The writer Yoshiki Hidaka, a political analyst of Japan–United States relations,[2] worked along with illustrator Ryuji Tsugihara in The First President of Japan.

[9][10] A spin-off series, also written by Hidaka, but this time illustrated by Kenji Yoshida, was published under the name The President of Japan: Sakuraza Gamantarō [ja] (日本国大統領 桜坂満太郎, Nippon Koku Daitōryō Sakurazaka Mantarō).

[9] About its tone, Greg McElhatton of Read About Comics stated it "feature[s] overly dramatic theatrics in the forms of speeches and actions by the protagonist" — which led to a comparison to Eagle: The Making of an Asian-American President.

Part of the reason is that Hidaka isn't just writing about dry political systems in the abstract; he humanizes concepts by crafting various characters that we follow through the tumultuous events depicted in this book".

[9] Conversely, Jason Thompson, writing for ANN, considered the depiction of "a badass Japanese politician, who stands up to America, China and North Korea, more comedic than believable".

[14] Patrick King of Animefringe labeled it "a frighteningly realistic political thriller for the sophisticated reader" and said fans of The West Wing would probably "find this series appealing".

[16] A similar comparison was done by RAC's critic who affirmed that "If this was a television show, it would be the Japanese equivalent of The West Wing, able to make politics interesting to a wide audience though characters and situations that draw its viewers in".