the entertainment industry, facing many challenges.
The story follows Kyoko’s journey as she climbs the ranks in show business. At first, she seeks revenge, but later she finds joy in acting. Along the way, she meets many people, including friends, enemies, and others who help her grow. She also begins to feel compassion again after being hurt by Shotaro. Kyoko meets Ren Tsuruga, who at first does not approve of her reason for becoming an actress. As Kyoko improves her acting and builds friendships, she discovers a sense of self that is separate from her original plan for revenge.
Media
Skip Beat! is a manga series written and drawn by Yoshiki Nakamura. It first appeared in the shōjo magazine Hana to Yume, published by Hakusensha, on February 15, 2002. The first book was released in Japan on July 19, 2002, and 52 books have been published so far. Viz Media licensed the series for English release in North America through its Shojo Beat imprint. The first English book was released on July 5, 2006. As of March 4, 2025, 50 English books have been published. Viz Media also released 3-In-1 omnibus editions of Skip Beat! starting on December 1, 2020. Sixteen of these editions have been released, with the most recent combining volumes 46–48.
As of January 2021, the manga sold over 14 million copies in Japan. Eight drama CDs have been released as of April 2021. The first drama CD, titled Skip Beat! Drama CD, was released by Marine Entertainment with catalog number "MMCC-7029" on September 26, 2002. It includes the first five chapters of the manga. The second CD, BLACK Drama CD, was released on August 21, 2012. It focuses on the Dark Breath arc and features the anime's voice actors, including Yuki Kaida as Jelly Woods. The third CD, KISS×KISS Drama CD Valentine Weapon, was released on January 19, 2013. It covers a Valentine's Day scene involving Shou and Ren and also uses the anime's voice actors. The fourth CD, DARK BREATH Drama CD, was released in March 2017. It includes a scene from chapters 194–196 involving Cain and Setsuka Heel.
A fifth drama CD, featuring Kyouko’s reunion with Corn in Guam, was included with the first printing of the 40th volume, released on March 20, 2017. Marina Inoue and Katsuyuki Konishi returned to their roles. Two additional drama CDs were released on September 20, 2019. One was included with the 44th volume and adapted the short story "Kitchen Words." The other was included with an issue of Hana to Yume and adapted "Otherworld With Love" and "Until You Sleep." Another drama adaptation, covering chapters 274–279, was included in a January 2021 issue of Hana to Yume.
The anime adaptation of Skip Beat!, directed by Kiyoko Sayama and animated by Hal Film Maker, aired in Japan from October 5, 2008, to March 29, 2009. The first opening theme was "Dream Star" by The Generous, and the first ending theme was "Namida" by 2BACKKA. The second opening theme was "Renaissance" by The Generous, and the second ending theme was "Eien" by Yūsaku Kiyama. Crunchyroll streams the anime online with English subtitles through an agreement with TV Tokyo.
Pied Piper licensed the series and launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a DVD and Blu-ray release with an English dub. The campaign succeeded, meeting its goal and stretch goals for the Blu-ray.
In 2008, a live-action Taiwanese drama titled Extravagant Challenge was announced. It starred Ivy Chen as Kyōko, Choi Siwon as Tsuruga Ren, and Lee Donghae as Shō Fuwa. Production was delayed in 2009 due to script rewrites and company restructuring. Filming resumed in April 2011, and the series aired from December 18, 2011, to April 1, 2012, with 15 episodes. It was broadcast in Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Each episode was about an hour long and closely followed the manga’s plot, with added comedic elements. Fans have speculated about a potential second season, as the series left some plot points unresolved.
A video game titled Skip Beat!, released on May 28, 2009, for PlayStation 2, follows Kyōko Mogami choosing her next job after the anime. The game’s opening song was "Blow Wind" by SMILY☆SPIKY. It is a continuation of the manga but does not follow the plot exactly. The game has not been translated into English.
Several original stories appeared in Hana to Yume. Kitchen★Wars (vol. 2 of Hana to Yume Bunkei Shōjo) featured Kyōko’s appearance on a cooking show. Fairy Tale♥Ride (April 25, 2015) focused on Kyōko and Kanae’s Love Me job at a theme park. From the Otherworld With Love (July 25, 2015) involved Kyōko being possessed by a ghost, with Shō, Reino, and Ren. Yukihito Yashiro's Illness Diary (October 25, 2015) centered on Ren’s manager dealing with a cold. A fifth story, Bō the Chicken, appeared on January 25, 2016, and featured Kyōko working as a chicken.
On September 20, 2016, these five stories were published in a collection that also included another original Skip Beat! short story by Ayuna Fujisaki and original art by Yoshiki Nakamura.