News
Shonen Sunday's New Editor-in-Chief Promises Changes
posted on by Karen Ressler
Takenori Ichihara, the new editor-in-chief of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine announced in this year's 38th issue on Wednesday that he plans to make changes to the magazine starting this fall.
Ichihara considers fostering the talent of new manga artists the magazine's biggest priority. Weekly Shonen Sunday, as well as Shonen Sunday Super, will remove some of the currently-serialized manga to make way for a succession of new faces. However, his vision for the magazine still includes experienced writers for a mix of new and old.
Ichihara will personally make decisions on manga content, from debut one-shots from new talents to new series from veteran writers, based on his preferences and aesthetic. As such, he says he takes full responsibility for the fate of the magazine.
In accordance with his decision to focus more on new talent, the Shonen Sunday editorial staff was restructured last month.
Ichihara says he was primarily a Shonen Sunday fan as a kid.
Weekly Shonen Sunday first launched in March 1959. Like Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump and Kodansha's Weekly Shonen magazine, the magazine's circulation has dropped in recent years, falling below 600,000 in July-September 2011 and below 400,000 in the first quarter of 2015.
The magazine currently serializes Magi, Case Closed, RIN-NE, and Ultimate Otaku Teacher, among other titles.
[Images via Comic Natalie]
