Weekly Young Jump

Weekly Young Jump was launched by Shueisha in May 1979 as a sister publication to Weekly Shōnen Jump, aimed at an older demographic. It was part of a wave of seinen magazines that emerged in the late 1970s, following the success of Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine (1980). The magazine initially featured a mix of manga, articles, and gravure photos of models and actresses, a formula that helped it stand out. Over the decades, it has maintained a weekly schedule, with occasional double issues and special editions. Its circulation peaked in the mid-1990s at over 1.8 million copies, but like many print magazines, it has declined in the digital era, though it remains profitable through digital sales and merchandise.

Young Jump has published some of the most influential seinen manga of all time. Berserk (1989–2021) by Kentaro Miura set a benchmark for dark fantasy storytelling and art, while Kingdom (2006–present) by Yasuhisa Hara became a historical epic that has sold over 100 million copies. Tokyo Ghoul (2011–2014) by Sui Ishida achieved global popularity and spawned anime and live-action adaptations. The magazine also serialized Kaguya-sama: Love Is War (2015–2022), a romantic comedy that won the Shogakukan Manga Award in 2020. Other notable titles include Gantz, Elfen Lied, Liar Game, and Golden Kamuy, which won the 2016 Manga Taisho award. The magazine's influence extends beyond Japan, with many series licensed internationally.

Young Jump is known for its liberal content policy, which includes graphic violence, sexual themes, and social satire. This has led to occasional controversies, such as the 2018 series Kaguya-sama being criticized for a scene depicting a character in blackface, which was later altered in the anime adaptation. The magazine also regularly features gravure photo spreads of underage models, a practice that has drawn criticism from international observers, though it remains legal in Japan. In 2020, the magazine faced backlash for a cover featuring a model in a school uniform, which some deemed inappropriate. Despite these issues, the magazine's editorial team has defended its content as part of its appeal to adult readers.

Beyond its flagship titles, Young Jump has a rich history of short-lived or experimental series. For instance, Bastard!! (1988–1989) by Kazushi Hagiwara began in Young Jump before moving to the quarterly Ultra Jump. The magazine also published All You Need Is Kill (2014), a manga adaptation of Hiroshi Sakurazaka's novel that inspired the Hollywood film Edge of Tomorrow. In 2011, Young Jump launched a digital companion app, Young Jump!, which later merged into Shueisha's Shonen Jump+ platform. The magazine has also been a launching pad for artists who later achieved fame elsewhere, such as Tatsuki Fujimoto, whose one-shot Fire Punch (2016–2018) ran in Young Jump before he created Chainsaw Man for Shonen Jump+. Additionally, the magazine's annual Young Jump Awards have discovered new talent, and its covers have featured celebrities like Rola and Kanna Hashimoto.

Seinen manga

Manga aimed at adult men, typically featuring more mature themes and complex narratives.

Gravure

A style of Japanese photography featuring scantily clad models, often used in magazines.

Manga Taisho

An annual Japanese manga award selected by bookstore employees.