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History of Weekly Shōnen Jump: 58 years
Weekly Shōnen Jump has been on Japanese newsstands since July 11, 1968 — week after week, from Dragon Ball to One Piece to Kagurabachi. This page tells its story with the magazine's own numbers: every issue, every debut, every era.
Want the personal version? Find out which issue was on sale the day you were born or open issue #1.
The 60s
On July 11, 1968 Shueisha launched a new boys' magazine to compete with the established Magazine and Sunday. Among its very first series were Harenchi Gakuen and Otoko Ippiki Gaki-Daishō — and it worked: the newcomer became a weekly and never looked back.
The 70s
The 70s cemented the formula. In 1976 KochiKame began a run that would last 40 years without missing a week — the longest in the magazine's history — and by the end of the decade the foundations of the golden age were in place.
The 80s
The golden age: Dragon Ball, Fist of the North Star, Captain Tsubasa and Saint Seiya turned the Jump into a cultural phenomenon that crossed oceans.
The 90s
The all-time peak: the 1995 New Year issue printed a record 6.53 million copies, a figure no magazine has matched since. Slam Dunk and Yu Yu Hakusho carried the first half; in 1997 One Piece arrived, and in 1999, Naruto.
The 00s
The "big three" era: One Piece, Naruto and Bleach (2001) ruled the decade, while Death Note and Gintama proved the magazine could still surprise.
The 10s
A new generation took over — Haikyu!!, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer — and in 2019 the leap to digital: MANGA Plus brought the Jump to the whole world, the same week as Japan.
The 20s
The digital era in full swing: Sakamoto Days, Kagurabachi or Akane-banashi are born global, read simultaneously in dozens of countries. The magazine turns 58 still setting the pace of shōnen manga.
Milestone issues
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Sources: issue data and covers from ComicVine; Weekly Shōnen Jump © Shueisha. All series and images belong to their respective authors and publishers.