Shueisha Inc. (株式会社集英社,Kabushiki gaisha Shūei-sha) is a Japanesepublishing company headquartered inChiyoda, Tokyo, Japan.Shueisha is the largest publishing company in Japan.[3] It was established in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisherShogakukan. The following year, Shueisha became a separate, independent company.
In 1925, Shueisha was created by major publishing companyShogakukan (founded in 1922).Jinjō Shōgaku Ichinen Josei (尋常小學一年女生) became the first novel published by Shueisha in collaboration with Shogakukan—the temporary home of Shueisha. In 1927, two novels titledDanshi Ehon, andJoshi Ehon were created. In 1928, Shueisha was hired to editGendai Humor Zenshū (現代ユーモア全集,Gendai Yūmoa Zenshū), a compilation.Gendai Humor Zenshū continued 12 volumes, some issues beingJoshi Shinjidai Eishūji-chō andShinjidai Eishūji-chō (新時代英習字帳). In the 1930s another novel calledTantei-ki Dan was launched andGendai Humor Zenshū was completed in 24 volumes. In 1931 two more novels were launched,Danshi Yōchien andJoshi Yōchien.
AfterWorld War II, Shueisha started publishing a manga line calledOmoshiro Book.Omoshiro Book published a picture book calledShōnen Ōja, which became a huge hit among boys and girls. The first full volume ofShōnen Ōja was released asShōnen Ōja Oitachi Hen, which became an instant best-seller.
The first magazine published by Shueisha wasAkaruku Tanoshii Shōnen-Shōjo Zasshi. In September 1949,Omoshiro Book was made into a magazine with all the contents of the former line. In 1950, a special edition of the magazine was published under the titleHinomaru. In addition toOmoshiro Book, a female version was published in 1951:Shōjo Book which featured manga aimed at adolescent girls. The Hitotsubashi building of Shueisha became completely independent in 1952. In that year,Omoshiro Book ceased publication andMyōjō began publication as a monthly magazine. The series ofOmoshiro Book were published inbunkoban editions under theOmoshiro Manga Bunko line.[5] A novel calledYoiko Yōchien was published andOmoshiro Book was replaced with anotherchildren's manga magazine calledYōnen Book.
In 1955, the success ofShōjo Book led to the publication of currently runningRibon. The novelJoshi Yōchien Kobato began publication in 1958. On November 23, a special issue ofMyōjō titledWeekly Myōjō was released. In 1951, another male edition ofShōjo Book was released,Shōnen Book was made, andShōjo Book series were released in bunkoban editions under theShōjo Manga Bunko imprint. In the 1960s, another spin-off issue ofMyōjō was released calledBessatsu Weekly Myōjō.
Shueisha continues to publish many novels. A compilation of manyOmoshiro Book series was released asShōnen-Shōjo Nippon Rekishi Zenshū complete in 12 volumes. Many other books were published includingHirosuke Yōnen Dōwa Bungaku Zenshū,Hatachi no Sekkei,Dōdō Taru Jinsei,Shinjin Nama Gekijō, andGaikoku kara Kita Shingo Jiten. In 1962, Shueisha published a female version ofMyōjō titledJosei Myōjō and many more novels. In 1963, Shueisha began publication of the widely successfulMargaret with the additional offshootBessatsu Margaret. The novelUkiyo-e Hanga was released complete in seven volumes, and the picture bookSekai 100 Nin no Monogatari Zenshū was released in the usual 12. In 1964,Kanshi Taikei was released in 24 volumes plus a reprint. In that year a line of novels,Compact Books, was made and a line of manga calledTelevi-Books ("televi": short for "television"). In 1965, two more magazines were made:Cobalt and theShōnen Book offshootBessatsu Shōnen Book.[6]
In 1966, Shueisha began publication ofWeekly Playboy,Seishun to Dokusho andShōsetsu Junior. A novel calledNihonbon Gaku Zenshū spawned a great 88 volumes. Another manga magazine was made titledYoung Music.Deluxe Margaret began publication in 1967 and the additionalMargaret Comics andRibon Comics lines. In 1968 the magazineHoshi Young Sense began publication as spin-off to the short-livedYoung Sense. Later in that yearMargaret launched theSeventeen magazine as a Japanese version ofthe English edition.
Shōnen Jump was created in the same year as a semi-weekly magazine. Anotherchildren's manga magazine was created in that year calledJunior Comic and anotherRibon spin-off calledRibon Comic. In 1969, the magazineJoker began publication along withguts. Several other novels were published. The magazineBessatsu Seventeen began publication. In that yearShōnen Jump became a weekly anthology and changed its name toWeekly Shōnen Jump. Following up the end ofShōnen Book a spin-off ofWeekly Shōnen Jump started at the same time as it became weekly, initially calledBessatsu Shōnen Jump. It changed its name toMonthly Shōnen Jump with the second issue.
The 1970s started with the launch of the novel magazineSubaru and in 1971 theNon-no andOcean life magazines began publication. The novel seriesGendai Nippon Bijutsu Zenshū spawned 18 volumes and became a huge seller. In 1972Roadshow began publication andThe Rose of Versailles begins in theMargaret Comics line gaining massive popularity. In 1973Playgirl magazine began publication and the novel seriesZenshaku Kanbun Taikei spawning a huge 33 volumes. In 1974Weekly Shōnen Jump launchedAkamaru Jump.Saison de Non-no launches.[7]
Shueisha announced that in the summer of 2011, it would launch a new manga magazine titledMiracle Jump.[8]
In October 2016, Shueisha announced that they had created a new department on June 21 called the Dragon Ball Room (ドラゴンボール室,Doragon Bōru Shitsu). Headed byV Jump editor-in-chief Akio Iyoku, it is dedicated solely toAkira Toriyama'sDragon Ball and optimizing and expanding the brand.[9]
On January 28, 2019, Shueisha launched the global English-language version of theonline magazineShōnen Jump+, titledManga Plus. It is freely available in every country except China and South Korea, which have their own separate services. A Spanish-language version will be launched in February/March 2019, and may have a different library of content. Like the Japanese app, it has large samples of manga that can be read for free including all the current titles of Weekly Shōnen Jump, a sizeable number of titles fromShōnen Jump+ and some titles from Jump Square. However, unlike the Japanese version; the latest chapters of currentWeekly Shōnen Jump manga are made available free for a limited-time and it does not sell content.
On March 31, 2022, Shueisha announced that it established a new wholly owned affiliated subsidiary named Shueisha Games on February 16. The company will support other developers on over five ongoing projects, and to develop a mobile game with character design by aWeekly Shōnen Jump artist.[10][11]
On May 30, 2023, a vertical manga service calledJump Toon was announced and launched on May 29, 2024.[12]
Shueisha has published manykanzenban magazines. Kanzenban magazines consist of one series being published for roughly a year and then another and so on, unlike normalmanga magazines which have a variety of series. The select series has chapters from roughly three volumes in every issue.
Monthly Comic Tokumori (月刊コミック特盛,Gekkan Kommiku Tokumori) is aseinen kanzenban magazine[13] published by Shueisha's subsidiary Home-sha.[14] The magazine currently serializes thesamurai-basedNobunaga no Kyodai Tetsu Fune: Sengoku no Umi o Seisu every month.[14]
Shueisha Original (集英社オリジナル,Shūeisha Orijinaru) is a multi-demographicmanga magazine published by Shueisha. It features an individual kanzenban of a classic Shueisha manga series. Each issue is a continuation of the last kanzenban.Shueisha Original has only featured two series which have run in the magazine for a long time. The first series wasChibi Maruko-chan from theshōjo manga anthologyRibon.Chibi Maruko-chan ran in the magazine from August 2007 to January 2008.Rokudenashi Blues byMasanori Morita which ran inWeekly Shōnen Jump started in March 2008 and is currently running inShueisha Original.
Shueisha Remix (集英社リミックス,Shūeisha Rimikkusu) is one of many kanzenban magazines published by Shueisha.Shueisha Remix magazines are split into four lines:Shueisha Jump Remix,Shueisha Girls Remix,Shueisha Home Remix andShueisha International Remix.
Chiffon Bunko - A imprint focused on romance series.
Dash X Bunko - An imprint that targets males from their mid teens to their twenties. It publishes original light novels that contains various genres of: fantasy, science fiction, mystery, romance, history, horror. Published light novel works will have various adaptations, such as manga adaptations in Shueisha's Jump manga magazines, anime adaptations, deployment of mediamix works/projects, and movie adaptations.
Dash X Bunko Novel f - An imprint that is an off-shoot ofDash X Bunko that targets female audiences.[15]
Jump J-Books - An imprint that targets males in their teens, and have novelizations and spin-offs of manga fromWeekly Shonen Jump.
Shueisha Orange Bunko - An imprint focused on women.
Shueisha English Edition is an imprint of Shueisha. It publishes Japanese literature, including mystery, fantasy, horror and erotica, in English translation.[16]