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At 78, Fist of the North Star writer Buronson is still walking into editorial offices with new manga ideas in hand, even as he admits that his work is rarely picked up. In a recent interview with Shimbun Online, the veteran creator said waiting for offers is no longer an option.
His comments come at a time of renewed attention for Fist of the North Star franchise. Earlier this month, a new television anime adaptation was announced for release in 2026, with TMS Entertainment producing the series.
Buronson revealed that he is still submitting original stories because he wants to know whether his storytelling still holds up in a manga landscape shaped by younger audiences and changing trends. However, none of his pitches have been used, and Buronson acknowledged that editors likely see him as “that old guy” showing up again.
Rather than relying on familiar territory, Buronson said he has been intentionally pushing himself into new subject matter.
His current projects draw from personal interests such as golf and horse racing, while there are also works that explore stories about AV actresses and con artists. He said two of these ideas appear promising and expressed hope that they might eventually be approved.
Buronson’s determination to create a new work stemmed from watching students develop their skills at his manga school. This has reminded him that he still has room to grow himself, giving him renewed motivation to continue creating.
Buronson launched the “Buronson 100-Hour Manga School” in 2018 in Saku City. The program was initially held at a public facility, but to ensure it could continue without interruption, he invested roughly 400 million yen of his own money to construct a dedicated building known as Saku Manga House.
His decision to open the school was shaped by years of watching fellow manga artists he had worked with in the past struggle.
He also recently wrote a will stating that the school should continue on a semi-permanent basis for as long as funding allows. Acknowledging his age, Buronson said he felt it was time to think seriously about the future.
The school has since drawn students from both inside and outside Saku City and features instruction from prominent manga creators, including Detective Conan creator Gosho Aoyama and Touch author Mitsuru Adachi. As of Dec 2025, 126 students have completed the program, with 30 going on to make their professional debut.
Created by Buronson and illustrated by Tetsuo Hara, Fist of the North Star ran in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump from 1983 to 1988, spanning 245 chapters and later collected into 27 volumes.
The manga was adapted into two anime television series by Toei Animation that aired between 1984 and 1988, totaling 152 episodes. Since then, the franchise has expanded into animated films, OVAs, a live-action movie, video games, pachinko machines produced by Sega Sammy, and numerous spin-off works.
Source: Shimbun Online
