Shuichi Shigeno

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Shuichi Shigeno
しげの 秀一
Born (1958-03-08) March 8, 1958 (age 66)
Matsunoyama, Tokamachi, Niigata
NationalityJapanese
Notable works
Initial D
AwardsKodansha Manga Award in shōnen, 1985

Shuichi Shigeno (しげの 秀一, Shigeno Shūichi, born March 8, 1958) is a Japanese manga artist famous for creating Initial D. Shigeno has also created Bari Bari Densetsu, Dopkan, and Tunnel Nuketara Sky Blue ("First Love in Summer") all prior to the manga that would make him famous in 1995. In 1985, he received the Kodansha Manga Award in shōnen for Bari Bari Densetsu.[1]

Early life[edit]

Shuichi Shigeno was born in Matsunoyama [jp], Tokamachi City [jp], Niigata Prefecture. When Shigeno was in high school, he was obsessed with motorcycles, which resulted in one of his best-selling series, Bari Bari Densetsu.[2] Before Shigeno became a manga artist, he was a poor student. Still, after Baribari Densetsu sold well and got a lot of money from royalties on the first edition, he bought his first car (Toyota AE86) and lived in his small apartment.

Career[edit]

After Bari Bari Densetsu was sold, Shigeno wanted to make another book. And one of Shigeno's friends told Shigeno he liked cars, "so why not write it down?"[2] Shigeno then thought about the idea, but part of him resisted, due to going out of business if writing about cars does not work out. Since Shigeno was writing about cars, he used his first car Toyota AE86 to help him write about Initial D.[2] After Initial D was published, it became a huge hit.

In 2017, after Initial D was completed, he started a sequel series titled MF Ghost, which continues most of Initial D's legacy in focusing on racing theories and cars. In November 2022, Weekly Young Magazine announced that MF Ghost will be on a hiatus due to Shigeno's declining health to prevent him from overworking.[3] The series resumed on June 19, 2023.[4]

Shuichi Shigeno and his Toyota AE86 Trueno[edit]

Shigeno bought his AE86 Toyota Sprinter Trueno right after he got royalties from Bari Bari Densetsu. At first, Shigeno picked the Sprinter Trueno because his father only drove Toyota cars. After going to a Toyota dealership, Shigeno bought the Sprinter Trueno because it had just undergone a model change and it was not particularly expensive.[2] Plus, it was stylish and cool to drive. For the first two years of owning his AE86, Shigeno only used it practically to help with his daily life. In between work, Shigeno would often times go to the mountains of Gunma and drive there when there were no regular cars. To this day, Shigeno still has his AE86 and drives around in the middle of the night.[2]

Works[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Joel Hahn. "Kodansha Manga Awards". Comic Book Awards Almanac. Archived from the original on August 16, 2007. Retrieved August 21, 2007.
  2. ^ a b c d e "漫画「頭文字D」の作者 "しげの秀一" に聞いたクルマの魅力". Gazoo. November 29, 2015.(in Japanese)
  3. ^ Leung, Ambrose (November 23, 2022). "The 'MF Ghost' Manga Is Going on an Indefinite Hiatus". Hypebeast.
  4. ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (June 12, 2023). "MF Ghost Manga Resumes on June 19". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 2, 2023. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  5. ^ "Initial D's Shigeno to Launch Amazing Hana Manga". Anime News Network. February 27, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2020.
  6. ^ Crystalyn, Hodgkins (August 28, 2017). "Shuuichi Shigeno's MF Ghost Manga Launches on September 4, Reveals New Visual". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 6, 2019.

External links[edit]