To celebrate Weekly Shonen Jump‘s 25th anniversary, Shueisha decided to create a new style event to promote it’s history for the fans. The name of the event was called “Weekly Jump Multi World” and was a exhibition that was held in the Tokyo Dome Prism Hall between July 28th through August 15th, 1993. The event cost 700 yen for admission and guests were able to receive as special booklet which highlighted some of the items on display. The booklet was never available for sale directly. Over 48 authors provided new illustrations and congratulatory messages for this anniversary and are documented in this booklet and this is one of them. To help provide context to this profile that was captured in 1993, we have included some additional information to supplement the transcription and rough English translation.
| Name | Shinji Imaizumi (今泉伸二) |
| Date of Birth | June 29, 1958 |
| Birthplace | Gunma Prefecture |
| Blood Type | AB |
| Debut Work | “Buriki no Tetsujin” in 1984 ’84『ブリキの鉄人』 |
| 1st Jump Serialization | “Sora no Canvas” 『空のキャンバス』 |
| Additional Info | “Kami-sama wa Southpaw” and “Change UP!!” are some of his exciting sports-themed series. 『神様はサウポー』『チェンジUP!!』とスポーツをテーマにした感動作を次々と発表。 |
To celebrate Weekly Shonen Jump‘s 25th anniversary, Shinji Imaizumi provided this illustration, shikishi, and comment, which have been roughly translated below:
創刊25周年おめでとうございます。しかしそれは単に年月の積み重ねだけではなく、常に業界トップのリーダー的存在として迎える25周年ですから、編集者の方々の苦労は並々ならぬものであったと痛感させられます。夢と活気に溢れた誌面はまさに子供たちにとっての宝箱であり時には水先案内人でさえあった、そう思います。これからも未来永劫、少年ジャンプが輝き続けますように･･･。
Congratulations on the magazine’s 25th anniversary. But that just isn’t a number, it is also the 25th anniversary as a leader in the industry which was made possible by the extraordinary hard work of the editors too. The magazine is full of energy and dreams, which have been treasured by children and can give them guidance. I wish that Shonen Jump will continue to shine brightly for many years to come.
The article then ends with a summary of two of Shinji Imaizumi’s manga series. Kami-sama wa Southpaw manga which ran in Weekly Shonen Jump between issue 22 in 1988 through issue 31 in 1990. And Sora no Canvas which ran in Weekly Shonen Jump between issue 33 in 1986 and issue 41 in 1987.
The following is some additional context and information not included in the article:
His original oneshot, Buriki no Tetsujin, was first published in the December issue of Fresh Jump in 1984. It would later be reprinted as an extra in the 7th volume of Sora no Canvas. In the original publication, the following author comment was listed on the table of contents (with a rough English translation provided below):
アチャク! 本誌初登場なーんちゃって! みなさんの感想じゃんじゃんきかせて
Achoo! This is my first appearance in the magazine or maybe not! Please let me know your thoughts!
As this oneshot was listed as Shinji Imaizumi’s debut work, it’s unclear in what capacity he may have contributed to Fresh Jump prior to this work based on his comment. It is possible he may have worked as an assistant on another oneshot or potentially won a reader survey contest where the winner’s names were printed in the magazine issue.
Change UP!! was the most recent manga series that was published in Weekly Shonen Jump at the time of Jump Multi World. The series ran for only 21 chapters between issue 12 and issue 33 in 1992.
As part of the 1993 Weekly Shonen Jump Spring Special issue, he created the 43 page Chocolate ☆ Miracle (チョコレート☆ミラクル) oneshot which was also featured on the cover. Within that he also had the following author comment listed on the table of contents (with a rough English translation provided below):
今回は初めてのジャンルに挑戦してみました。同時に初めてのピアノにも悪戦苦闘中の私に感想のお便りをください。まってます!
I am trying a new genre this time. Meanwhile, I’m also struggling with my first piano, so please let me know what you think. I’ll be waiting!
He would later provide the art for Kurayami wo Buttobase! (暗闇をぶっとばせ!), a detective mystery, with the story by Hirofumi Miyazaki (宮崎博文) for the 13 chapter series in 1994 and be the last serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump for the author. The Chocolate ☆ Miracle oneshot would later be reprinted in the 2nd volume of Kurayami wo Buttobase!.
