Shinji Nagashima
Encyclopedia
, better known by the pen name
, was a Japanese manga artist
born in Tokyo
, Japan. His pseudonym
came about due to a publisher's error when printing his name, and he continued using the pseudonym after that.
His oldest son is classical guitarist Shiki Nagashima.
and a tofu
salesman. He made his professional debut as a manga artist in 1952 with his story .
After becoming acquainted with Osamu Tezuka
due to occasionally living at Tokiwa-sō
, he became Tezuka's assistant. While there, he formed the group Musashi Production with artists including Atsushi Sugimura (who was working under the pseudonym Kontarō), Kyūta Ishikawa and Kuni Fukai (who was working under the pseudonym Hirō Fukai).
He soon became friends with several members of the Gekiga Kōbō, including Yoshihiro Tatsumi
and Takao Saito
, while living in a provincial temple
. After the breakup of Gekiga Kōbō, Nagashima began working for Saitō Production and his work began to reflect a more cinematic and dramatic feel. During this time, he began a somewhat wandering lifestyle living in Shinjuku.
In 1961, Nagashima published , a story which showed the "other side" of the manga industry and which brought Nagashima to the forefront of that industry.
He continued publishing new works in a variety of magazines such as COM
and Garo
, and due to his unusual style began to be called the "father of shōnen manga". From 1964 to 1966, he worked at Mushi Production
working on television anime
series such as Jungle Taitei.
Nagashima won the Shogakukan Manga Award
for his in 1972. Two years later, he won the Japan Cartoonists Association Award
for .
Beginning in the 1980s, he began releasing fewer series, and went into semi-retirement. He was diagnosed with diabetes, which subsequently caused him to begin having dialysis
treatments in 2000. Nagashima died of heart failure on June 10, 2005 at a Tokyo
hospital.
, Garo
, Play Comic) (1967, written by Ikki Kajiwara
, Shōnen King, was later adapted into a drama
starring Ken'ichi Sakuragi) (1968–1969, Wakamono) (1970) (1971, Perfect Liberty) (1971–1973, high school course books) (1971, Weekly Shōnen Sunday) (1972, Shinfujin) (1972, Shōnen King) (1972–1973) (1973–1974) (1996, based on the novel by Kenji Miyazawa
, NHK Publishing) (2006, Chikuma Shūpansha)
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
, was a Japanese manga artist
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
born in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan. His pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
came about due to a publisher's error when printing his name, and he continued using the pseudonym after that.
His oldest son is classical guitarist Shiki Nagashima.
History
From the time he was in junior high school, Nagashima aspired to become a manga artist. After dropping out of school during junior high, he worked as a paperboyPaperboy
A paperboy is the general name for a person employed by a newspaper, They are often used around the office to run low end errands. They make copies and distribute them. Paperboys traditionally were and are still often portrayed on television and movies as preteen boys, often on a bicycle...
and a tofu
Tofu
is a food made by coagulating soy milk and then pressing the resulting curds into soft white blocks. It is part of East Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine such as Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese, and others. There are many different varieties of tofu, including fresh tofu and tofu...
salesman. He made his professional debut as a manga artist in 1952 with his story .
After becoming acquainted with Osamu Tezuka
Osamu Tezuka
was a Japanese cartoonist, manga artist, animator, producer, activist and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy, Kimba the White Lion and Black Jack...
due to occasionally living at Tokiwa-sō
Tokiwa-so
was an apartment where Osamu Tezuka and many young manga artists once lived before they became famous. Tokiwa-sō was a small, inexpensive apartment in Toshima-ku, Tokyo. Residents included Shotaro Ishinomori, Fujio Akatsuka, Fujiko Fujio, Yoshiharu Tsuge...
, he became Tezuka's assistant. While there, he formed the group Musashi Production with artists including Atsushi Sugimura (who was working under the pseudonym Kontarō), Kyūta Ishikawa and Kuni Fukai (who was working under the pseudonym Hirō Fukai).
He soon became friends with several members of the Gekiga Kōbō, including Yoshihiro Tatsumi
Yoshihiro Tatsumi
is a Japanese manga artist who is widely credited with starting the gekiga style of alternative comics in Japan, having allegedly coined the term in 1957....
and Takao Saito
Takao Saito
is a Japanese manga and gekiga artist. He is best known for creating the successful series Golgo 13.-Early life and career:Takao Saito was born on November 3, 1936 in Wakayama Prefecture. During his school days in Osaka he was the best in his class in drawing and fighting, and also considered...
, while living in a provincial temple
Provincial temple
Emperor Shōmu of Japan established so-called provincial temples in each province of Japan...
. After the breakup of Gekiga Kōbō, Nagashima began working for Saitō Production and his work began to reflect a more cinematic and dramatic feel. During this time, he began a somewhat wandering lifestyle living in Shinjuku.
In 1961, Nagashima published , a story which showed the "other side" of the manga industry and which brought Nagashima to the forefront of that industry.
He continued publishing new works in a variety of magazines such as COM
COM (manga magazine)
was a manga magazine started in January 1967 by Osamu Tezuka. It was started in response to the success of Garo , and as a way for Tezuka and other artists to showcase more avant-garde and experimental works in manga...
and Garo
Garo (magazine)
was a monthly manga anthology magazine in Japan, founded in 1964 by Katsuichi Nagai. It specialized in alternative and avant-garde manga.-History:...
, and due to his unusual style began to be called the "father of shōnen manga". From 1964 to 1966, he worked at Mushi Production
Mushi Production
Mushi Production , or Mushi Pro for short, is a Japanese animation studio headquartered in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan....
working on television anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
series such as Jungle Taitei.
Nagashima won the Shogakukan Manga Award
Shogakukan Manga Award
The is one of Japan's major manga awards, sponsored by Shogakukan Publishing. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga since 1955 and features candidates from a number of publishers.The current award categories are:...
for his in 1972. Two years later, he won the Japan Cartoonists Association Award
Japan Cartoonists Association Award
is an annual award for manga, sponsored by the Japan Cartoonists Association. The awards began in 1972.-Recipients:-External links:* *...
for .
Beginning in the 1980s, he began releasing fewer series, and went into semi-retirement. He was diagnosed with diabetes, which subsequently caused him to begin having dialysis
Dialysis
In medicine, dialysis is a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood, and is primarily used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal failure...
treatments in 2000. Nagashima died of heart failure on June 10, 2005 at a Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
hospital.
Works
(1956, Shōjo) (1961–1964, Keiji) (1962, Akahata) (1964, Atom Club) (1967, Shōnen King) (1967–1970, COMCOM (manga magazine)
was a manga magazine started in January 1967 by Osamu Tezuka. It was started in response to the success of Garo , and as a way for Tezuka and other artists to showcase more avant-garde and experimental works in manga...
, Garo
Garo (magazine)
was a monthly manga anthology magazine in Japan, founded in 1964 by Katsuichi Nagai. It specialized in alternative and avant-garde manga.-History:...
, Play Comic) (1967, written by Ikki Kajiwara
Ikki Kajiwara
was a Japanese author, manga writer, and film producer, also known under the pseudonym . His real name is . The pseudonym was used since he was writing for a rival magazine at the time. Having multiple names would not allow overlaps by the two magazines...
, Shōnen King, was later adapted into a drama
Japanese television drama
, also called , are a staple of Japanese television and are broadcast daily. All major TV networks in Japan produce a variety of drama series including murder romance, comedy, detective stories, horror, and many others...
starring Ken'ichi Sakuragi) (1968–1969, Wakamono) (1970) (1971, Perfect Liberty) (1971–1973, high school course books) (1971, Weekly Shōnen Sunday) (1972, Shinfujin) (1972, Shōnen King) (1972–1973) (1973–1974) (1996, based on the novel by Kenji Miyazawa
Kenji Miyazawa
was a Japanese poet and author of children's literature in the early Shōwa period of Japan. He was also known as a devout Buddhist, vegetarian and social activist.-Early life:...
, NHK Publishing) (2006, Chikuma Shūpansha)