Smash!

Smash! is a sports-themed manga series written and illustrated by Saki Kaori, originally serialized in the long-running Japanese anthology Weekly Shonen Magazine. The series captures the intense, high-energy world of competitive badminton, focusing on the growth and rivalries of high school athletes. It emerged from the tradition of Japanese sports manga, which often highlights the balance between rigorous training, personal character development, and the tactical nuances of specific athletic disciplines.

The visual style employed by Kaori emphasizes dynamic motion lines and expressive character designs that convey the kinetic nature of the sport. The series was designed to appeal to readers interested in shonen tropes, balancing dramatic athletic confrontations with grounded character arcs. Throughout its publication, it was recognized for its dedication to portraying the technical aspects of badminton, providing a dedicated look at a sport that is less frequently centered in mainstream manga than baseball or soccer.