Weekly Shōnen Sunday
Weekly Shōnen Sunday (Japanese: 週刊少年サンデー, Hepburn: Shūkan Shōnen Sandē) is a weekly shōnen manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan since March 1959. Contrary to its title, Weekly Shōnen Sunday issues are released on Wednesdays. Weekly Shōnen Sunday has sold over 1.8 billion copies since 1986, making it the fourth best selling manga magazine, only behind Weekly Shōnen Jump, Weekly Shōnen Magazine and Weekly Young Jump.
1984 Vol. 40 featuring Urusei Yatsura on the cover. | |
Editor | Yu Torimitsu |
---|---|
Former editors | Masaki Nawata |
Categories | Shōnen manga[1][2] |
Frequency | Weekly |
Circulation | 302,167[2] (March, 2018) |
First issue | March 17, 1959 |
Company | Shogakukan |
Country | Japan |
Language | Japanese |
Website | Shōnen Sunday |
History
Weekly Shōnen Sunday was first published on March 17, 1959[3] as a response to its rival Weekly Shōnen Magazine. The debut issue featured Shigeo Nagashima, the star player of the Yomiuri Giants on the cover, and a congratulatory article by Isoko Hatano, a noted child psychologist.
Despite its name, Weekly Shōnen Sunday was originally published on Tuesdays of each week, switching to Wednesdays in 2011. The "Sunday" in the name was the creation of its first editor, Kiichi Toyoda, who wanted the title to be evocative of a relaxing weekend.
Weekly Shōnen Sunday's distinctive "pointing finger" that appears in the lower corner of every page on the left side of the magazine made its subtle debut in the 4/5 issue from 1969. This understated feature, ever present but easily overlooked, was referenced as a plot element in 20th Century Boys. Sunday's more noticeable mascot, a helmeted fish debuted in the 1980s.
Prior to the 1990s and 2000s no serial in Weekly Shōnen Sunday had run over 40 volumes, but that began to change with series such as Detective Conan, Major, Inuyasha, Karakuri Circus, Shijō Saikyō no Deshi Kenichi, Hayate the Combat Butler and Zettai Karen Children, which maintained a high level of popularity.
In a rare event due to the closeness of the two magazine's founding dates, Weekly Shōnen Sunday and Weekly Shōnen Magazine released a special combined issue on March 19, 2008.[4] In addition, other commemorative events, merchandise, and manga crossovers were planned for the following year as part of the celebrations.[5] The book Shonen Sunday 1983 was published on July 15, 2009 to celebrate the anniversary and the magazines heyday. It reprints manga from 1983, such as Urusei Yatsura and Touch, and has interviews with their creators as well as artists who were inspired by the series from that period, such as Gosho Aoyama.[6]
To celebrate Weekly Shōnen Sunday's 55th anniversary, 55 new manga series were launched in the print and online magazines Weekly Shonen Sunday, Shonen Sunday S, Ura Sunday, and Club Sunday throughout the year beginning in March 2014.[7]
Features
Series
There are currently 30 manga titles being serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday, one series is currently on hiatus and two are published on an irregular basis.
Series title | Author | Premiered |
---|---|---|
Amano Megumi wa Sukidarake! (天野めぐみはスキだらけ!) | Nekoguchi | December 2015[lower-alpha 1] |
Aozakura: Bouei Daigakukou Monogatari (あおざくら 防衛大学校物語) | Hikaru Nikaidou | April 2016 |
Arata: The Legend (アラタ カンガタリ〜革神語〜) | Yū Watase | October 2008 |
Ariadne in the Blue Sky (蒼穹のアリアドネ) | Norihiro Yagi | December 2017 |
Be Blues! - Ao ni Nare (BE BLUES!〜青になれ〜) | Motoyuki Tanaka | January 2011 |
Daiku no Hatou (第九の波濤) | Michiteru Kusaba | April 2017 |
Detective Conan (名探偵コナン) | Gosho Aoyama | January 1994 |
Detective Conan: Police Academy Arc Wild Police Story (名探偵コナン 警察学校編 Wild Police Story) | Takahiro Arai, Gosho Aoyama | October 2019 |
Detective Conan: Zero's Tea Time (名探偵コナン ゼロの日常) | Takahiro Arai, Gosho Aoyama | May 2018 |
Hoankan Evans no Uso: Dead or Love (保安官エヴァンスの嘘~DEAD OR LOVE~) | Mizuki Kuriyama | April 2017 |
Ikeda-kun (イケ田くん) | Atsumi Takeru | May 2020 |
Itoyan goto naki (いとやんごとなき) | Komatsu Shouta | May 2020 |
Kimi wa 008 (君は008) | Syun Matsuena | February 2018 |
Komi-san wa, Komyu-shou desu. (古見さんは、コミュ症です。) | Tomohito Oda | May 2016 |
Maiko-san chi no Makanai-san (舞妓さんちのまかないさん) | Aiko Koyama | December 2016 |
Major 2nd (メジャーセカンド) | Takuya Mitsuda | March 2015 |
MAO (マオ) | Rumiko Takahashi | May 2019 |
Maōjō de Oyasumi (魔王城でおやすみ) | Kagiji Kumanomata | May 2016 |
Nokemono-tachi no Yoru (ノケモノたちの夜) | Makoto Hoshino | August 2019 |
Ponkotsu-chan Kenshouchuu (ポンコツちゃん検証中) | Tsubasa Fukuchi | May 2019 |
Ryū to Ichigo (龍と苺) | Yanamoto Mitsuharu | May 2020 |
Sōbōtei Kowasubeshi (双亡亭壊すべし) | Kazuhiro Fujita | March 2016 |
Sōsō no Frieren (葬送のフリーレン) | Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa Abe | April 2020 |
switch (スイッチ) | Atsushi Namikiri | April 2018 |
Tokachi Hitoribocchi Nouen (十勝ひとりぼっち農園) | Yuuji Yokoyama | November 2017 |
Tonikaku Kawaii (トニカクカワイイ) | Kenjiro Hata | February 2018 |
Usotsuki (嘘月-ウソツキ-) | Minami | December 2019 |
Yofukashi no Uta (よふかしのうた) | Kotoyama | August 2019 |
Youkai Giga (妖怪ギガ(仮)) | Satsuki Satou | April 2017 |
Zettai Karen Children (絶対可憐チルドレン) | Takashi Shiina | July 2004 |
Circulation
Year / Period | Weekly circulation | Magazine sales | Sales revenue (est.) | Issue price |
---|---|---|---|---|
1986 | 1,600,000[10] | 83,200,000[10] | ¥14,976,000,000 | ¥180[11] |
1987 | 1,300,000[10] | 67,600,000[10] | ¥12,168,000,000 | |
1988 | 1,300,000[10] | 67,600,000[10] | ¥12,168,000,000 | |
1989 | 1,400,000[10] | 72,800,000[10] | ¥13,104,000,000 | |
1990 | 1,350,000[10] | 70,200,000[10] | ¥12,636,000,000 | |
1991 | 1,350,000[10] | 70,200,000[10] | ¥12,636,000,000 | |
1992 | 1,350,000[10] | 70,200,000[10] | ¥13,338,000,000 | ¥190[11] |
1993 | 1,270,000[10] | 66,040,000[10] | ¥12,547,600,000 | |
1994 | 1,270,000[10] | 66,040,000[10] | ¥13,868,400,000 | ¥210[11] |
1995 | 1,400,000[10] | 72,800,000[10] | ¥15,288,000,000 | |
1996 | 1,530,000[10] | 79,560,000[10] | ¥21,481,200,000 | ¥270[12] |
1997 | 1,650,000[10] | 85,800,000[10] | ¥23,166,000,000 | |
1998 | 1,700,000[10] | 88,400,000[10] | ¥23,868,000,000 | |
1999 | 1,630,000[10] | 84,760,000[10] | ¥22,885,200,000 | |
2000 | 2,020,000 | 105,040,000[10] | ¥28,360,800,000 | |
2001 | 1,500,000[10] | 78,000,000[10] | ¥21,060,000,000 | |
2002 | 1,530,000 | 79,560,000 | ¥21,481,200,000 | |
2003 | 1,310,000 | 68,120,000 | ¥18,392,400,000 | |
2004 | 1,160,913[13] | 60,367,476[13] | ¥16,299,218,520 | |
2005 | 1,068,265[13] | 55,549,780[13] | ¥14,998,440,600 | |
January 2006 to August 2006 | 1,003,708[13] | 34,795,211[13] | ¥9,394,706,970 | |
September 2006 to December 2006 | 1,010,000 | 17,506,667 | ¥4,726,800,090 | |
2007 | 940,000 | 48,880,000 | ¥13,197,600,000 | |
2008 | 873,438[14] | 45,418,776[14] | ¥12,263,069,520 | |
January 2009 to September 2009 | 773,062[15] | 30,149,418[15] | ¥8,140,342,860 | |
October 2009 to September 2010 | 678,917[16] | 35,303,684[16] | ¥9,531,994,680 | |
October 2010 to September 2011 | 611,146[17] | 31,779,592[17] | ¥8,580,489,840 | |
October 2011 to September 2012 | 539,521[18] | 28,055,092[18] | ¥7,574,874,840 | |
October 2012 to September 2013 | 512,250[19] | 26,637,000[19] | ¥7,165,353,000 | ¥269[12][20] |
October 2013 to September 2014 | 456,375[21] | 23,731,500[21] | ¥6,407,505,000 | ¥270[20] |
October 2014 to September 2015 | 390,143[22] | 20,287,436[22] | ¥5,477,607,720 | |
October 2015 to September 2016 | 350,521[23] | 18,227,092[23] | ¥4,921,314,840 | |
October 2016 to September 2017 | 317,458[24] | 16,507,816[24] | ¥4,457,110,320 | |
October 2017 to March 2018 | 302,167[25] | 7,856,342[25] | ¥2,121,212,340 | |
1986 to March 2018 | 36,000,000 | 1,876,972,882 | ¥448,682,441,140 ($4,063,269,227) |
Editors-in-chief
- Kiichi Toyoda (1959–1960)[26]
- Takashi Hirayama (1991–1993)
- Toyohiko Okuyama (1994–2000)
- Shinichiro Tsuzuki (2000–2002)
- Shinichi Mikami (2002–2004)
- Masato Hayashi (2005–2009)
- Masaki Nawata (2009–2012)
- Yu Torimitsu (2012–2015)
- Takenori Ichihara (2015–present)
International versions
Elex Media Komputindo published an Indonesian version of Weekly Shōnen Sunday titled Shōnen Star from 2005 to 2013.
Viz Media began a Shonen Sunday imprint for titles in North America; starting with Rumiko Takahashi's Rin-ne, which was released on October 20, 2009.[27]
See also
Notes
- Amano Megumi wa Sukidarake! started in Shōnen Sunday Super in August 2015.[8] It was later transferred to Weekly Shōnen Sunday in December 2015.[9]
References
- Thompson, Jason (2007). Manga: The Complete Guide. Del Rey Books. p. xxiii-xxiv. ISBN 978-0-345-48590-8.
- "Boy's Manga" (in Japanese). Japanese Magazine Publishers Association. September 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- "Japanese Language Magazines Releases". Patlabor. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
- "Shōnen Sunday's 50th Anniversary". Rumic World. April 13, 2008.
- Loo, Egan (March 18, 2008). "Shōnen Magazine Shōnen Sunday Mark 50th Anniversary". Anime News Network.
- Loo, Egan (July 9, 2009). "Shonen Sunday 1983 Book Honors Manga Magazine's Heyday". Anime News Network.
- Nelkin, Sarah (March 3, 2014). "Shonen Sunday Family to Launch 55 Manga to Mark 55th Year". Anime News Network.
- "「うしおととら」ハンドタオルがサンデーSに、新鋭のラブコメ新連載も - コミックナタリー". Natalie (in Japanese). August 25, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
- ムチムチな体&隙だらけな幼なじみにドキドキ!サンデーにて連載スタート. Natalie (in Japanese). December 16, 2015. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- "コミック誌の部数水準". Yahoo! Japan. Retrieved March 6, 2007.
- "An Analysis of Weekly Manga Magazines Price for the Past 30 Years". ComiPress. April 6, 2007.
- "Weekly Shonen Sunday's Price Cut Leads to 30% Sales Jump". Anime News Network. July 24, 2013.
- "Manga Anthology Circulations 2004-2006". ComiPress. December 27, 2007.
- "Where's The Manga Magazine Bailout?". Manga Cast. February 22, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
- "2009 Japanese Manga Magazine Circulation Numbers". Anime News Network. January 18, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
- "2010 Japanese Manga Magazine Circulation Numbers". JMPA. June 1, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
- "JMPAマガジンデータ : 男性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
- "JMPAマガジンデータ : 男性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved October 22, 2013.
- "JMPAマガジンデータ : 男性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved November 17, 2014.
- "Shogakukan's Weekly and Monthly Shonen Sunday Go Digital from Today". Crunchyroll. July 13, 2016.
- "JMPAマガジンデータ : 男性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
- "JMPAマガジンデータ : 男性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
- "JMPAマガジンデータ : 男性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved November 9, 2017.
- "JMPAマガジンデータ : 男性 コミック". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
- "印刷部数公表". Japan Magazine Publishing Association. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- "Shonen Sunday's 1st Editor Kiichi Toyoda Passes Away". Anime News Network. January 15, 2013.
- Loo, Egan (July 8, 2009). "Viz to Launch Shonen Sunday Imprint with Rin-ne Manga (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
External links
- Official website (in Japanese)
- Viz Media's Shonen Sunday page
- Weekly Shōnen Sunday at Anime News Network's encyclopedia