On August 28th, 2020 as part of the Kodansha C-Station website, a new interview with Hiroyuki Takei’s editor, Moriyoshi Yoshida, was posted. This website is targeted to media outlets and booksellers in Japan. The original article can be found here in Japanese, and a rough English translation of the interview is provided below. Yoshida has been Hiroyuki Takei’s editor for his Nekogahara and Shaman King The Super Star manga series which have both run in Kodansha’s Shonen Magazine Edge monthly manga magazine.
—-Shaman King is a manga series that has been beloved for over 20 years since its creation in 1998. What do you think is the reason for this?
Yoshida: The key piece is originality. Most people think of shonen manga protagonists as “cheerful and popular” or “hot-blooded.” But the main character of Shaman King, Yoh Asakura, is the complete opposite of that royal road, by being “loose” and calm.
This was a surprise to readers at the time. The introduction of a new, never-before-seen type of protagonist grabbed them instantly, and the series quickly became a popular title.
It wasn’t just the setting, but the artwork that was also outstandingly stylish at the time. That impression hasn’t diminished, and even after 20 years later, the vibe doesn’t feel old. The clothing worn by the characters is influenced by Japanese and Western cultures. The idea of living in a global world and following your own path is a very modern mindset; I think it’s a work worthy of being called an enduring masterpiece.
By the way, Shaman King is a special work for Hiroyuki Takei (the author), his own values are strongly reflected in his work; thus making Yoh Asakura a kind of “child” to him. That’s why he was so surprised and happy that the anime adaptation was such a hot topic of conversation from the bottom of his heart.
— In 2018, the “Shaman King 20th Anniversary Special Site” was opened. Since then, there has been a sense of “this is the start of something” among the fans, which must have contributed to the huge response.
Yoshida: When we started with the name “Shaman King 20th Anniversary Project” we wanted to express that this will be a continuous project rather than just a single event. It started in June 2018 in Shonen Magazine Edge with the serialization of Shaman King The Super Star. Now recently we’ve been able to announce the centerpiece of the project with the new anime adaptation.
When reading the complete edition of the Shaman King manga, you will discover the true ending to the series. However, when the series was first animated this true ending was not realized. The goal then became to reach this true ending with the new anime and to answer the fans that would like to see it animated.
All of the volumes of the complete edition of the manga are now available in digital eBook formats. There has been 3 batches of print editions of the manga volumes that have been, and will continue to be released around the 17th of each month. Similar to the anime announcement, the public response has been great, and there is a general feeling of “we’ve been waiting for you Takei-sensei.”
Last year, we had previously published those digital eBooks over several months. Over the course of this year, we will be continuously releasing the print volumes as we prepare for our future plans. For example, last year we held our first original art exhibition in Tokyo. This month, we held it in the Aomori Prefecture, the hometown of Takei-sensei and a location within the Shaman King series. Next month, we’ll go back to Tokyo with a triumphant return.
Due to the support of the fans of the Shaman King series, the merchandise sales were double our expectations at the first Exhibition. This popularity continued with our official Twitter account “Shaman King 20th Official” which provides the latest information on the project and continues to grow with over 70,000 followers.
—Who are the core demographics of the Shaman King fans?
Yoshida: There is a generation that read Shaman King when it was first published; mostly males who are now in their 30s and 40s. I think this group is highly dedicated to this series and has the financial means to have a positive effect and be able to support the strong sales of related merchandise.
We are currently receiving many inquires for corporate collaborations, including merchandising of Shaman King. One of the main factors is that decision makers are often fans of the series.
By the way, one of the most important things for Takei-sensei is that the collaborators must be fans of the work. He has said “If someone who loves the work is in charge, then I don’t have to worry about it.” It is important to love what you do. “A person who has love will spread love.” I think that brings him a lot of joy.
That’s the reason why Shaman King is currently gaining so much attention; there is a group of people who love the series. It’s an important thing to “love it or not.” If you know what is truly important, you’ll stand by it.
—The motivational posters, which served as anime adaptations announcements, also became a trending topic on social media among fans.
Yoshida: I thought that if we were going to announce the release of the manga and anime series in the middle of a pandemic, I wanted it to have a deeper meaning with it. So we worked together with our advertising department on that. The phrase “funbarou” (ふんばろう) , or “to persist” was able to resonate with the hearts of our fans. We received many positive comments on social media such as ” I feel energized” and “this has given me courage.”
The banner on display at the Kodansha Building was also picked up by various internet news sites and the message of “funbarou” was able to be communicated to a further reach.
—From this the expectations for the new anime that starts in April has now increased a lot.
Yoshida: The anime starting next year is currently being produced with great care for the original source. I’m sure it will satisfy both fans and those who are seeing Shaman King for the first time.
However, I believe this is only the beginning. The Shaman King series has the potential to be a work that is loved domestically and internationally, but parents and children for generations to come. Naturally, we have already started preparations for our next anniversary, the 30th anniversary.
I believe that Shaman King will continue to be loved by many people for years to come. The “Circle of Shaman King” will continue to expand into the future. Please look forward to what will come next.
