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 | Motoei Shinzawa (新沢基栄) |
| Date of Birth | June 29, 1958 |
| Birthplace | Niigata Prefecture |
| Blood Type | B |
| Debut Work | “3rd Year Kimengumi” in 1980 ’80『3年奇面組』 |
| 1st Jump Serialization | “3rd Year Kimengumi” in 1980 ’80『3年奇面組』 |
| Additional Info | His first serialized work, “3rd Year Kimengumi” was later retitled “High School! Kimengumi” and adapted into a 1985 TV anime series! Also created “Boku wa Shitataka-kun”. 初連載作『3年奇面組』を改題した『ハイスクール!奇面組』は、’85年にTVアニメ化! その他に『ボクはしたたか君』など。 |
To celebrate Weekly Shonen Jump‘s 25th anniversary, Motoei Shinzawa provided this illustration, shikishi, and comment, which have been roughly translated below:
週刊少年ジャンプ創刊25周年おめでとうございます。
25年ということは、当時僕は10歳前後で、まだジャンプの存在すら知りませんでした。実際、購読し始めたのは20歳前後で、何か他誌にない若さと親近感と自由奔放さを感じていたことを思い出します。今や日本一の発行部数となってしまったジャンプですが、本来のチャレンジャー的な雑誌だった頃の魅力を失うことなく、発展することを願います。
Congratulations on the 25th anniversary of Weekly Shonen Jump.
25 years ago, I was only 10 years old and wasn’t aware that Jump existed. I actually started following it in my 20s and I remember feeling a sense of familiarity and youthfulness that other magazines were missing. Now that Jump boasts the highest circulation in all of Japan, I hope it continues to grow without loosing that spark it had when it was first started.
The end of the article gives a summary of the author’s three series published in Weekly Shonen Jump. 3rd Year Kimengumi was published between issue 41 in 1980 through issue 17 in 1982. With issue 18 in 1982 the title changed to High School! Kimengumi and then continued until issue 30 in 1987. Boku wa Shitataka-kun started in 1988 issue 50 and ran until issue 18 in 1990.
The following is some additional context and information not included in the article:
For the final chapter of 3rd Year Kimengumi, the author comment for Weekly Shonen Jump issue 17 in 1982 had this cheeky comment (roughly translated into English for this and the following comments):
来週から高校製。新連載のつもりでがんばるから応援してネ♥
I’m starting High School next week. I’ll work hard on it just like a new series, so please support me ♥
Then for the first chapter of High School! Kimengumi, he comments that he changed the title in issue 18 of Weekly Shonen Jump in 1982:
タイトルかえ気分一新。新連載のつもりでますますがんばるヨ!
I’ve changed the title to get a refreshed feel. I’ll work even harder as if this was a new series!
Issue 21 in 1987 highlighted the one of Motoei Shinzawa’s former assistants was getting his own serialization in the magazine. This was Tadashi Sato (佐藤正), who got his The Burning Wild Man (燃える! お兄さん) serialization starting in Weekly Shonen Jump issue 23 in 1987.
元アシの佐藤君がついに23号から連載開始!! ボクとひと味ちがうギャグにご期待のほどを
My former assistant, Sato-kun, is starting his own series in issue 23!! Please look forward to his own unique brand of humor.
However in following the week, Motoei Shinzawa had sustained a sudden back injury. So in both issues 22 and 23 in 1987, the author comment had an urgent call for assistants for the series. The series went on a short hiatus starting with issue 23, with chapter 256. This is one of the rare occurrences where an author had the same comment in multiple issues.
アシスタント募集!! 東京近郊在住の20歳前後の方。今すぐ担当長谷川氏まで連絡して下さい
Assistants wanted!! Applicants must be around the age of 20 and live in or near Tokyo. Please contact Editor Hasegawa ASAP.
Issue 26, the series did return with the following update:
皆応援のお便りどうもありがとう!腰痛も具合いがよ
しんぱい。くなりました。心配かけてゴメンね
Thank you for your encouraging messages! My back pain is getting better. Sorry for making you worry.
Issue 27 followed up with an additional update:
怪狀募集の発表おくれてゴメンなさい。たくさんの応募ほんとうにどうもありがとうっ!!
Sorry for that sudden call for assistance. Thank you for everyone who wanted to help!!
Issue 28 followed up with an additional medical update:
とてもよいと評判の腰痛の先生を紹介してもらったがいそがしすぎていくとマがたいよ〜
I was recommended a highly-rated doctor for back pain, but I’m currently too busy to go~
Issue 29 appeared to have returned to a more standard author’s comment:
梅雨に入ると、部屋いっぱいのゴミがにおってきてこまる。はやくそうじしなくっちゃ。
When the rainy season starts, the garbage smell in my room becomes unbearable. I really should clean it up soon.
But in the next issue, the series’ final chapter High School! Kimengumi was announced in issue 30. From the author comments in volume 18 of the manga, he also noted that he had been up to the last minute for the deadlines for a while and ended up missing one of them near the end of the serialization. The decision to end the series was in part by Shueisha’s upper management due to these factors.
みなさん長い間応援どうもありがとう!! アニメの方はまだ続くからそちらもよろしく!!
Thank you all for your support over the years!! The anime is still on-going so please continue to support that as well!!
The High School! Kimengumi TV anime series originally ran from October 1985 through September 1987. The manga series was originally concluded around July of 1987 in Weekly Shonen Jump, and the collected volumes would continue to be released February 1988. The series would later go on to have several short run sequels in 2000 , and 2001.
His later series, Boku wa Shitataka-kun, was also cancelled before it reached it’s natural end in 1990 due to continued issues with his lower back pain.
In the Weekly Shonen Jump Winter Special Seasonal issue for 1993 (released in early 1993), he published a brand new oneshot called Miracle Detective Amano Jack (ミラクル探偵天野J). This oneshot was featured on the cover of the issue and he left this author’s comment:
少々変則的なスケジュールで描き上げたため、まだ頭がゴチャゴチャしてます。ぜひ始想をお聞かせ下さい。
I finished this story on an irregular schedule, so my thoughts may be a bit random. But I’d love to hear your thoughts on this idea.
