is a Japanese

manga Manga (Japanese: 漫画 ) are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long prehistory in earlier Japanese art. The term ''manga'' is u ...

series written and illustrated by Seiki Tsuchida. It was serialized in

Shogakukan is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, comics (manga), non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan. Shogakukan founded Shueisha, which also founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hit ...

's manga magazine ''

Weekly Big Comic Spirits is a weekly Japanese ''seinen'' manga magazine published by Shogakukan. The first issue was published on October 14, 1980. Food, sports, romance and business are recurring themes in the magazine, and the stories often question conventional va ...

'' from 1993 to 1997, with its chapters collected in 16 volumes. It was adapted into a

television drama In film and television show, television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or docudrama, semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humour, humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms t ...

series broadcast on Fuji TV in 2000.

Plot

The series follows , an ex-

boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: * Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing *Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

who was forced to withdraw from the sport after 15 years due to a

retinal detachment Retinal detachment is a disorder of the eye in which the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue. Initial detachment may be localized, but without rapid treatment the entire retina may detach, leading to vision loss and blin ...

. He started working part-time at the editorial department of the magazine ''Weekly Young Shout'', at the recommendation of his childhood friend, . Momoi's unconventional and passionate personality causes many troubles, but he motivates the surrounding manga artists and fellow editors due to his earnestness and sincerity.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by , ''Henshū Ō'' was serialized in

's manga magazine ''

'' from 1993 to 1997. Shogakukan collected its chapters in sixteen volumes, released from May 30, 1994, to December 19, 1997.

Drama

An 11-episode

adaptation was broadcast on Fuji TV from October 10 to December 19, 2000.

Reception

Writer

Frederik L. Schodt Frederik L. Schodt (born January 22, 1950) is an American translator, interpreter and writer. Biography Schodt's father was in the US foreign service, and he grew up in Norway, Australia, and Japan. The family first went to Japan in 1965 wh ...

reviewed the series in his book '' Dreamland Japan: Writings on Modern Manga''. Schodt noted that, while in reality, manga editors rarely get credit; "may even be hated by those they help", the series portrays them in a "highly sympathetic light." He also highlighted the use of "melodrama, comedy, and gags to spice up its somewhat informational approach", and praised Tsuchida's realistic artwork, adding as well that the series is "a wonderful way to learn about terminology and slang in the giant manga subculture," noting how Tsuchida provided footnotes for terms used by editors in the manga process. Writer and translator praised the series as well, and in comparing it to other works about manga creation, like '' Bakuman'', which "romanticizes the creation of manga and forget, to a certain extent, the most sordid parts", ''Henshū Ō'', on the other hand, invites to reflect about "what commercial manga is and how it should be or not be" in a "crude and curiously realistic way." Manga artist named ''Henshū Ō'' as one of their influences.

References

External links

* {{Weekly Big Comic Spirits Fuji TV dramas Drama anime and manga Manga creation in anime and manga Seinen manga Shogakukan manga