Wanna Be the Strongest in the World! (Japanese: 世界でいちばん強くなりたい!, Hepburn: Sekai de Ichiban Tsuyoku Naritai!) is a Japanese joshi puroresu-themed manga series written by ESE and illustrated by Kiyohito Natsuki. It was serialized in Earth Star Entertainment‘s Comic Earth Star from March 2011 to December 2013. An anime television series adaptation by Arms aired from October to December 2013.

Plot

Sakura Hagiwara is a pop idol and member of the fictional Japanese idol group Sweet Diva. One day, however, a female wrestler named Rio Kazama beats up Elena Miyazawa, a fellow Sweet Diva member and Sakura’s rival. To avenge Elena, Sakura is introduced to the Berserk Wrestlers team, of which Rio is a part of. Eventually, Sakura proves to be a natural athlete with potential and joins the team.

Manga

Written by ESE and illustrated by Kiyohito Natsuki, Wanna Be the Strongest in the World! was serialized in Earth Star Entertainment‘s Comic Earth Star from March 12, 2011, to December 12, 2013. Its chapters were collected in five tankōbon, published from October 12, 2011, to December 12, 2013.

Anime

An anime television series adaptation was formally announced on April 1, 2013. The series was produced by Arms and directed by Rion Kujo, with character designs provided by Rin Shin. It aired from October 6 to December 22, 2013 on AT-X, Tokyo MX, and YTV. The opening theme is “Beautiful Dreamer” (ビューティフル・ドリーマー) by Kyoko Narumi and the first ending theme is “Fan Fanfare!!!” by Ayana Taketatsu, Kana Asumi, Yuka Ōtsubo, Miku Itō, and Sora Amamiya, starting from Episodes 1–7 and 9–12, whilst the second ending theme for Episode 8 is “Sky Color Monologue” (空色モノローグ, lit. “Sky Blue Monologue”) by Kyoko Narumi. An OVA episode is bundled in each Blu-ray and DVD volume of the series.

The series is licensed in North America by Funimation. In Australia and New Zealand, the series is licensed by Madman Entertainment.

Wanna Be the Strongest in the World
Cover of the first manga volume, featuring Sakura Hagiwara
世界でいちばん強くなりたい! (Sekai de Ichiban Tsuyoku Naritai!)
Genre	Sports
Manga
Written by	ESE
Illustrated by	Kiyohito Natsuki
Published by	Earth Star Entertainment
Magazine	Comic Earth Star
Demographic	Shōnen
Original run	March 12, 2011 – December 12, 2013
Volumes	5 (List of volumes)
Anime television series
Directed by	Rion Kujo
Produced by	Hiroaki Tsunoda Gorō Shinjuku Hiroshi Gotō Hiroaki Ōshiro Mitsuhiro Matsuo Hiroyuki Kamei Yūya Machida Shinichi Takahashi Kenichirō Kaneda
Written by	Kazuho Hyōdō
Music by	Kayō Konishi Yukio Kondō
Studio	Arms
Licensed by	AUS Madman Entertainment NA Funimation
Original network	AT-X, Tokyo MX, ytv
Original run	October 6, 2013 – December 22, 2013
Episodes	12 + 6 OVA (List of episodes)