Full-time comic artist

After a few minutes of reviewing the document, he looked up and said to Higashino Hibiki, "I'll take another look. You can buy another coffee or a Coke."

"Please go ahead," Higashino Hibiki said with a smile.

He wasn't worried at all.

At this moment, he was still looking at the crowd outside the window with great interest.

Japan in 1993 was so interesting.

Joy, anger, sorrow, resentment, and suffering—you can see it all on every face of every person.

Since the bubble era, social vitality has declined, suicide rates have risen, birth rates have decreased, and the aging and declining birth rate have intensified. From a humanistic perspective, the whole society is in a period of low ebb.

That's why we have different faces.

Chaos and madness coexist.

It was a tragic era, but also a golden age for literary creation.

Hibiki Higashino's favorite work, Ultraman Tiga, was born from this.

People need a hero, but unfortunately, it's unclear when that hero will arrive.

Cults continue to run rampant outside, colluding with officials. Even in 2022, someone, in a moment of grief, fired a desperate shot.

Higashino Hibiki's gaze gradually deepened.

Torishima Kazuhiko was stunned.

"It's about drawing Go... There hasn't been a comic like this before, but perhaps this is an opportunity!"

It is precisely because it is absent that it is more interesting.

"The spirit of a chess official who played chess with the emperor and nobles during the Heian period, a thousand years ago—that's a great concept!"

Without much thought, one can come up with a lot of interesting ideas.

"Moreover, the characters are drawn very beautifully; Fujiwara no Sai will definitely attract many female readers."

After reading through the storyboards for the three episodes, Kazuhiko Torishima was extremely surprised.

Is this still the same Hibiki Higashino? It's like he's been possessed by Osamu Tezuka.

"Higashino, you're amazing! Use 'Hikaru no Go' to enter the Tezuka Award!"

Chapter 22 The Story of Sasaki Hisashi and Torajiro

The Tezuka Award, organized by Shueisha, is an award for newcomers to shonen manga. It has been held twice a year since the first half of 1971.

This award, given to Osamu Tezuka for his outstanding contributions, has helped Shueisha attract many talented individuals.

Daijiro Morohoshi, Tsukasa Hojo, Hirohiko Araki, Masakazu Katsura, Yoshihiro Togashi, Nobuhiro Wazuki...

These core manga artists of Weekly Shonen Jump have all won the Tezuka Award.

It is the most prestigious award for new comic book creators.

The prize money is a whopping 100 million yen!

This is arguably the highest-paying newcomer award!

Akira Toriyama decided to enter the world of manga drawing after seeing that the prize money for the manga contest in Weekly Shonen Magazine was 50 yen. Because he couldn't create as he pleased and his savings were dwindling after leaving his job, he decided to pursue his dream of drawing manga.

However, because he couldn't meet the deadline, he eventually gave up on Weekly Shonen Mahazine and participated in the Weekly Shonen Jump Manga Award with a prize of 10 yen.

By comparing the prize money, one can understand the prestige of the Tezuka Prize.

The deadline for submissions to the Tezuka Award in the second half of this year is October 5th, so there is still plenty of time.

"But did you really draw this comic?" Torishima Kazuhiko asked hesitantly.

He knew Higashino Hibiki's skill level; even Toriyama Akira couldn't possibly transform someone to that extent.

Higashino Hibiki remained silent.

“Oh no, of course I’m not accusing you of plagiarism,” Torishima said. “Your previous style was classic battle manga, but now it’s inspirational shonen manga. Why such a big leap?”

"Because I saw Akira Toriyama's artwork," Hibiki Higashino revealed the excuse he had prepared long ago, "I realized that I could never catch up with Akira Toriyama in drawing battle manga, so I decided to take a different approach."

"Is your dream to reach the level of Akira Toriyama?"

"Of course, I'm working on it."

“Very good, keep that idea in mind.”

Torishima Kazuhiko smiled and nodded, showing his strong approval of Hibiki Higashino.

Cartoonists need this indomitable spirit to motivate themselves to work hard and improve.

Heading towards an impossible goal, you come to your senses only to find that you have already reached a height that was never supposed to be reached.

“Perhaps your literary talent lies here,” Torishima Kazuhiko explained to Higashino Hibiki. “Katsura Masakazu’s talent is drawing young girls, a fact that even he himself doesn’t know.”

Try different approaches; this is something I always ask my authors to do.

When you hit a wall because of Akira Toriyama, the window God had reserved for you finally opened. You're just born to draw narrative manga!

Hibiki Higashino smiled and nodded, "Mr. Torishima, you're absolutely right, I completely agree!"

“In that case, let’s have a good discussion,” Torishima Kazuhiko said enthusiastically. “It’s been a long time since we’ve had a Tezuka Award nomination. And it would be really satisfying to have that brat Yamamura apologize with a thorn on his back.”

Higashino nodded vigorously, "Please!"

……

Weekly Shonen Jump.

The editorial team leader, Sasaki Takashi, rubbed his temples; too many trivial matters had left him exhausted.

The clash between Torishima Kazuhiko and Goto Hiroki, two people from different factions, caused a lot of trouble.

As a member of the Bird Island faction, he offended many people because of this.

Sasaki wholeheartedly supports Kazuhiko Torishima. He even thinks that if he becomes the editor-in-chief one day, he will help Jump's works expand overseas.

It's a real shame that Dragon Ball is so popular overseas right now and we haven't been able to capitalize on that.

Japan is an island nation. If they continue to develop here, reaching 650 million in sales would be the absolute peak.

Only by going beyond its borders and interacting with the international market can Jump truly grow stronger.

Just then, the landline rang.

"Hello, I'm Takashi Sasaki from the editorial department of Weekly Shonen Jump. How can I help you?"

"I'm Kazuhiko Torishima. Could you come to 'Pole Pole'?"

"Sure, I happen to be free right now."

After hanging up the phone, he got up and walked straight out the door.

Being an editor is a very flexible job, since you have to communicate with the cartoonists and handle any issues promptly and responsibly.

Therefore, leaving the post midway will not be questioned.

The most important thing is that the cartoonists you're in charge of achieve good results.

It's actually somewhat similar to sales.

"Is there something you need, Mr. Sasaki?" asked his editor, Kashino Misaki, curiously.

"Hmm." He nodded.

"Have a safe journey." Deer Man Cape bowed in farewell.

He greatly admired this leader, who possessed the demeanor of a great general. He was sharp-minded, his words insightful and persuasive, earning his respect.

He believed that one day, Sasaki would stand at the top of Jump and become the editor-in-chief!

He only got up after Sasaki left.

……

When Sasaki arrived, he saw the same scene that Hibiki Higashino had witnessed.

Torishima Kazuhiko is having a heated discussion with a young man.

Hibiki Higashino said, "When submitting to the Tezuka Award, I'll definitely submit a short story. I want to draw a story about Fujiwara no Sai and Torajiro."

“That’s a great idea,” Torishima Kazuhiko nodded. “It’s a short-term story, perfect for depicting Fujiwara no Sai’s first possession, and it involves Honinbo Shusaku, which is a big plot twist. You’re a genius!”

Honinbo Shusaku, a Go player during the Edo period of Japan, is considered by many to be the greatest Go player of the golden age.

In the manga "Hikaru no Go", Honinbo Shusaku was the first person Fujiwara no Sai possessed, and the Go stones he placed were actually Sai's.

One reason is to depict the immense strength of Fujiwara no Sai.

Secondly, it serves as a comparison with the second host of the possession, the manga protagonist Hikaru Shindo.

Fujiwara no Sai, also known as Honinbo Shusaku, was truly a brilliant idea, and Torishima Kazuhiko applauded it.

The story of Honinbo Shusaku and Fujiwara no Sai is even more legendary than that of Shindo Hikaru.

“Mr. Torishima,” Sasaki interrupted them, greeting them.

“Yes, Sasaki, you’ve arrived,” Torishima Kazuhiko gestured for him to sit down and introduced him to Hibiki Higashino.

"He is Takashi Sasaki, my junior. He is now the team leader of the Jump editorial department."

Previously worked as editor for *Kochikame* and *JoJo's Bizarre Journey: Diamond Is Unbreakable*. Experienced and highly capable.

Sasaki Takashi, now in his 30s, is someone Hibiki Higashino remembers very well.

He made a cameo appearance in the manga "Bakuman," a collaboration between Takeshi Obata and Tsugumi Ohba.

It was also from this manga that I learned that Sasaki Naoki would be the ninth editor-in-chief of Jump.

“Hello,” Hibiki Higashino nodded and said in a friendly manner, “I am Hibiki Higashino. I asked Mr. Torishima to submit my manga to you.”

The expertise of veteran editors complements that of cartoonists, guiding them to create even more outstanding works.

If it's a newcomer who acts recklessly and makes a lot of noise, that would be terrible.

Some authors impose their own preferences on the author, causing a change in the style of the work and leading to its cancellation.