The first edition of Weekly Shonen Magazine. (C)Kodansha

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The June 2009 edition of Weekly Shonen Magazine. (C)Kodansha

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Two trailblazers in the world of Japanese manga magazines celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their inaugural issues in March 2009. Weekly Shonen Magazine, published by Kodansha Ltd., and Weekly Shonen Sunday, from Shogakukan Inc., have both produced a vast number of hit manga series while forging a relationship as amicable rivals. Meanwhile, Weekly Shonen Jump, a popular publication from Shueisha Inc. known for featuring "One Piece" and "Naruto," marked its fortieth anniversary in 2008. And Nakayoshi, a monthly girls' manga magazine from Kodansha known for featuring the best-selling "Sailor Moon," will celebrate its fifty-fifth anniversary in December 2009.

Friendly RivalrySince their founding, both Magazine and Sunday have sought to give expression to the dreams of young boys, share in the painful process of growing up, and on occasion define a way of life through stories about baseball, other sports, and love. Many men today grew up reading these manga.

Sunday is commonly viewed as the more cosmopolitan and refined of the two, while Magazine is the more melodramatic, bursting with tales of chivalry. The difference is evident in the stories they have carried on the same theme. "Touch," a popular series about baseball in Sunday, is a rejuvenating tale of love and baseball revolving around twin boys who play high school baseball and a beautiful girl. "Star of the Giants," which appears in Magazine, portrays a boy who overcomes many hardships through hard work and determination in his quest to become a professional baseball star.

A recent edition of Weekly Shonen Sunday. (C)Shogakukan 2009

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These characterizations continue to hold true today. Takahashi Rumiko's "Rine-ne," a serialization from Sunday that is being released online simultaneously in Japan and the United States, and "Arata Kangatari," the latest work from Watase Yuu, creator of "Fushigi Yugi" (Mysterious Play) and other stories, all feature appealingly cute characters.

Recent works from Magazine include "Fairy Tail" by Mashima Hiro, which is to be made into an anime this fall, "Tsubasa," written by a group of manga artists named Clamp, who attended the Japan Expo event showcasing Japanese pop culture in Paris in July 2009, and "Negima! Magister Negi Magi," a work by Akamatsu Ken that is appearing in a variety of media. All depict male characters who undergo a process of personal growth through work, adventures, and hard training.

To mark their fiftieth anniversary, Sunday and Magazine joined forces to release "Case Closed" and "Kindaichi Case Files" in special editions bringing together these popular detective stories from the two publications. This spirit of "friendly rivalry" has the potential to serve as a springboard for a new era in the magazines' development marked by inroads into overseas markets and the use of a mixture of media.

The August 2009 edition of Nakayoshi. (C)Kodansha

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Leading Lights of Manga CultureJump celebrated its fortieth anniversary in 2008. Its current offerings include "One Piece," about the adventures of a group of pirates, "Naruto," the story of a young ninja growing up, and "Bleach," about a high school student who battles evil spirits. All are so popular that they have also been released as multi-volume sets. Jump stands together with Magazine and Sunday as a pillar of Japanese manga culture.

The girls' manga Nakayoshi is another trailblazer and will soon mark 55 years since its first edition. Its hit titles include "Sailor Moon," which now serves as an inspiration for "cosplayers" (fans who dress up as their favorite characters) around the world, and "Candy Candy," which was popular in China, France, Italy, and South Korea. "Shugo Chara!" which is currently being serialized, has won the admiration and hearts of young girls. Nakayoshi provides giveaways with each issue, which are another reason for its popularity. (October 2009)