Takehiko Inoue smiles for the assembled members of the press in front of his complete mural on the second floor of Books Kinokuniya's Bryant Park store.
At the reception immediately following the mural's completion, VIZ Media Vice President of Sales Gonzalo Ferreyra toasted Inoue. "It's a testament to how far we've come that an artist of Inoue's caliber comes to the U.S." Frerreyra also raved about the summer debut of Real, describing Inoue's current sports manga series as having "the same irresistible narrative, deliciously flawed characters, and beautiful, beautiful artwork."