The last paradise for creative workers? The case of Shueisha and Weekly Shōnen Jump

Abstract

ABSTRACT The Weekly Shōnen Jump, published by Shueisha, is widely seen as the most important publication in global manga culture and home to some of the world’s most iconic media franchises, including Dragon Ball, and yet remains largely understudied. This article interrogates how Shōnen Jump’s success, steered by editors who are often deemed ‘uncreative’ within Japan’s inflexible employment framework, challenges the Western ideal of creativity that is associated with autonomy and flexibility. The inquiry is conducted through two primary processes: firstly, the recruitment of editors – considered as creative managers – through ‘Shukatsu,’ a Japanese system that predominantly favors elite university graduates, who often lack a passion for manga or relevant education and work experience; and secondly, the dynamics of their collaborative relationships with manga artists. Highlighting Shueisha’s exceptional job security and stability, akin to a ‘last paradise’ for a select few creative professionals, this examination challenges the homogenized Western narrative of creative labor, as a class characterized by precarity and challenges the conventional perception of creativity itself.