Full-time cartoonist.

Chapter 400 The birth of Japan’s number one manga

"Dad, come and play with me."

Eiichiro Oda was staring closely at the TV when he suddenly heard his daughter's coquettish voice.

"Forgive me, next time." Oda said with a smile, "Dad has something very important to be busy with now."

Now he is selecting the best manga in Japan, and he feels that he has a high chance of being selected.

It has always been his dream to draw Japan's number one manga, and he must not miss today's event.

"Huh? Dad was just watching TV. Mom said you can't disturb him only when dad is in the studio."

Hearing his daughter's childish voice and seeing her lost look, Oda couldn't help but feel apologetic.

The cartoonist himself had no time to take care of his daughter in the past, let alone play with her.

"My father is really incompetent..."

Oda felt deeply guilty, "Okay, I will..."

He stood up, but before he finished speaking, there was violent applause on the TV.

"The manga that entered the top 100 selections of Japanese media art is - "Legend of the Sword Wind"!"

This is the 25th best comic book, and it is an absolute masterpiece.

"Legend of Sword and Wind" is considered by a large number of people to be the most unique comic and the work with the best illustrations.

"What? Dad." the daughter urged.

Oda's eyes went straight, and he said in a daze: "If you want to watch TV, please wait for a while."

"Wow!" the child cried and ran away, "Mom, dad is bullying me!"

Oda couldn't care about his daughter anymore.

……

Higashino family.

"Dad must be number one." Mirai Higashino is full of confidence in Hibiki Hibiki.

"Maybe," Higashino Hibiki hesitated. The world-famous "Legend of Sword and Wind" was the last one, and the previous comics were unimaginable.

"Dad is the strongest!"

Dongye Xiang nodded heavily when he heard this, "Yeah! Yes!"

His son gave him the confidence to get first place.

"Fist of the North Star", "Hunter", and "Tide and the Tiger" appeared one after another.

Hibiki Higashikata's heart was pounding.

He seemed to have returned to the night when the "Tezuka Prize" was presented, when he was in the spotlight and no one knew about him. Now he is famous all over the world and has a wife and son by his side.

"Times have changed, and I definitely still have no problems now!"

……

In the lower left corner of the "Weekly Shōnen Jump" editorial office, there is a TV hanging.

At this time, the editors were all standing in front of the TV, watching the live broadcast of the selection.

They looked very unhappy.

Among the manga works so far, Shueisha only accounts for three manga. Two of them are written by Yoshihiro Togashi alone.

The reputation of Japan's number one manga magazine, "Weekly Shōnen Jump" is in jeopardy.

"How could this happen?" Bottle muttered.

Only Sasaki remained calm. He looked up at the live broadcast calmly and said nothing.

""Yu Yu Hakusho", "Azu Manga Daioh", "Parasite"! It's almost reaching the top 10!" Koji Yoshida's heart was about to jump out of his throat.

"So far, none of Mr. Tori Akino's comics has appeared. How is this possible!"

His lips were dry, "It must be in the top 10! Absolutely!"

"The twelfth-ranked manga...is "One Piece"!"

The 12th comic appears.

There is still no Tori Akino Mirai manga.

"The manga that has been ranked number one in "Weekly Shonen Jump" for several years is actually only ranked twelfth, so the remaining comics are..."

Even Yoshida Koji is almost desperate.

"What a pity."

“What comics are in the top 10?”

There was a lot of discussion in the editorial department.

The highly anticipated "One Piece" fell outside the 10th place, which made them surprised and uneasy.

In a voting contest with no threshold, "Weekly Shōnen Jump", which has the highest circulation, should take the first place.

……

"It's only the twelfth place..." Oda Eiichiro was greatly frustrated. He quickly gathered his energy, "But it's okay, I still have a lot of room to work hard."

"Keep working hard." Chiaki Oda touched the back of her husband's hand and comforted her softly.

Oda nodded moved, "Well, thank you, Chiaki."

"Are you okay then?"

"never mind."

"Then..." Oda Chiaki's soft expression dropped, and she said with a straight face, "Go and play with your daughter. You must do what you promised. I'm so annoyed by her noise."

"Eh~ Well... let's wait a little longer."

Oda marveled at how quickly the woman changed her face, "I'm curious about the top 10 comics."

……

Koji Yoshida clenched his fists on his chest, bowed his head and prayed silently.

He really didn't dare to look, so he just pricked up his ears and listened.

"The manga ranked 11th is..."Death Note"."

"Huh~" Yoshida couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief.

He used to hope that "Death Note" could get the first place, but at this moment, it is already good to be the 11th place.

It made his anxious heart relax a little.

The anxious atmosphere in the editorial office was swept away. Two Shōnen Jump comics appeared one after another, giving them the confidence to finally read the next works.

Pase Yoshihisa glanced at Sasaki and sighed, worthy of being the editor-in-chief, with extraordinary concentration.

But he didn't notice Sasaki's fingernail mark at all.

Sasaki's brows relaxed and his expression was soothing.

"Sure enough, it's time for Tori Akino to show off in the future."

……

"Great." Akimiya Akemi clenched her fists excitedly.

She had been nervous for a long time, worried that Hibiki Higashi would be sad.

After all, "Hunter" is only at the bottom of the list at 21st place.

This selection was too valuable, and she had no confidence that Hibiki Higashino would win.

"Oh! It's Kami!" Dongye Mirai was shocked.

He has seen some of the original drawings of "Death Note" and the character paintings collected by Tori Akino.

The young Miku Higashino was deeply impressed by this comic with its cool style.

"This is dad's comic."

"That's right." Akimiya Akemi nodded with a smile, "Dad is the 11th."

"Only 11th?" Mirai Tono looked a little disappointed and looked up at Hibiki, "I think dad is the best."

Dongye Xiang said: "Just wait a little longer."

After "Death Note", there is "Puella Magi Madoka Magica".

This is the top 10 Japanese manga.

After seeing "Puella Magi Madoka Magica", Mirai Higashino felt a little bad.

This is the shadow of his childhood.

Oh, he is still a child now.

So I'm even more scared.

……

"As expected of Tori Akino-sensei." Yoshida Koji held his head high, and he was stunned.

"Tsk, tsk," Onishi Tsunehei shook his head speechlessly. Just a moment ago, Yoshida looked like he was about to die, but now he has turned into a peacock with its tail open.

Hearing his voice, Yoshida Koji couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, like a hook. “Just be jealous, haha.”

Ohnishi Tsunehei gritted his teeth, "Damn it."

Sasaki didn't care, his head remained motionless, looking directly at the live TV, his lips moved slightly.

Ping Jijiu asked doubtfully, "Editor, what did you say?"

Sasaki turned to look at him, "Tori Akino-kun has not reached his limit yet."

After Puella Magi Madoka Magica, came Mushishi, and then Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind.

Osamu Tezuka's "Black Jack" and "Firebird" are in the 7th and 6th places.

"Tezuka-sensei's comics are also appearing one after another," Tetsu Hattori lamented, "It's simply an enhanced version of Tori Akino Mirai."

"No," Sasaki shook his head slightly.

"Doraemon", "Fullmetal Alchemist", "Dragon Ball"...

"Dragon Ball by Akira Toriyama is in the top three."

"As expected, it has to be "Dragon Ball", the manga with the highest jump ranking."

……

In the countryside, Akira Toriyama couldn't help but smile while looking at the "Japanese Media Art 100 Awards".

""Dragon Ball" is third."

He wasn't angry or annoyed when he didn't get first place.

For him, "Dragon Ball" is a tool to make money, and it is a shackle that has imprisoned him for more than ten years.

Although it is also an honor, there is no extravagant expectation of getting first place.

"This is already great, haha."

……

"It's really amazing," Hirohiko Araki looked sideways, "Mr. Akira Toriyama's "Dragon Ball" is only ranked third."

"Teacher, why are you still laughing?" the assistant was angry.

"That's it?" Araki was stunned.

""Jojo"! There are only one or two left! Teacher, are you not nervous at all?"

"Of course I'm nervous," Araki said, "but there's no need to show it."

He took two deep breaths and said, "Is it okay now?"

"Sorry, I panicked." The assistant lowered his head and covered his chest, "I simply can't breathe."

Araki smiled and shook his head, "Young man."

came from the TV, "The second-ranked comic is..."Jojo's Bizarre Adventure"!"

"Hey! Hey!" Araki twitched.

……

"Only number one is left." Sasaki's eyes were burning.

There is only one work in his mind that can beat so many comics.

"'Slam Dunk'!"

This is the work he is responsible for, and he knows the glory of "Slam Dunk" better than Hibiki Higashino.

The comic with the highest sales per volume, the comic with the highest influence, and the most regrettable work.

The most unforgettable comics crown in readers' minds.

This comic is bound to take first place!
  He had been thinking this from the beginning, and now it turned out to be true.

"oh oh!"

The editors cheered, "We are number one!"

"We have Tori Akino Mirai!"

Yoshida Koji was completely stunned.

Surprise, excitement, disbelief and other emotions filled his brain.

"Tori Akino-sensei is the number one cartoonist..."

Surpassing Akira Toriyama and above Eiichiro Oda, the de facto first place.

……

Yamamura Morimichi pursed his lips, "Although I am very depressed, I have to admit that "Slam Dunk" is the strongest manga."

His wife looked at him and smiled, "Let me tell you, the first place is definitely "Slam Dunk"."

Memories came to her eyes.

When she was in college, "Slam Dunk" was the work that fascinated her the most, because this comic described her favorite sport, basketball.

"Slam Dunk" sparked a nationwide trend of playing basketball, giving this once niche sport more attention than football.

Although now, a few years after "Slam Dunk" ended, basketball has become lonely again, but the past time has always stayed in people's hearts and will not be forgotten.

Although today's readers back then have jobs and take care of children, when these adults see "Slam Dunk", they will still feel excited, moved and sad.

Yamamura Morichi curled his lips, "I lost again this time."

"You are not in the top 25, so how do you think you are a loser?" Hidemi Yamamura covered her mouth and smiled, "My dear, you have obviously not started yet."

"hateful!"

……

"'Slam Dunk'?" Looking at his cheering mother, Miku Higashino wondered, "This is not dad's comic."

"Didn't I let you read it?" Akimiya Akemi looked at her son and smiled. "In dad's studio, there is the original manuscript of "Slam Dunk". Do you have any impressions of the handsome and tall Sakuragi Hanamichi?"

"Oh!" Mirai Higashino stood up and clapped his hands, "Yes!"

"So..." He looked at Hibiki Higashino, "Dad is the number one cartoonist in Japan! How great!"

Dong Yexiang was in a trance, and only came to his senses after hearing these words.

He looked at the future running over, squatted down and held his son in his arms.

"Well, you've gained weight."

He tried tossing it, but his waist almost broke.

Higashikata didn't care at all. He happily slapped Hibiki on the shoulder, "Dad is number one! Daddy is number one!"

"It's number one, it's number one." Higashikata Higashikata followed, smiling happily.

He couldn't believe that he had surpassed so many amazing comics and won the first place.

After all, he is not Takehiko Inoue, and "Slam Dunk" may not have Takehiko Inoue's superb level.

The plot is one aspect, and the artistry is another important aspect.

Comics are an art form that uses paintings to express plots, and paintings account for a large proportion of the works.

Authors with poor drawing skills can also serialize, but top comics must have excellent drawing skills.

As strong as "One Punch Man" it was only after Yusuke Murata joined that it became a national-level comic.

Otherwise one would still be living in poverty.

"This is everyone's recognition of me." Hibiki Higashikata said.

……

All 100 selections are out.

The first place in the art department is "Tower of the Sun".

This is a landmark building built by artist Taro Okamoto for the 1970 Osaka World Expo.

This is a towering giant and an ancient statue. The main body of the triangular cone has a white base with red patterns, and white wings on both sides.

There are three "faces" on the "Tower of the Sun". The top is the "Golden Face", the center of the tower is the "Face of the Sun", and behind it is the "Dark Star", which represents the past, present and future.

Higashino Hibiki has no sense of the "Tower of the Sun". This building only gives him a sense of weirdness and no sense of beauty. It is not as good as Mr. Akimiya's paintings.

However, the landmark of the 1970 Osaka World Expo may have special meaning to the Japanese, so they will inevitably choose this one.

The entertainment department's first place is the flash animation "Soft Tank", which has been particularly popular recently.

This calmed down Higashino Hibiki's excitement. It seems that the participants may not attach so much importance to this selection.

The honor of first place in "Slam Dunk" is not as important as Hibiki Hibiki thought.

After the top 100 were selected, the organizer announced the list of 26th to 50th.

The 50th manga is "NANA" by Ai Yazawa.

This comic is the pinnacle of shojo comics, but it is far inferior to the 28th-placed "The Rose of Versailles".

It seems that as far as the comic department is concerned, it still needs to be moved to a certain extent.

Not as casual as the entertainment department.

(End of this chapter)