Minoru Furuya
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
manga artist
. His debut work was Ike! Inachū takkyū-bu, known in English
as Ping-Pong Club
, published in Young Magazine
. In 1996, he won the Kodansha Manga Award
for Ping-Pong Club.
. The series became a big hit and was also produced as an animated series. It was such a success that it set the standard for comedy manga throughout the 1990s.
In 1997, his second series, Boku to Issho, began publication in Young Magazine. It was also a comedy
series, but with a focus on a more realistic storyline. His artistic style was also more subdued with fewer outrageous caricatures. As a follow up to this series, he produced another comedy manga, Green Hill. Though both series were comedies, he also explored themes such as the pressures, hopelessness and futility of modern life. Through his characters, he attempted to give a clear message about the difficulties associated with living in Japan's extreme capitalism
. Combining these themes within a comedic storyline made for a very compelling and effective story.
In 2000, his first child was born.
From 2001 to 2002 Young Magazine published Himizu which was substantially different from his previous work. Rather than a comedy manga, the story focused on the character's psychological state of mind and how they dealt with stressful situations. Many fans were outspokenly disappointed with Furuya's sudden change in style to more realistic stories lacking in comedy. However, there were also many fans who saw his change as refreshing and welcomed it.
In any case, in the final installment of his last manga, Wanitokagegisu, he wrote a note announcing his intention to "make a fresh start", possibly intending to return to comedy manga.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
manga artist
Mangaka
is the Japanese word for a comic artist or cartoonist. Outside of Japan, manga usually refers to a Japanese comic book and mangaka refers to the author of the manga, who is usually Japanese...
. His debut work was Ike! Inachū takkyū-bu, known in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as Ping-Pong Club
Ping-Pong Club
is a Japanese manga by Minoru Furuya about the members of a middle school ping-pong club. It was adapted as an anime television series in 1995. In 1996, the manga won the Kodansha Manga Award for general manga. The anime series was released in the U.S. by Central Park Media. Some episodes were...
, published in Young Magazine
Young Magazine
is a Japanese manga magazine published weekly by Kodansha. The magazine was started on June 23, 1980 and is targeted at adult males . It is also known as Young or YM. It goes on sale Monday every week...
. In 1996, he won the Kodansha Manga Award
Kodansha Manga Award
is an annual award for serialized manga published in the previous year, sponsored by the publisher Kodansha. It is currently awarded in four categories: children's, shōnen, shōjo, and general. The awards began in 1977, initially with categories for shōnen and shōjo. The first award for the...
for Ping-Pong Club.
Biography
Furuya Minoru made his debut in 1993 with the manga Ping-Pong Club published weekly in Young MagazineYoung Magazine
is a Japanese manga magazine published weekly by Kodansha. The magazine was started on June 23, 1980 and is targeted at adult males . It is also known as Young or YM. It goes on sale Monday every week...
. The series became a big hit and was also produced as an animated series. It was such a success that it set the standard for comedy manga throughout the 1990s.
In 1997, his second series, Boku to Issho, began publication in Young Magazine. It was also a comedy
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
series, but with a focus on a more realistic storyline. His artistic style was also more subdued with fewer outrageous caricatures. As a follow up to this series, he produced another comedy manga, Green Hill. Though both series were comedies, he also explored themes such as the pressures, hopelessness and futility of modern life. Through his characters, he attempted to give a clear message about the difficulties associated with living in Japan's extreme capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
. Combining these themes within a comedic storyline made for a very compelling and effective story.
In 2000, his first child was born.
From 2001 to 2002 Young Magazine published Himizu which was substantially different from his previous work. Rather than a comedy manga, the story focused on the character's psychological state of mind and how they dealt with stressful situations. Many fans were outspokenly disappointed with Furuya's sudden change in style to more realistic stories lacking in comedy. However, there were also many fans who saw his change as refreshing and welcomed it.
In any case, in the final installment of his last manga, Wanitokagegisu, he wrote a note announcing his intention to "make a fresh start", possibly intending to return to comedy manga.
List of Manga
- Let's Go! Inachuu Ping-Pong ClubPing-Pong Clubis a Japanese manga by Minoru Furuya about the members of a middle school ping-pong club. It was adapted as an anime television series in 1995. In 1996, the manga won the Kodansha Manga Award for general manga. The anime series was released in the U.S. by Central Park Media. Some episodes were...
(1993–1996, Young Magazine, Kodansha) - Boku to Issho (The Same as Me) (1997–1998, Young Magazine, Kodansha)
- Green Hill (1999–2000, Young Magazine, Kodansha)
- Himizu (2001–2002, Young Magazine, Kodansha)
- Ciguatera (manga) (2003–2005, Young Magazine, Kodansha)
- Wanitokagegisu (2006–2007, Young Magazine, Kodansha)