Osamu Akimoto | |
|---|---|
| Native name | 秋本 治 |
| Born | (1952-12-11)December 11, 1952 (age 72) Katsushika, Tokyo, Japan |
| Pen name | Tatsuhiko Yamadome |
| Occupation | Manga artist |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Subject | Shōnen manga,seinen manga |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Notable works | KochiKame Mr. Clice Black Tiger |
| Notable awards | Shogakukan Manga Award (2005) Kikuchi Kan Prize (2016) Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize (2017) Seiun Award (2017) Medal with Purple Ribbon (2019) |
Osamu Akimoto (Japanese:秋本 治,Hepburn:Akimoto Osamu; born December 11, 1952) is a Japanesemanga artist fromKatsushika, Tokyo. He is best known for his long-runningcomedy seriesKochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops, which was continuously published inWeekly Shōnen Jump for 40 years from 1976 to 2016. With 1,960 chapters collected into 201tankōbon volumes, it held theGuinness World Record for "Most volumes published for a single manga series" from September 2016 to July 2021. The series has sold over 155 million copies, making it one of thebest-selling manga series in history. Akimoto's other works include the action comedyMr. Clice, which has been published irregularly since 1985, and theWestern seriesBlack Tiger (2017–2023).
Before becoming a professional manga artist, Akimoto worked at the animation studioTatsunoko Production on series such asScience Ninja Team Gatchaman.[1][2] Akimoto made his manga debut withKochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops (often shortened toKochikame) under the pen name ofTatsuhiko Yamadome (山止 たつひこ) in 1976. He changed to using his real name in 1978, after the series reached its 100th chapter. The manga was continuously serialized inWeekly Shōnen Jump for 40 years from 1976 to 2016 and has sold over 155 million copies,[3][4] making it one of thebest-selling manga series in history. On December 31, 2016,Shueisha reprinted theWeekly Shōnen Jump issue that included the final chapter ofKochikame, marking the first time the magazine has ever been reprinted.[5]Kochikame has spawned a large media franchise that includes adaptations both animated and live-action; an anime television series, several animated films, a live-action film, live-action TV drama, and stage adaptations.[6]
In 1985, Akimoto started the action comedy seriesMr. Clice, which follows the Japanesesecret agent Jin Clice, who has the body of a woman but the mind of a man. It was originally serialized inMonthly Shōnen Jump from 1985 to 2007, before being revived inJump SQ. in 2017 and transferring toJump SQ. Rise in 2018.[7][8]
In November 2010, Akimoto was one of several manga artists that held a press conference in opposition toTokyo Metropolitan Ordinance Regarding the Healthy Development of Youths'sBill 156.[9] In February 2014, he drew the one-shot "Vocalo" which is set 50 years after the rise ofVocaloid technology and ran in theshōjo manga magazineMargaret.[10] The following year,Grand Jump published his "Allie, Shoot Your Gun"Western one-shot in January 2015.[11]
In addition to resumingMr. Clice, Akimoto launched three new manga series in three different Shueisha magazines in 2017.[7] The WesternBlack Tiger was serialized inGrand Jump from the second issue of 2017, which was released in December 2016, until February 2023.[12]Finder: Kyoto Jogakuin Monogatari was serialized inWeekly Young Jump from February 2017 until March 2018. It follows a group of four girls at an all-female high school inKameoka, Kyoto.[13] A "sequel" toKochikame,Ii Yu da ne! ran inUltra Jump from March 2017 to June 2019. Set in a bathhouse inShitamachi, Gorō Kuma and his grandson are deeply moved when the Brazilian wife of Kuma's son arrives to save the bathhouse from having to close.[14]
In 2019, Akimoto publishedAkimoto Osamu no Shigoto-jutsu, an instructional book that explains how he used schedule management to serialize a successful manga for 40 years.[15]
In 2005,Kochikame was one of two winners of the Special Judges Award at the 50thShogakukan Manga Awards in 2005.[16]
With 200tankōbon volumes, Akimoto andKochikame held theGuinness World Record for "Most volumes published for a single manga series" from September 2016 to July 2021.[17][18] Also in 2016, Akimoto received the 64thKikuchi Kan Prize for creatingKochikame for 40 years without breaks.[19] The following year, he received the Special Prize at the 21stTezuka Osamu Cultural Prize for the series, and theSeiun Award for Best Comic.[20][21]
In 2019, the Japanese government gave Akimoto theMedal with Purple Ribbon for his contributions to the arts.[22]
