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Shonen Sunday Editor-in-Chief Takenori Ichihara Steps Down After 6 Years
posted on by Alex Mateo
Takenori Ichihara announced on Wednesday that he has stepped down as editor-in-chief of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine after six years and three months. He became editor-in-chief in 2015. Kazunori Ohshima will be the new editor-in-chief.
Ichihara stated on Twitter that the magazine had been in an unprecedented crisis, but "dramatically improved business performance" during his tenure, and he is passing it on to the next generation.
Ichihara had the second longest tenure out of all of the magazine's editors-in-chief. Kazuki Tanaka holds the magazine's record for longest tenure as editor-in-chief. Tanaka served in the role from 1976-1984.
Ichihara personally made 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 said he would take full responsibility for the fate of the magazine. Ichihara considered fostering the talent of new manga artists the magazine's biggest priority. His vision for the magazine included experienced writers for a mix of new and old.
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 Shōnen Magazine, the magazine's circulation had dropped in recent years, falling below 600,000 in July-September 2011 and below 400,000 in the first quarter of 2015.
The magazine has serialized such manga as Detective Conan, Inuyasha, Major, and Komi Can't Communicate.
Source: Takenori Ichihara's Twitter account (link 2) via Otakomu, Hachima Kikо̄
[Images via Comic Natalie]
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