A Century of Legacy, A Heart Forever Young: Shueisha Celebrates 100th Anniversary, Announces a New Journey

One of Japan’s most influential publishers, Shueisha, officially celebrates its 100th anniversary. Beginning on August 8, 1926, as the entertainment magazine division of Shogakukan, Shueisha has grown into a major driving force in global manga and publishing culture. At this centennial milestone, the company adopts the theme “100 years? Still just a fledgling,” declaring its commitment to continue creating outstanding works for readers worldwide with a renewed spirit.

A Century-Long Glorious Legacy of Creation
Shueisha publishes numerous manga magazines targeted at young audiences, with Weekly Shōnen Jump long holding the position as Japan’s highest-circulation serialized manga magazine. It has nurtured generation-defining phenomena such as One Piece, Dragon Ball, Slam Dunk, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Oshi no Ko. Since establishing the “Tezuka Award” and “Akatsuka Award” in 1971 and founding the “Subaru Literary Prize” in 1977, Shueisha has continuously discovered and nurtured creative talent, infusing Japanese and global pop culture with an endless stream of vitality.

Grand Launch of Centennial Commemorative Projects
To mark this historic moment, Shueisha released a stunning centennial commemorative advertisement on January 3rd. Titled “A Cross-Century Character Group Photo,” the ad brings together iconic manga characters from different eras into a single frame, sketching a vast cultural tapestry carrying collective memory. This is not merely a visual feast but a profound cultural tribute—a reminder of how this publisher has accompanied readers through long years with countless stories and continues to shape the landscape of global popular culture.

Simultaneously launched, the year-long commemorative event “SHUEISHA MANGA EXPO” will delve into the charm of manga creation through two special projects:

“Chapters Unforgettable to Manga Artists”: Over 40 renowned manga artists are invited to revisit and comment on the most memorable chapters from their careers. Osamu Akimoto, famous for Kochira Katsushika-ku Kameari Kōen-mae Hashutsujo, has taken the lead, with more creators to be announced on the event’s official website.

“Manga I Recommend”: This project gathers over 20 notable figures from fields such as sports, arts, and academia to share the manga works that have deeply moved them. Professional footballer Takefusa Kubo, as the first guest, recommended classics like One Piece and Naruto. The series will continue to feature reading recommendations from global celebrities.

A New Centennial Starting Point: Continued Creation, Connecting the World
In its centennial statement, Shueisha emphasized, “100 years is not an endpoint, but a brand new starting point. We will continue with a ‘young’ mindset, creating more works that touch hearts, repaying every reader who has accompanied us on this journey.” Over the coming year, the company will also gradually announce multiple special collaborative projects, continuing to use manga as a medium to connect different cultures, generations, and emotions.

A century of history, an unchanged original heart. With the creative passion of this “fledgling,” Shueisha declares to the world: the stories will go on.

Watch the Commemorative Advertisement:

SHUEISHA MANGA EXPO Official Website (Project details continuously updated)