Hiroshi Motomiya’s Shueisha Manga Surpass 100 Million Copies in Print as New Series Bunnaguri Sensei Launches

Hiroshi Motomiya has surpassed 100 million copies in print for his Shueisha manga, marking a historic milestone as his latest work Bunnaguri Sensei begins its run. The first volume of Bunnaguri Sensei, the newest manga by acclaimed creator Hiroshi Motomiya, was released on April 17. With this release, the total number of physical copies of his works published by Shueisha has exceeded 100 million.

A Legendary Career That Helped Shape Weekly Shonen Jump

Motomiya made a major impact on the early success of Weekly Shonen Jump with his debut serialization Otoko Ippiki Gaki Daisho, which began in 1968 shortly after the magazine’s launch. The series played a key role in the magazine’s rapid rise.

He later expanded his work across multiple magazines, including Monthly Shonen Jump, Weekly Playboy, and Weekly Young Jump, producing numerous hit titles such as Kōha Ginjiro, Ore no Sora, and Salaryman Kintaro. For more than 60 years, he has remained active at the forefront of the manga industry.

Massive Complete Collection Project Announced

To commemorate his achievements, Shueisha will launch the Hiroshi Motomiya Complete Manga Collection starting November 19 as part of its 100th anniversary project.

As of April 2026, Motomiya has created 73 serialized works and 38 one shots, totaling approximately 65,000 manuscript pages. The collection is expected to exceed 152 volumes, making it an unprecedented project that fully archives his decades long career.

The series will be published in A5 format with premium thick volumes. Using advanced digital reproduction technology, the dynamic pen strokes of the original manuscripts will be faithfully restored. Each volume will also include commentary by manga critic Nobunaga Minami and essays by prominent figures from various fields.

The first phase, scheduled from November 2026 to December 2027, will include 33 volumes featuring titles such as Otoko Ippiki Gaki Daisho, Ore no Sora, and Kōha Ginjiro. The second phase, starting in January 2028, will include popular works like Salaryman Kintaro and Sawayaka Mantaro.

Motomiya’s latest work Bunnaguri Sensei follows Shigeru Matsuyama, an unconventional new teacher who breaks through the challenges of modern Japanese society with his fists. The series was serialized in Grand Jump from Issue 20 released on September 17, 2025, to Issue 4 released on January 21, 2026.

Profile: Hiroshi Motomiya

Hiroshi Motomiya was born on June 25, 1947, in Chiba Prefecture. After graduating from junior high school, he joined the Japan Air Self Defense Force with aspirations of becoming a pilot. He later pursued a career in manga and debuted in 1965 with the rental manga Toi Shimakage under the name Hiroshi Motomiya.

His breakthrough came in 1968 with Otoko Ippiki Gaki Daisho, which became a massive hit and contributed significantly to the early growth of Weekly Shonen Jump. Since then, he has gained widespread popularity for works that depict protagonists overcoming adversity and tackling socially relevant themes with bold and unconventional perspectives.

Salaryman Kintaro became a cultural phenomenon, especially among business professionals, and was adapted into live action dramas and films. Other notable works include Otokogi, Tenchi wo Kurau, Takeki Ōgon no Kuni, and Mugen no Gotoku. His works continue to influence readers across generations.

Source : ORICON NEWS