Serialized from 2012 to 2014 and re-serialized in 2018, "SHAMAN KING FLOWERS" is a sequel to the popular "SHAMAN KING" series, which ran until 2004. An anime adaptation is scheduled to air in January of next year, and as it's been a long time since the series was adapted into an anime, expectations are already building. But what kind of person is the original author of such a popular work? In this article, we'll introduce the author from various angles!
Introduction: What kind of story is it?
Hana Asakura, a junior high school student living in Funbarigaoka, is the son of Yoh Asakura and Anna Asakura (née Osorezan), and the next head of the prestigious Asakura family of shamans. However, with no opportunity to utilize his talents, Hana's days are filled with boredom and frustration. Then, two assassins appear before him. A new battle, "Flower of Maze," begins with an encounter with two descendants of the "Ura Asakura Clan," another Asakura clan believed to have vanished into the darkness of history. A new story begins with Asakura Hana as the protagonist.
Original Author: Hiroyuki Takei
The original author of this work is Hiroyuki Takei, the same author as the previous work, "SHAMAN KING." He is from Yomota Village, Higashitsugaru County, Aomori Prefecture, and his blood type is A. Incidentally, the main character, Hana Asakura, is also blood type A. Her first manga was "ITAKO'S ANNA," a title inspired by Anna from Shaman King. She won the Tezuka Award for this work and later made her serial debut with "Buddha Zone." She also served as an assistant to Nobuhiro Watsuki, the famous creator of "Rurouni Kenshin."
About My Style
From my debut as a manga artist until the serialization of "SHAMAN KING," I often worked on works themed around Buddhism and shamanism, often incorporating religious themes. His works since "Heavy Machinery Human Yunbol" have mainly focused on robots and other machines. Takei is also known for his love of travel, and if he finds something he likes on his travels, he will incorporate it into his works. He is also known for his good sense of characters, and is highly regarded by his peers. Watsuki Nobuhiro, mentioned above, used Takei's ideas in the designs of some of the characters in "Rurouni Kenshin" and "Fullmetal Alchemist." It seems that Watsuki often asks Takei for his opinions as reference, which shows how much he trusts Takei.
Shaman King Serialization
SHAMAN KING began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1998 and became a long-running hit. It continued until issue 40 in 2004 and was also adapted into an anime. Toward the end of its run, the series struggled with falling rankings in reader surveys and a slump, ultimately resulting in its cancellation and its final episode. This ending must have been disappointing for Takei. I was a junior high school student at the time and read the series in real time, but I was unaware of the circumstances surrounding the final episode. I wondered why it ended, considering how interesting it was. At the same time, even as an amateur, I thought, "It must be very difficult to survive in the Jump series." The color cover and final page of the final chapter feature an illustration of a mandarin orange. This is a pun on the "unfinished" status, a depiction that embodies Takei's ingenuity. The final volume of the tankobon also contained a page that hinted at a continuation of the main story.
About the End of the Series
Three years after the series ended, in 2007, at an event hosted by Megumi Hayashibara, the voice actress for Anna Osoreyama, emails between Hayashibara and Takei were revealed. The emails revealed that Takei expressed her "willingness to continue Shaman King." At Jump Festa held that same year, it was announced that a complete edition of Shaman King would be published. The 27th volume, released in 2009, contained the storyline that ended the series, concluding it. Having previously been forced to end the series, Takei must have been extremely happy to finally be able to complete it. In 2012, a sequel, "SHAMAN KING FOWERS," featuring Asakura You's son, Asakura Hana, began serialization. The series was temporarily halted due to the magazine's closure, but in 2018, a sequel began in "Shonen Magazine Edge" to commemorate Shaman King's 20th anniversary.
Tezuka Osamu and Gundam Fans
Takei is known to be a huge fan of the legendary manga genius, Osamu Tezuka. Many elements of Takei's early drawings appear to have been influenced by Tezuka. Takei himself referred to the Tezuka boom as a major influence. He also pays homage to the works of Shigeru Mizuki, and is a fan of the works of Leiji Matsumoto and Hirohiko Araki. He's also known for being a Gundam fan. He's been obsessed with building Gundam plastic models (commonly known as Gunpla) since childhood, and he's also passionate about drawing Gundam illustrations. He even received a bunch of Gundam models for his birthday from his assistants. The character Taoen, who appears in the work, not only takes his name from "∀ Gundam" (Turn A), but also references his design, and Takei himself has mentioned this.
Summary About the Author
This article introduces author Hiroyuki Takei from various perspectives. He became a popular manga artist and experienced the bitter experience of having his work canceled, but he continues to work enthusiastically, releasing sequels and new works. We may have another opportunity to read Takei's new works outside of Shaman King. And, I'm already looking forward to next year's anime broadcast! That's all for today. Thank you for reading.
