Shinichi Ishizuka
{{Short description|Japanese manga artist (born 1971)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox comics creator
|name_nonEN = 石塚真一
|nonUS = ja
|image = Shinichi Ishizuka Funweek.it 2023.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Ishizuka in 2023
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|birth_name =
|birth_date = {{birth year and age|1971}}
|birth_place = Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
|nationality =
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|notable works = {{ubl|Gaku: Minna no Yama|Blue Giant}}
|collaborators =
|awards = {{ubl|1st Manga Taishō|54th and 62nd Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category|2017 Japan Media Arts Festival grand prize}}
|website =
|manga artist = y
}}
{{nihongo|Shinichi Ishizuka|石塚真一|Ishizuka Shin'ichi|born 1971|lead=yes}} is a Japanese manga artist. He made his debut in 2001 and began his first series, Gaku: Minna no Yama, a manga about mountain climbing, in Big Comic Original in 2003, where it was serialized until 2012. He also created Blue Giant, a manga about jazz, and its sequels, which have been serialized in Big Comic since 2013.
Ishizuka studied at universities in the United States, where he was introduced to mountain climbing and given an increased exposure to jazz. After returning to Japan and being laid off, he began working towards becoming a manga artist and published the one-shot The First Step in 2001. His works Gaku: Minna no Yama and Blue Giant have both received film adaptations and awards, including the Manga Taishō, Shogakukan Manga Award, and a grand prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival.
Biography
Ishizuka was born in Ibaraki Prefecture in 1971.{{cite web|script-title=ja:石塚真一|url=https://mangapedia.com/%E7%9F%B3%E5%A1%9A%E7%9C%9F%E4%B8%80-mgmvx6p7a|website=Mangapedia|publisher=Voyage Group|access-date=August 29, 2024|language=ja}} After graduating from high school, he attended Southern Illinois University's Niigata campus, before moving to its main campus. He later transferred to San Jose State University to study meteorology.{{cite web|script-title=ja:『BLUE GIANT』の石塚真一氏 遅咲きデビューまでの日々|url=https://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20170522_557555.html?DETAIL|last=Ichishi|first=Haruo|website={{ill|News Post Seven|ja|NEWSポストセブン}}|date=May 22, 2017|access-date=August 29, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=August 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825035618/https://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20170522_557555.html?DETAIL|url-status=live}} During his time in the United States, a friend of his told him that he chose to study archeology abroad after reading Master Keaton by Naoki Urasawa. Ishizuka was surprised by this answer and desired to create manga with a similar impact.{{cite web|script-title=ja:『BLUE GIANT』を描く漫画家、石塚真一が語る、創作表現とジャズへの想い|url=https://tokion.jp/2021/02/26/shinichi-ishizuka-creative-expression/|author=Tommy|website=Tokion|date=February 26, 2021|access-date=August 29, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=September 9, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240909130532/https://tokion.jp/2021/02/26/shinichi-ishizuka-creative-expression/|url-status=live}} One of Ishizuka's roommates during this time was fond of mountain climbing and introduced it to him. He also gained an increased exposure to jazz music.{{cite web|script-title=ja:ジャズこそが"若者の熱く激しい音楽"だと思いたいんです。|url=https://www.kobejazz.jp/jazz_people/vol53.html|website=Kobe Jazz|publisher=Denso Ten|date=August 4, 2016|access-date=August 29, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=August 25, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825035618/https://www.kobejazz.jp/jazz_people/vol53.html|url-status=live}} He described jazz and mountain climbing as "the two souvenirs I brought back [from the United States]".
Upon returning to Japan, Ishizuka worked at an import company run by an acquaintance from the United States. However, the company went bankrupt within six months of him joining. After being laid off, he decided to become a manga artist and began to draw manga in his spare time while working part-time teaching English.{{cite web|script-title=ja:担当編集者が語る、ビッグな名作が生まれる現場！『岳―みんなの山―』担当編集者 勝木 大 氏インタビュー|url=https://www.ebigcomic4.jp/column/detail/20160617_interview.html|website=Ebigcomic4|last=Yamashina|first=Kiyoharu|date=May 17, 2016|access-date=August 29, 2024|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104180025/https://www.ebigcomic4.jp/column/detail/20160617_interview.html|archive-date=January 4, 2019|url-status=dead}} In 2001, he submitted the one-shot The First Step to the {{ill|Shogakukan Newcomer Manga Award|ja|小学館新人コミック大賞}}; it won the award in the general category. After winning the award, he began to pursue drawing manga full-time and quit his job, despite his boss at the time telling him it would be "absolutely impossible" to become a manga artist. He initially worked as an assistant for six months.
On September 20, 2003, Ishizuka began serializing Gaku: Minna no Yama, a manga about mountain climbing, in Shogakukan's Big Comic Original magazine. It completed its serialization on June 5, 2012.{{cite web|script-title=ja:優秀賞 – 岳 みんなの山|url=http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/festival/2012/manga/works/16m_Gaku/|publisher=Japan Media Arts Festival|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220105111016/http://archive.j-mediaarts.jp/festival/2012/manga/works/16m_Gaku/|archive-date=January 5, 2022|language=ja|url-status=dead}} It won the first Manga Taishō in 2008{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-31/shinichi-ishizuka-wins-first-ever-manga-taisho-for-gaku|title=Shinichi Ishizuka Wins First Ever Manga Taisho for Gaku|website=Anime News Network|last=Loo|first=Egan|date=March 31, 2008|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=August 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805170032/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2008-03-31/shinichi-ishizuka-wins-first-ever-manga-taisho-for-gaku|url-status=live}} and the 54th Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga in 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-20/54th-shogakukan-manga-award-winners-announced|title=54th Shogakukan Manga Award Winners Announced|date=January 21, 2009|website=Anime News Network|last=Loo|first=Egan|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=January 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122154029/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2009-01-20/54th-shogakukan-manga-award-winners-announced|url-status=live}} It received a live-action film adaptation in 2011.{{cite web |last=Bunao |first=Daryl |date=February 3, 2011 |title=News: Gaku, English Pokemon BW & SoraKake Promos Streamed |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-02-03/gaku-english-pokemon-bw-and-sorakake-promos-streamed |access-date=August 29, 2024 |website=Anime News Network |archive-date=February 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110205235852/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2011-02-03/gaku-english-pokemon-bw-and-sorakake-promos-streamed |url-status=live }} It also won an excellence prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in 2012.
Ishizuka began serializing Blue Giant, a manga about jazz, in Shogakukan's Big Comic magazine on May 10, 2013.{{cite web|title=Gaku's Ishizuka Starts Blue Giant Manga About Jazz|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-04-29/gaku-ishizuka-starts-blue-giant-manga-about-jazz|website=Anime News Network|last=Nelkin|first=Sarah|date=April 29, 2013|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=September 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910235534/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-04-29/gaku-ishizuka-starts-blue-giant-manga-about-jazz|url-status=live}} It completed its serialization on August 25, 2016.{{cite web|title=Blue Giant Jazz Manga Ends, But Sequel Series Begins in September|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-08-24/blue-giant-jazz-manga-ends-but-sequel-series-begins-in-september/.105737|website=Anime News Network|last=Pineda|first=Rafael|date=August 24, 2016|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108104333/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-08-24/blue-giant-jazz-manga-ends-but-sequel-series-begins-in-september/.105737|url-status=live}} It won the 62nd Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category in 2007;{{cite web|title=Mob Psycho 100, More Win 62nd Shogakukan Manga Awards|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-01-23/mob-psycho-100-more-win-62nd-shogakukan-manga-awards/.111385|website=Anime News Network|last=Ressler|first=Karen|date=January 23, 2017|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111034544/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-01-23/mob-psycho-100-more-win-62nd-shogakukan-manga-awards/.111385|url-status=live}} it also won the grand prize at the Japan Media Arts Festival in the same year.{{cite web|title=Blue Giant, 'your name.,' Shin Godzilla Win Media Arts Awards|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-16/blue-giant-your-name-shin-godzilla-win-media-arts-awards/.113502|website=Anime News Network|last=Sherman|first=Jennifer|date=March 16, 2017|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112032618/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2017-03-16/blue-giant-your-name-shin-godzilla-win-media-arts-awards/.113502|url-status=live}} It received an anime film adaptation in 2023.{{cite web|title=Blue Giant Anime Film Reveals Main Staff, February 2023 Opening|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-06-21/blue-giant-anime-film-reveals-main-staff-february-2023-opening/.186917|website=Anime News Network|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|date=June 21, 2022|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=June 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220622031016/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-06-21/blue-giant-anime-film-reveals-main-staff-february-2023-opening/.186917|url-status=live}} A second series, titled Blue Giant Supreme, was serialized in Big Comic from September 10, 2016, to April 25, 2020.{{cite web|title=Shinichi Ishizuka's Blue Giant Supreme Manga Ends|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-25/shinichi-ishizuka-blue-giant-supreme-manga-ends/.158970|website=Anime News Network|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|date=April 25, 2020|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=October 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201014071554/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-04-25/shinichi-ishizuka-blue-giant-supreme-manga-ends/.158970|url-status=live}} The third series, titled Blue Giant Explorer, was serialized in Big Comic from May 25, 2020, to May 10, 2023.{{cite web|title=Shinichi Ishizuka Launches Blue Giant Explorer Manga|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-09/shinichi-ishizuka-launches-blue-giant-explorer-manga/.159386|website=Anime News Network|last=Hodgkins|first=Crystalyn|date=May 9, 2020|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801032817/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2020-05-09/shinichi-ishizuka-launches-blue-giant-explorer-manga/.159386|url-status=live}}{{cite web|title=Blue Giant Manga Starts 'New York Arc' in July|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-05-09/blue-giant-manga-starts-new-york-arc-in-july/.197913|website=Anime News Network|last=Cayanan|first=Joanna|date=May 9, 2023|access-date=August 29, 2024|archive-date=May 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230510071031/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2023-05-09/blue-giant-manga-starts-new-york-arc-in-july/.197913|url-status=live}} A fourth series, titled Blue Giant Momentum, began serialization in Big Comic on July 25, 2023.
Influences
Ishizuka has stated he learned to draw from the works of Urasawa and Kenshi Hirokane, before incorporating his own style. Ishizuka has particularly cited Hirokane for inspiration, describing his works as being very easy to read. He cited Shuichi Shigeno's manga Bari Bari Densetsu and Tetsuya Chiba's manga Notari Matsutarō for inspiration drawing movement and crowds, respectively.{{cite web|script-title=ja:『BLUE GIANT』石塚真一先生にガチアンケート！|url=https://manba.co.jp/manba_magazines/13455|website=Manba|last=Maeda|first=Takahiro|date=July 2, 2021|access-date=August 29, 2024|language=ja}} Ishizuka also stated he was influenced by Tsuribaka Nisshi by Jūzō Yamasaki and {{ill|Kenichi Kitami|ja|北見けんいち}}.
Works
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=Other=
- {{ill|Seiko Jazz|ja|SEIKO JAZZ}} (2017) – album cover illustration for Seiko Matsuda{{cite web|script-title=ja:「BLUE GIANT」の石塚真一、松田聖子ジャズアルバムのジャケット描き下ろし|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/223681|website=Comic Natalie|publisher=Natasha, Inc|date=March 8, 2017|access-date=August 29, 2024|language=ja|archive-date=August 27, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240827035642/https://natalie.mu/comic/news/223681|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Anime News Network|people|69607}}
{{Manga Taishō}}
{{Shogakukan Manga Award - General}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ishizuka, Shinichi}}
Category:Manga artists from Ibaraki Prefecture