Eyeshield 21 – The Untold Story of Sena’s Growth

Shonen Jump Launches Official Interview Project: Episode 1 Delves into Eyeshield 21 and Sena’s Development — “Mamori as the Mother, Hiruma as the Father”

A special interview series titled “THE 0 to 1”, where hit Weekly Shonen Jump works are explored from concept to creation through direct conversations with their authors, launched on July 23 via Shueisha’s official digital bookstore Zebrack.

Each interview is released on the original publication date of the manga’s first serialized chapter, allowing readers to revisit the “day it all began” and relive the thoughts, passion, and ambition of the creators.

Featured titles will be accompanied by campaigns exclusive to Zebrack, including free chapter access and bulk discounts. The project aims to open a new “door of enjoyment” for fans rereading their favorite works with fresh perspective.

The first installment highlights Eyeshield 21, the American football-themed sports manga that began its serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 34 (released July 23, 2002), and has sold over 27 million copies (including digital editions). This exclusive interview features writer Riichiro Inagaki and artist Yusuke Murata, who reflect on the initial concept, character design, behind-the-scenes details, and their manga philosophies during serialization.

The second and third installments of the project are already scheduled, set to be released in August and September respectively.

🔸 Highlights from Riichiro Inagaki’s Interview:

“If you think about it, Weekly Shonen Jump has always emphasized characters. I realized that. So I thought, ‘I’ll apply to Jump, learn their techniques for character building, and use that knowledge to create real art.’”

“If you make a character too positive, it no longer becomes a story of growth. So, I thought: what exactly is Sena supposed to grow from? That’s when I assigned him a new trait—being ‘protected.’ It wasn’t something I could fully articulate back then, but we essentially cast Mamori as a mother figure and Hiruma as a father. The story would then follow Sena leaving the mother's protection and eventually surpassing the father. That became one of the main narrative arcs.”

“There’s a unique bond among creators who’ve survived years of serialization in Jump. I definitely feel it, and I believe the others do too.”

🔸 Highlights from Yusuke Murata’s Interview:

“For me, Eyeshield 21 is all about Hiruma. It was like being shot at with a gun while someone yelled, ‘Run!’ and I just kept running. Even though I lacked the qualities necessary to be a proper artist back then, I was made into something by that experience. I can’t claim to have become a manga artist—it feels too arrogant. But the assignments I received back then, I’m still carrying out today.”

“Drawing every week under tight deadlines, pulling all-nighters without knowing how to manage my time—yet none of it felt painful. In fact, it was fun.”

“I didn’t yet have a true sense of what ‘work’ really meant. It felt like I was in a constant club training camp.”

“When drawing, whether or not you can ‘ride’ the philosophy behind how a character should live—it naturally seeps into your work, whether you intend it or not. That’s something I’ve come to believe over time.”

Source : ORICON NEWS