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Now You Can Literally Jump for Free Shonen Jump Manga in New App for Kids
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
Shueisha announced on Friday that the editorial department of its Shonen Jump+ website and app has launched a new manga app called Shunkan Shōnen Jump (using a kanji that means "moment" rather than the kanji for "weekly" used for the main magazine). The app is targeted toward children 18 and under.
The app uses location identification and Bluetooth technology to help unlock chapters of manga by giving users a "Jump Time" to literally jump. When users jump together, the chapter of a manga from the main Weekly Shonen Jump magazine will be unlocked and can be read for free. The "Jump Times" happen on Fridays, three times a day.
The app's website asks students to be sure to abide by school regulations and other building regulations when playing the app, and to take in account their surroundings as well before jumping.
The app's website also states that some of the app's functionality is restricted and cannot be accessed by those who are 19 years old or older.
The main Shonen Jump+ app first launched in Japan in 2014. The free-to-download app allows users to purchase a digital version of each issue of Weekly Shonen Jump at the same time the print version is released. E-books of the tankobon versions of Jump titles are also available for purchase. Original manga titles are also serialized exclusively through the service. The English version of the service MANGA Plus launched in January. Users under the age of 17 are locked out of using the main Shonen Jump+ iOS app as of August.
Sources: Shonen Jump's Twitter account, Shūnkan Shonen Jump app's website, Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web
