is a Japanese

manga 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 history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...

series written and illustrated by Motoyuki Tanaka. It was serialized in

Shogakukan is a Japanese publisher of comics, magazines, light novels, dictionaries, literature, non-fiction, home media, and other media in Japan. Shogakukan founded Shueisha, which also founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but ...

's ''

Weekly Shōnen Sunday is a weekly manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan since March 1959. Contrary to its title, ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' issues are released on Wednesdays. ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' has sold over 1.8billion copies since 1986, making it ...

'' from January 2005 to April 2010, with its chapters collected in 26 ''

tankōbon A is a standard publishing format for books in Japan, alongside other formats such as ''shinsho'' (17x11 cm paperback books) and ''bunkobon''. Used as a loanword in English, the term specifically refers to a printed collection of a manga that w ...

'' volumes. In 2008, the manga won the 32nd

Kodansha Manga Award is one of Japan's major manga awards. The event is sponsored by publisher Kodansha. It has been awarded annually for serialized manga in its third iteration since 1977. Categories The award was originally called the until 1968. In 1970, it was ...

for the ''shōnen'' category.

Story

Six years ago following a crushing defeat, a group of friends promise that they will one day take their friend Suzuo to the Koshien. Now in their first year of high school, the friends have reunited behind the pitcher Kitarō Kitaōji to keep their promise. With Suzuo as their manager and Kitarō's signature left-handed, underhand "Submarine Pitch", they may just go all the way.

Publication

Written and illustrated by Motoyuki Tanaka, ''Saikyō! Toritsu Aoizaka Kōkō Yakyūbu'' was serialized in

's ''shōnen'' manga magazine ''

'' from January 4, 2005, to April 14, 2010. Shogakukan collected its chapters in 26 ''

'' volumes, released from April 18, 2005, to June 18, 2010.

Volumes

Reception

In 2008, the manga won the 32nd

for the ''shōnen'' category.

References

External links