SHONEN JUMP

Watch the "Kakashi Chronicles" anime!

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

The Moments that Made the Man!Think you know everything there is to know about Kakashi Hatake? Think again! Naruto fans, prepare yourself for a one-hour anime special set to stream on naruto.viz.com/kakashi starting on August 6! "Kakashi Chronicles" is the story of Kakashi's past and the key events that turned him into the legendary Leaf Village shinobi. Many secrets are revealed in the special, including how he got his sharingan eye! And while you're there, check out all the cool Kakashi stuff, including exclusive wallpapers, revealing articles, "Best of Kakashi" episode highlights and news about the latest goods. Not only that, you'll find details there about a Kakashi fan art contest!

When you're done enjoying the one-hour anime special, you can read the manga on which the story was based! The complete "Kakashi Chronicles" appears in volume 27 of the Naruto manga volumes. Buy it here!

Click to read chapter 1 of "The Kakashi Chronicles" manga!

©2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN All Rights Reserved.

Special Kakashi Online Manga Preview!

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Special Kakashi Online Manga Preview!In a time of conflict known as the Third Ninja War, a talented young ninja with a chip on his shoulder about his father's failings shows utter disgust at any teammate who is less than perfect. This ninja is unyielding in his devotion to the rules even if it means abandoning his teammates to complete the mission. Hatake Kakashi is his name, and he went on to become one of Leaf Village's greatest shinobi. But the journey there wasn't easy!

For a limited time, you can read the first chapter of "The Kakashi Chronicles," a special manga short about the mission that changed a young, arrogant Kakashi into the legendary ninja he would become. Click to read chapter 1!

You'll find the complete "Kakashi Chronicles" in Naruto manga volume 27! Buy it here!

Click to watch the anime special based on"The Kakashi Chronicles" manga!

Naruto: Hatake Kakashi: The Man, the Myth, the... Role Model?!

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Hatake Kakashi: The Man, the Myth, the… Role Model?!With whom should an upstanding, aspiring ninja start when looking for the model ninja? You know, the kind that always looks out for his teammates and completes every mission successfully. Without a doubt, Hatake Kakashi is your man! Let's take a look at the finer points of being a good ninja, as illustrated by this extraordinary jônin!

A Tardy Ninja Is a Happy Ninja

Being punctual doesn't necessarily mean you are a good ninja. Although being on time does show your respect to your teammates, it won't ensure a 100 percent mission success rate. After all, it wouldn't do any good if your performance is compromised because you're stressed out about being punctual.
If you're going to be late, have a good excuse like Kakashi! (Vol. 4)

Take a cue from Kakashi and learn how to relax and move at your own pace. And if your teammates are sticklers for rules, you can always have a creative reason handy when you're late!

Kakashi's trying to "make out" his
enemy's strategy! (Vol. 28)

A Smart Ninja Is a Successful Ninja

You don't have to be the sharpest shuriken around to be considered a good ninja, but it doesn't hurt to gather intelligence on your colleagues every once in a while. Plus, if you really want to climb up the ladder of the ninja ranks, then being well-informed is a must. After all, you wouldn't want a pea-brained ninja leading you into battle. Kakashi understands the value of knowledge, so you'll never find this jônin without a book in his hand. He has even trained Naruto and company while reading! Now that's what we call dedication! So if you're truly ambitious, read up on anything and everything, since knowing your enemy can give you the edge in any battle!
Leave a good impression! (Vol. 8)

A Well-Groomed Ninja Is a Respectable Ninja

One of the most effective ways to make sure you catch the eye of your fellow kunoichi... er, ninja comrades is to take care of your personal appearance. If clothes make the ninja, then you'll want to pay attention to your battle gear. What you wear can be both practical and stylish, so have fun with your ninja wardrobe. Kakashi certainly gets the idea. One look at his cool hair and vest would make any ninja wide-eyed with admiration. Plus, Kakashi's stylish way of wearing his headband not only gives him an air of mystery, it also covers his Sharingan eye while he's not fighting.
Conclusion? Kakashi has without a doubt proven himself to be a great ninja, one capable of becoming Hokage someday. Learn from his example by reading all of Naruto, and you'll be well on your way to achieving ninja fame!

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Your Ticket to the Dueling Stadium

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Your Ticket to the Dueling StadiumThis fall, practice your Dueling skills along with Yusei Fudo and Jack Atlas right in your own living room. These action figures of your favorite characters and monsters from the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime are from Playmates, and you can head over to Toys"R"Us and Target on your D-Wheel to check them out. Here's the full collection!

5.5" figures (left to right): Stardust Dragon, Junk Warrior, Nitro Warrior, Red Dragon
and Speed Warrior

2.5" figures top row: Mad Archfiend and Multi-Piece Gollum, Montage Dragon and Goyo Guardian
Middle row: Dark Resonator and Red Dragon
Bottom row: Junk Synchron and Junk Warrior, Stardust Dragon and Sonic Chick

Pick up SHONEN JUMP each month for news about the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's items!

©2008 Playmates Toys Inc.

©1996 Kazuki Takahashi
©2008 NAS • TV TOKYO

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Capture the Glory, Again!

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Capture the Glory, Again!Players of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game know that Duelist Packs are an affordable way to get your hands on the favorite cards of the characters in Yu-Gi-Oh! At long last, Duelist Pack – Yugi is here, giving special treatment to the Monster, Spell and Trap cards of the Duelist that started it all!

The Ultimate Trap

The most powerful card in this set is probably "Mirror Force." One of the strongest Trap Cards ever created, "Mirror Force" has been a favorite card in top tournament Decks for seven years (except for its brief inclusion on the Forbidden List). You've probably wished for enough copies to put one in each of your Decks, but its popularity has always made it a hard card to track down. Now, with Duelist Pack – Yugi, you can get the extra "Mirror Force" you need to power up all of your Decks!

Get the inside scoop on the latest Duelist Pack by reading the rest of this article in the August issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Shaman King: Shaman Fight Team-by-Team Rundown

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Shaman Fight Team-by-Team Rundown
Finally, young Shaman, you've made it to the Shaman Fight tournaments just like Yoh Asakura from Shaman King! You've witnessed the Great Spirit and survived. You've even assembled your three-man team and joined in the competition. The path to becoming the Shaman King is a long and arduous one, so now is not the time to let your guard down, for the real fight is about to begin.

The one who takes the title will gain the Great Spirit as an ally, and with it all the knowledge and power of every soul born on Earth. Knowing your opponent is only half the battle in the Shaman Fight, so prepare wisely. Let's take a closer look at some of the competition you're likely to face in the near future!

"Wooden Sword" Ryu, Faust VIII
and Yoh Asakura

Team Funbari Hot Springs

Leader: Yoh Asakura
Spirit Ally: Amidamaru
A boy with a dream, a punk with a pompadour and a demented doctor form this unheralded group. Competitors be warned: Don't underestimate this team! Team Funbari Hot Springs has succeeded where most have failed, holding their own against Hao and his minions. Armed with Faust's overpowering love for his Spirit Ally Eliza, "Wooden Sword" Ryu's rugged resolve, and Yoh's dream of living in comfort, this tournament dark horse just might reach the summit against all odds!
Joco, Tao Ren and Horohoro

Team Ren

Leader: Tao Ren
Spirit Ally: Bason
Ren was once a ruthless shaman who thought nothing of annihilating his enemies, but he has changed his ways ever since his humbling defeat at the hands of Yoh Asakura. Now, together with Horohoro and Joco, Ren is determined to carve his name into history as the next Shaman King. Although Ren suffered a near-fatal wound in a skirmish against Hao's underlings, he has emerged from his near-death experience stronger than ever by boosting his Mana up 50,000 points!
Hao and his followers

Hoshi-Gumi

Leader: Hao
Spirit Ally: Spirit of Fire
Because of his numerous reincarnations throughout the past millennium, Hao has raised his Mana level to astronomical proportions. With an army of elite shaman at his beck and call and the Spirit of Fire by his side, Hao presents a daunting challenge to anyone who stands in his way. Anyone willing to square off against his Mana level of 1,250,000 must be either incredibly brave or foolish.
Lyserg, Lady Jeanne and Marco

X-Laws: Team X-I

Leader: Lady Jeanne
Spirit Ally: Shamash
The X-Laws have, in the name of justice, dedicated themselves to preventing Hao’s rise to power. But take heed — their apparent benevolence masks a lack of tolerance toward those who do not share their standards of righteousness, and they will destroy any wrongdoer using the power of their Angel Spirit Allies. Lady Jeanne, leader of Team X-1, has vowed to eliminate Hao once and for all and take mankind’s suffering upon herself. As proof of her resolve, she subjects herself to gruesome torture inside her iron maiden, an act that also increases her Mana.
Meene, Cebin and Venstar

X-Laws: Team X-III

Leader: Venstar
Spirit Ally: Metatron
This X-Law team, part of the overall X-Laws faction headed by Lady Jeanne, is nothing to scoff at, as evidenced by their incredible Mana levels and their intimidating Spirit Allies. Their leader Venstar is a righteous man who wields Metatron as his Spirit Ally. Team X-III's strength lies in their determination to defeat Hao, but is that enough to snuff out the Spirit of Fire? Even against seemingly impossible odds, this group's willingness to stake their lives for their cause make them a most dangerous opponent.

Against such competition, the average Shaman would likely find himself quaking with fear. But you have a dream, and you'll do whatever it takes to fulfill it! So grab hold of your shaking knees and let the games begin!

Tip: To get more intel on other teams participating in the Shaman Fight, run to your nearest Patch Gift Shop (aka bookstore!) and nab all the copies of Shaman King you can get your hands on! After all, knowledge is power!

by Chris Turner

Bleach: The 3rd Phantom: Lost in Limbo

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Bleach: The 3rd Phantom: Lost in LimboNow that the news is out about Bleach: The 3rd Phantom for the DS, no doubt your thumbs have started twitching in anticipation! Unlike many of the Bleach games before it, this one's a real-time strategy extravaganza, complete with a brand-new storyline and two new characters. This month, we're going to delve into the story, as well as shine a light on one of the game's more interesting features — starring everybody's favorite mod soul, Kon!

Twin Reapers!

Twins Matsuri and Fujimaru Kudo are orphaned when Hollows kill their parents during an attack on the Soul Society. Adopted by a Fifth Division Captain named Seigen Suzunami, the two train as Soul Reapers and join his Division. In time, they're dispatched to fight the powerful Arrancar Arturo Plateado when he threatens to destroy the Soul Society. A terrible battle ensues, and the twins become frozen in time. They awaken hundreds of years later and bump into a strange guy with red hair named Ichigo!

Read the rest of this article in the August issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Games We Love

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Games We LoveWhat's up, gamers? Got enough stuff to play? We've got suggestions this month that'll make sure you've got something to feed your console, whatever it may be. From ghost-filled fun to superhero mayhem, you won't be bored. Oh, and did we mention we've got a farming game?

The Sims 3

Sims 3 makes quite a few changes to its very successful franchise formula. For one, you have much more flexibility in deciding how your Sims look (there are separate sliders for both musculature and body fat, for example), and every adult Sim now has five distinct Traits that define their personality (Jock, Paranoid, etc). Oh, and while you still control one household at a time, your neighbors advance alongside you in every conceivable way: A downtown lets you shop, eat and otherwise socialize with the other Sims. There's also a brand-new movie mode that lets you create your own Sim sitcom/action film that others can watch online.

Hint: Yes, you still have to remember to go to the bathroom.

Read the rest of the reviews in this section in the August issue of SHONEN JUMP!

© Electronic Arts

SHONEN JUMP Issue 80

Sat, 01 Aug 2009 0:00:00 -0700

The Beast Unleashed!The Battle Continues!
With Konoha destroyed and the Leaf ninja on the ropes, Naruto's fighting Pain with everything he's got! We also have a special feature that looks into a pivotal moment in Kakashi's past! Plus, we've got the scoop on a brand-spanking-new Naruto game for the PSP!

Sneak Preview!
Machines rule the wastelands. People spend their lives in self-contained villages that shield them from the harsh desert. Entities known as Guardians armed with special, adaptable combat suits are the protectors of life. Come experience the mysterious world of Wāqwāq!

Are You the Next Shaman King?
Do you see ghosts? Got a couple of spectral homeboys? Well, then you just may have what it takes to compete in the ultimate battle — the Shaman King fight! Our step-by-step guide will help you prepare for a contest that could decide the fate of mankind!

Plus, here's what's happening in SHONEN JUMP manga!

Ultimo: Find out more about the connection between Yamato and the Karakuri Dôji in Act 2! Will history repeat itself for Ultimo?

One Piece: Even though the bomb was disposed of, the fighting still wages on! Did Pell make the ultimate sacrifice for nothing?!

Tegami Bachi: Lag faces an angry mob, all of them clamoring for his Crossing Pass. But they're not nearly as scary as an angry Niche!

YuYu Hakusho: The Demon Plane Unification Tournament begins signing up fighters, and thousands enter!

Bleach: Before Ichigo and his friends can reach Aizen, they have to cross through the land of disgraced Arrancars, who see destroying our heroes as the way to redeem themselves!

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: The final match begins atop Academy Tower, where Jaden and Chazz duel for the right to challenge Kaiser Truesdale!

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: 2009 SHONEN JUMP Champion Q&A

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 0:00:00 -0700

2009 SHONEN JUMP Champion Jeff Jones holding the tournament bracket.

2009 SHONEN JUMP Champion Q&AThe lights are on, the stakes are high and players are going all-out in their duels. Welcome to the world of Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game tournaments! Of all the skilled duelists to participate in the 2009 SHONEN JUMP Championship, one stood on top as the winner. Meet Jeff Jones, a duelist extraordinaire with a flair for building his own custom Decks. Read about his experience as he competed against the best of the best and staked his claim to TCG fame!

SHONEN JUMP: How does it feel to be the 2009 SHONEN JUMP champion of the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game tournament?
Jeff Jones: First of all, before I start I would like to give a shout-out to two of the coolest and hardest-working people I know in the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG community, Jason Grabher-Meyer and Kevin Tewart.

On to the questions. Well, to be quite honest, I had always thought about how I would act if or when I won a tournament. I always thought I would jump up and yell, "Yes!!!" But it was the exact opposite. I just felt like, "Wow, I won. Cool." I think I was partially in shock, and it didn't actually hit me till after I had gone home that I had actually won one of the Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments.

As for believing if I had a shot at winning… of course!

Jeff proudly displays
the spoils of his battle!

SJ: Was this your first time competing in the SHONEN JUMP Championships?
Jeff: No, this was not my first. I have played in many and placed in the top three previously, using Decks no one else runs. That's kind of my thing, building Decks no one else plays (or has thought about) and playing them.

SJ: What was the first day of dueling like? Was the atmosphere tense or relaxed?
Jeff: The first day of the tournament was very tense. Everyone was on edge, not only because there were so many people, but because it was the first large-scale tournament in months. Because the amount of people exceeded the amount that Konami originally thought would participate, the tournament dragged on much later than expected! Everyone, including me, was exhausted by the end of the day.

SJ: How many types of Decks do you have in your tournament arsenal? Which one do you consider the most powerful and why? Did that Deck score you your win?
Jeff: Hmm, interesting question. Since I can make just about any Deck, it allows me to test different types of Decks until I find something I am personally comfortable with at a high-level tournament. I guess my "best" Deck would be the Deck I won the SHONEN JUMP Championship with, which would be what people call "DaDrain" or "Dark Skill Drain."

SJ: Are there any cards you're looking to add to your Deck? What are the top three cards you always bring to tournaments?
Jeff: There aren't really any cards I'm currently looking to add to my Deck. But cards I play in almost every Deck are "Trap Dustshoot" (my favorite card, which I think should be played in almost every Deck), "Crush Card Virus" (it's just too good of a card to not play), and "Solemn Judgment."

SJ: Did you ever come close to losing? What new tricks or strategies did you learn at the tournament?
Jeff: I didn't actually learn anything new at the tournament. But I did lose one round of the tournament to "Lightsworn." I thought I had him, but he just had the craziest draws I had seen in the tournament! (You know who you are!)

Other than that, I guess my closest match would be against Jason Halloway. He literally crushed me in game one, but I came back and won 2–1.

SJ: How did you get into the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game? Do you play other card games?
Jeff: I remember one day at my grandmother's house I was watching TV when the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime came on. I thought to myself, "Wow, that looks so cool." Then I went to the local card store that I played at, because I played Pokémon. They had the new Starter Decks and I bought two. The rest is history. Ha ha!

SJ: What would you tell players that are new to the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game about how to get better?
Jeff: My advice would be to try and go to your local regionals or SJ Tournament near you and watch players that are better than you. Most good players won't mind a few questions, so don't be afraid to ask. Also, you can go to yugioh-card.com to watch the coverage of SHONEN JUMP Championships and read about feature matches of good players, which might give you some idea on how to become a better player!

Did you know you can get exclusive card tips and news about the latest Yu-Gi-Oh! card releases every month in SHONEN JUMP? Don't forget to check us out!

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Duel & Play Like a Pro!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Duel and Play Like a Pro!Take a break from watching the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime and check out these awesome toys and action figures from Playmates! You got a chance to see some of these items in the July issue of SHONEN JUMP, and here are some more!

These fully articulated 5.5" figures feature spring-loaded weaponry that is true to each character and his powers! (Retail price: $9.99)

Check out the details on these 2.5" action figures. All of these figures are miniature versions of your favorite characters from the anime and trading card game. You can almost feel their power! (Retail price: $5.99 each)

Keep reading SHONEN JUMP for more news about Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's action figures!

©2008 Playmates Toys Inc.

©1996 Kazuki Takahashi
©2008 NAS • TV TOKYO

Bleach: The 3rd Phantom: Fear The Phantom!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Fear the Phantom!The DS has been blessed with some great Bleach fighting games, but this new offering from Sega is looking to give your brain a workout, rather than your fingers. Bleach: The 3rd Phantom is a turn-based strategy game for the DS that will make your dream of commanding your very own team of Soul Reapers come true!

Twins of Destiny!
The game is played from the point of view of a pair of Soul Reaper twins who are frozen in time and wake up in the present day. You can play as the boy or the girl, and the story differs depending on whom you pick.

Turn-Based Mayhem!
Battles are viewed from an isometric perspective as you control a team of eight Soul Reapers, each with his or her strengths, weaknesses and special abilities. When you win battles, you gain experience and can choose which attributes to level up for each member of your team.

Read the rest of this article in the July issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Gin Tama: Food for... Gin's Thoughts!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Gin Tama: Food for... Gin's Thoughts!
Do your knees have scrape marks from scouring sidewalks for loose change? Is your stomach constantly grumbling? Well then, look no further cuz Sakata "Gin" Gintoki is here to show us a few clever ways to fatten our wallets and our bellies!

Gin knows what it's like to live on an empty stomach. After all, he has somehow managed to survive up to this point by working odd jobs. It's time to learn from the penniless master himself and peruse the following Gin Tama pearls of cost-cutting, food-scavenging wisdom.

Fishing

Fishing is one of the best ways to catch food at minimal cost. All you need is a rod and some bait, but be careful about what you catch. Gin and company learn that there are other creatures living in the waters besides fish, and what they catch doesn't exactly look edible.

Mr. Ebina is an Amanto who looks like a kappa (a creature in Japanese folklore). He has been living in the same pond for quite some time, but his future starts to look bleak when the landowner decides to build a golf course over Mr. Ebina's adopted home. Since Gin and company can't eat Mr. Ebina, they decide to help him out of the goodness of their hearts. Besides, if the pond's gone, where will they catch their dinner? (Volume 3)

Foraging

Hunting and gathering is the old-school way of finding food, so you know it's a tried-and-true method! When Gin and crew go foraging in the forest for matsutake mushrooms (perhaps the most expensive mushroom money can buy), they encounter a bear under the control of a... mushroom!

Masamune the bear is now the food source for a parasitic mushroom, which has found a comfortable home on his host's head. He's being hunted down by Marinosuke, the man who feels responsible for abandoning Masamune to his fungal fate. Gin and friends decide to lend a helping hand, but first things first — mushroom stew! (Volume 6)

Scavenging

We've gone fishing and foraging for food, but stuff found in the garbage should really stay there. When Otose-san's refrigerator goes kaput, she asks Gin and crew to help her throw out some rotten crabs. Despite her warnings, the gang's rumbling stomachs win out over common sense and land them in the hospital, where they meet a lovestruck nurse.

Nurse Uchino feels a bit out of her league with her crush, especially since her object of desire's appearance is "out of this world." Gin and friends decide to help her out. In this case, love not only hurts, it can inflict gruesome injuries too. Oh well, at least they get to eat all of their roomie's bananas! (Volume 6)

Let's give a round of applause to our special guest, Gin. We hope his real-life experiences will satisfy your hunger... for knowledge! For more great money-saving advice, or for just a good laugh-out-loud manga series to distract you from your grumbling stomach, check out Gin Tama at your local bookstore!

P.S. All proceeds from Gin Tama go straight to making... more Gin Tama! So go out and buy Gin Tama! Oh yeah, did we forget to mention that volume 13 will be out in July?

One more thing! If you've got Gin Tama fan art handy, send it in! We like looking at pretty pictures of Gin! And don't forget to include the Fan Art Release Form. For instructions, click here!

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Rattle Your X-Sabers!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Rattle Your X-Sabers!The Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's Trading Card Game is crawling with monsters, and the latest ones are about to rock your universe! Catch your first glimpse of the X-Saber monsters in the 2009 Starter Pack, which arrives in June. Be ready for it by studying our tips on how to use these new monster cards!

King of the Road

In episode 45 of the Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's anime, Yusei pulls a great combo with "Road Warrior." He uses its effect during Main Phase 2 to Summon "Turbo Booster" (from The Duelist Genesis). "Turbo Booster" has 0 ATK and DEF, so it's not a monster you want hanging around. But you can Tribute it to destroy any monster that battled on that turn. Yusei uses "Road Warrior" to bring out "Turbo Booster," then pops it right away — just long enough to use its effect without leaving his field position vulnerable!

Read the rest of this article in the July issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3: Catch the Next Wave!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Catch the Next Wave in Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3!Ninja gamers have had their hands full with the first Shippuden games that are already out. While they're still digesting them, we've got a sample of the next wave! This fall, heat up your Wii with Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3!

Beyond Revolution!
The Revolution continues with the newest sequel in this celebrated series. Over 30 characters, including some new Shippuden ones, are here and ready for battle. The game, which covers the Gaara rescue story arc, has Wi-Fi multiplayer matches, over 40 fighting environments and an overhauled combat system. You can even have tag-team four-player matches!

Read the rest of this article in the July issue of SHONEN JUMP!

©2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN All Rights Reserved.

Know Your Ninja Weapons!

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Know Your Ninja Weapons!Everybody knows that the secret to the ninja's success in ancient times was their coolness. Ninja were said to be seven feet tall, invisible and generally pretty sweet on the turntables. In reality, much about the ninja remains a mystery. What is known is that they relied on a variety of tools and weapons in their shady activities — tools and weapons like the ones we're about to show you!

Ninjato

A ninja sword was called a ninjato, which was smaller than the swords of samurai. Some ninja are said to have carried their swords in a full-size scabbard. The enemy would misjudge the time it would take the ninja to draw his sword, thus giving the ninja an advantage. Very sneaky!

Read the rest of this article in the July issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Yu-Gi-Oh!: Before the Card Games...

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Yu-Gi-Oh!: Before the Card Games… It would be an understatement to say that Yugi, the little guy with the big pointy hair, has won a few card games. Yes, he has dueled with the best of them and repeatedly pulled off one impossible win after another. When it comes to cards, he is the undisputed king, but did you know that Yugi used to play a different game before he picked up his deck? In fact, when the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga began, there were no cards at all! Instead, Yugi dealt with a variety of unscrupulous characters and taught them a lesson using an ancient Egyptian magic known as Shadow Games!

This month, we're taking a look at some of the games from the original manga in the world of Yu-Gi-Oh!

The Silence Game

When a music-obsessed bully threatens Yugi's classmate, it's up to the Pharaoh to teach the talentless thug a lesson in silence. The Sound Pierrot (graciously provided by Yugi's family shop) will dance whenever the sensor picks up sound vibrations. The rules are simple: the one who makes the clown dance will lose... and play a Penalty Game. Can this pop-star wannabe control his volume, or will poetic justice have the last laugh? (Volume 1)

Chloroform and Paper

A self-proclaimed psychic student at Yugi's High School has been scamming the student body to rise in the social hierarchy. When Yugi questions his dubious power, however, the sham attempts to silence him… by pushing a bookcase on Yugi's head! A simple Shadow Game of pulling papers from beneath a bottle of chloroform could expose the fraudulent fortune-teller! It doesn't take a prophet to tell that gambling with the future King of Games is a bad idea when you're playing for stakes! (Volume 1)
Griddle Ice Hockey

The school festival should have been fun and exciting; now the class is miserable. The leader of the Senior Class D has forced Yugi's class from their rightful place! But as always, Yugi has an appropriate game waiting in the wings. Using the grill that Class D left behind, Yugi challenges their leader to a game of air hockey… using nitroglycerin embedded in a block of ice as the puck! The clock is ticking, and the flames are high. Will Yugi's opponent realize that physical strength won't guarantee his victory? (Volume 1)

Dragon Cards

Good fortune gives rise to jealousy, even in the most unlikely places. Unfortunately for Yugi, he's not the only one with familial ties to the darkness! After Yugi solves the Millennium Puzzle, his classmate Imori notices the sudden change in him. Envying Yugi's future as the Guardian of Darkness, Imori decides to take his future into his own hands... by stealing the Millennium Puzzle! Imori releases the seal on the calamitous Dragon Cards to challenge Yugi to a Shadow Game in which the loser's soul is digested for eternity! Powerless and deprived of his partner's guidance, Yugi must now stand on his own to reclaim his future — and his friend! (Volume 6)

Monster World

Mild-mannered Ryo Bakura transfers to Yugi's class mid-semester, and although he seems nothing more than a shy RPG-loving teenager, Bakura carries a dark secret — all the friends he's played with have ended up in comas. Coming into contact with the Millennium Puzzle awakens a dark force inside Bakura's Millennium Ring, and now a simple game of Monster World has become the stage for the two phantoms to fight again. With Yugi and his friends trapped as the leading figures, can the Pharaoh win the duel... and save their lives? (Volumes 6 & 7)

It's easy to forget, as the card game becomes more important to the storyline, that there were other games before the monster holograms and life points. The first volumes of the Yu-Gi-Oh! manga further reveal the untold stories of Yugi's first duel with Kaiba, of how he dueled Shadi for the lives of his friends, and of Kaiba's revenge in the "Death-T" theme park of death! Witness how it all began in Yu-Gi-Oh!

Check your local bookstore for Yu-Gi-Oh! volumes 1 through 7. Yugi's journey continues in Yu-Gi-Oh! Duelist and concludes in Yu-Gi-Oh! Millennium World!

SHONEN JUMP Issue 79

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 0:00:00 -0700

A Hero Is Born!Ultimo Is Born!
From the fertile minds of comics legend Stan Lee and Shaman King creator Hiroyuki Takei comes a manga unlike anything before it! Ultimo is here! Plus, read a letter to the fans from Stan Lee!

Naruto Feels the Pain!
Naruto, having mastered senjutsu, is giving Pain (all six of them) a run for their money! Also, get the lowdown on the latest Shippuden games from Tomy for the DS and Wii.

Toys and Figurines!
Feeling bored? Got nothing to play with, nothing to collect? We've got the latest action figures and toys from Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's. And for Death Note lovers, we have high-grade action figures and meticulously detailed collectible figurines!

Plus, here's what's happening in SHONEN JUMP manga!

Bleach: Allies are popping up left and right, but saving Orihime is still a long shot. Can she hold out on her own?!

Tegami Bachi: Lag and Niche stop at a dead-end town, where a helpful boy shows them to an inn… right before stealing Lag's crossing pass!

One Piece: Now that they've located the bomb, Vivi and the Straw Hats have to find a way to defuse it before time runs out!

YuYu Hakusho: Yusuke learns more about the supernatural blood that
runs in his veins and then receives an unexpected gift!

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: David's plans have come to a premature end… or have they? What will the ancient evil behind David's schemes cook up next?

One Piece Streaming Anime Plans on Hold

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:58:00 -0700

One Piece Streaming Anime Plans on Hold
As SHONEN JUMP and anime fans know, FUNimation Entertainment planned, for the first time ever, to offer an online simulcast of the series One Piece starting on May 30 at 9:00 pm CST, under the authorization of Toei Animation, Fuji Television and Shueisha. Unfortunately, the FUNimation servers were compromised by an unknown individual who accessed and posted episode 403 online. As a direct result of this illegal act, it was determined that all streaming episodes of One Piece would be pulled from FUNimation's site, and plans for the simulcast have been postponed. We're sure SHONEN JUMP and One Piece fans are saddened by the news that U.S. and Canadian fans won't have access to this series for the foreseeable future. We'll have updates as soon as the future of this project is determined by the consortiums mentioned above. Thank you for your continued support of One Piece.

Pirate Flag Contest!

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Pirate Flag Contest
Arrr! That was the sound emanating from our mouths as we tried to pick winners out of all the awesome flags we received for our "Draw Your Own Pirate Flag!" contest. We got so many swashbuckling cool flags, we've decided to share some online!

ASIA HOWE
Seize the day... or rather, should we say carp-e diem!

ELIJAH TOLBERT
Watch out! This flag bites!

JAMES MUIR
Time for enemy pirates to run when they see this flag raised!

SHELBY HERNANDEZ
This intimidating flag will surely make you JUMP!

Take a gander at the seven official winning entries in the June issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo: Real-Life Lessons from the Hair Kingdom!

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Real Life Lessons from the Hair Kingdom!We announced in our June issue that Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo is graduating from SHONEN JUMP, and will soon be headed straight to manga volumes. To send him off in that issue, we shared some of the important lessons we've learned from the B-man and his madcap crew. (If you haven't read the issue, go grab it!) Now, here are some more pearls of wisdom that you can apply to your life.

Vegetables Are Important!
When the gang first meets Lord Giga, it looks like the battle is over when they're sucked into the ground by his deadly "Clay Hand" attack. But they quickly turn the tables on their attacker when they transform into veggies and retaliate with the "Fresh Veggie Attack"!

Life Lesson
You may hate vegetables, but don't ignore them. They just might come in handy when you're fighting a powerful foe!

Success Requires Sacrifice!
Bo-bobo knows that when he unleashes his devastating attack "Quadruple Macho Man Fist" and delivers Lord Giga a severe blow, it will cost him his hands and feet. But he does it anyway — now that's manly!

Life Lesson
You don't ever get something for nothing! Great men like
Bo-bobo know that you won't get far in life if you don't make any sacrifices!

It's Not Over Till It's Over!
During their epic battle with Lord Giga, the gang all dies! They go straight to the underworld and battle the ruler there — Lord Enma. However, even the demons of the underworld are no match for team Bo-bobo. The gang fights their way back to life and launches the ultimate surprise attack!

Life Lesson
Let nothing stop you from reaching your goals — not even death. Successful people never give up. That's why they're so successful!

Well, we sure hope you learned a thing or two. For more valuable life lessons, pick up Bobo-bo Bo-bobo manga volumes 1 and 2!

Rurouni Kenshin: Samurai Code

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Rurouni Kenshin: The Way of the Warrior
Once one of the most feared assassins in all of Japan, Himura Kenshin now roams the land trying to atone for his bloody past. He has resolved not to kill, and yet he is tested by all manner of unscrupulous characters. His non-lethal code of conduct is his bushido (way of the samurai). Along with Kenshin, many other characters in this manga live by their warrior philosophies. Read on to find out what drives them.

HIMURA KENSHIN

"This one will live on, taking on the ideals of those who have been slain. This one will live on, bringing as many smiles, as much happiness as possible. This one will fight on, with the vow to never kill again!!"

You won't see this former assassin prancing about with flowers in each hand, but Kenshin has now resolved to fight... without killing! During his epic battles against both Shishio and Enishi, his vow appears to handicap him. Although many believe Kenshin is stronger when he reverts back to being the cold-blooded Hitokiri Battōsai, his newfound philosophy won't stop him from cracking a skull or two, so long as his opponents live! Only time will tell if his philosophy of mercy will prevail.

YUKISHIRO ENISHI

"Death" is only a momentary pain. Simple death will not satisfy my sister's grudge... nor my hate... This time I'll take the person who is most important to you! Casting you down into a "living hell"!"

Orphaned at an early age... growing up in sub-human squalor in a foreign country... premature graying... Life is not good for Yukishiro Enishi, and he's got all four eyes set on the root of his problems — Himura Kenshin! After witnessing his sister's death at the hands of Kenshin, Enishi becomes obsessed with revenge. Instead of facing Kenshin head-on, however, Enishi creates an elaborate plan for Kenshin's downfall. But with complexity comes complications...

SHISHIO MAKOTO

"I make true in my sword what is true in life. The flesh of the weak is the food of the strong."

Before he could be typecast as the mummy in horror flicks, Shishio Makoto was the baddest man in the land after the Hitokiri Battōsai retired. As Kenshin's successor, Shishio firmly believes in power as a strength, making him an invaluable though disposable tool. He was given the third degree by the Meiji government, which literally left him with burn marks over his entire body. Shishio embarks on a mission to stick it to the man, but his "burning" desire to take over Japan takes a backseat to another personal quest — destroying Kenshin.

SAITŌ HAJIME

"Killing is my greatest talent, and a perfect second job... especially when my first assignment is to kill my nemesis."

Problem: One minute you're a member of the toughest sword gang around, the next you find yourself cashing welfare checks. Solution: become a police officer! Ex-Shinsengumi Captain Saitō is now on the side of the law, but he's still got an old score to settle. Saitō and Kenshin have gone toe-to-toe in the past, but a true victor never emerged. As a police officer, Saitō needs Kenshin's help against the diabolical Shishio. But as a warrior, he needs Kenshin to finally settle their unresolved duel.

SAGARA SANOSUKE

"A true fight isn't like a sword duel. The better swordsman doesn't always win.
The winner is the one who remains standing!"

Apparently the insane power to crush boulders with his fists is not enough for Sanosuke. This fight enthusiast eagerly seeks out any battle to test his mettle, disregarding his injuries like his restaurant bills. When Sanosuke first meets Kenshin, he is working as a "fight merchant," lending his fists to anyone who needs a strong arm. Later on, as Kenshin's right-hand man, Sanosuke constantly throws caution to the wind, but his recklessness is taking a devastating toll on his body.

MYŌJIN YAHIKO

"So what if I'm strong "for a 10-year-old"?! If I'm not a real strength, then I'm the same as a weakness! I can't stand being the only weak one!"

Yahiko first meets Kenshin while trying to lift his purse, but he soon finds out that Kenshin is no ordinary mark. Yahiko then decides to pick Kenshin's brain instead of his pockets! Despite being only ten years old, Yahiko has great potential. Even Kenshin's enemies believe they can use him in their quest for revenge. However, Yahiko's out to prove that the best things come in small packages. To do so, he trains intensively every day, but is it enough?

Every fighter in Rurouni Kenshin believes in his own bushido, but who can claim bragging rights among them? Immerse yourself in the world of Rurouni Kenshin vols. 1–27 to find out (and don't forget to groom your 'stache while you're there)!

Rurouni Kenshin is rated T+. More ratings info at ratings.viz.com.

Shippuden Showdown: Naruto's Card Battle

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Shippuden Showdown: Naruto's Card BattleHoning ones skills on the battlefield is essential for any ninja who wants to become stronger. Playing the card game is no different. Naruto has got his hands on Series 13 — the newest set of Shippuden cards available on May 15, 2009 — and he's looking for a challenge!

Find out what happens when Naruto challenges his wily mentor Kakashi to a card battle in the June issue of SHONEN JUMP! In this exclusive manga short, Kakashi's pretty confident he's going to win, but we're willing to bet that he shouldn't underestimate Naruto.

After you've read this special card manga, get your hands on your very own Series 13 pack at your local hobby store. You can learn more about the Naruto Collectible Card Game every month in SJ and by visiting bandaicg.com/naruto!

Oh, and you can tell us what you think of the card manga by clicking here!

Find out who will emerge victorious in the card duel between Master Kakashi and Naruto in the June issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Naruto Shippuden Anime: Shinobi Showdown!

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Naruto Shippuden Anime: Shinobi Showdown!The world of Naruto keeps getting better and better, with new games coming out, episodes streaming at naruto.com, and new Shippuden gear arriving on the scene. This is the year of the ninja!

MUST-SEE BATTLES!
The action in the Naruto anime is more intense than ever in the Shippuden story arc. Your favorite characters are back, with new powers and more powerful enemies. Here are some of our favorite battles! Jump online and check them out at naruto.com!

Gaara vs. Diedara
See just how powerful Gaara has become and how he has also earned the respect of his village. In the breathtaking aerial battle, Gaara's colossal sand powers go up against the explosive clay creatures of the Akatsuki ninja Diedara. It's a high-flying desert duel unlike any other! You can watch it in Naruto Shippuden, episodes 4–6.

Read about more amazing battles, and the rest of this feature, in the June issue of SHONEN JUMP!

©2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN All Rights Reserved.

D.Gray-Man: The Noah's Arc

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 0:00:00 -0700

D.Gray-Man: The Noah's ArcCould the end of mankind really come at the hands of a man who wears a funny hat and carries a talking umbrella? Of course we're talking about the Millennium Earl, the mysterious creator of living weapons of great evil known as the Akuma! The Exorcists of the Black Order have traveled to Japan to snuff out the Earl's evil army. They are currently trapped aboard the fabled Noah's Ark, confronted by the twisted descendants of the legendary shipmaster himself known as "Noah." Each Noah bears a fragment of the original Noah's memory (dreams, pleasure, wrath and bonds), and each possesses terrible powers that stand between the Exorcists and the survival of the human race. Here are the Noah we know of so far!

Road Kamelot — "Dreams"

Despite her youthful appearance, the mischievous Road Kamelot is the "firstborn" Noah. Road sees little harm in amusing herself when she fights. Despite Road's playful attitude, her ability allows her to create dimensions and move between them even without the Ark's power, placing reality itself in her hands. Our hero Allen Walker especially should be wary of this childish Noah, because she seems to fancy him!

Tyki Mikk — "Pleasure"

Little did Allen know that one of the Portuguese gamblers he met on a train ride was a Noah in disguise! The dandy Tyki Mikk enjoys leading a double life: an ordinary human by day, the Earl's right-hand man by night. Although known to mix business with "pleasure," his ability to pass through any physical substance makes him all but "untouchable" in any battle. Combine this with his control over the butterfly-shaped Teez golems, and Tyki Mikk will surely touch your heart — and maybe rip it out!

Skin Boric — "Wrath"

Wrath filled Noah as he watched his world washed away into nothingness. Seven thousand years later, Skin Boric awakened as the Noah of Wrath. Consumed by his rage, Skin has vowed never to forgive the Innocence or the Exorcists who wield it. Millions of electrical watts run through his body, capable of roasting any enemy who strikes a blow against him. Currently he's on a mission to hunt down and eliminate elite Black Order General Tiedoll, but standing in his way is Tiedoll's subordinate, the Exorcist Kanda. Can the cold-hearted Kanda overcome this Noah's ancient grudge?

Jasdevi — "Bonds"

Disaster often follows disaster, and these troublesome twins are sure to knock any Exorcist for a loop. Jasdero and David (together known as "Jasdevi") share the power to materialize anything they can imagine through their pistols. The pair first started out as a single Noah entity, but over the course of time, the Noah of Bonds split into two. Allen and the other Exorcists may be able to overcome their childish pranks, but can they survive the devilish duo when they decide to merge into a single being?
The battle against the Noah continues as the Exorcists fight desperately to escape the crumbling Ark. The Noah are strong, but Allen has more than a few new tricks (literally) up his sleeve. Will the power of his Innocence help the Exorcists escape in time, or will the "original disciples" have their last laugh?

Read D. Gray-Man volumes 9–13 to find out more about the Exorcists' battles against the Noah!

by Chris Turner

Naruto CCG: The Ninja Doctor Is In!

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Naruto CCG: The Ninja Doctor Is In!In the Naruto Collectible Card Game's Series 13: Fateful Reunion, the members of Squad 7 reunite to meet a powerful new threat. Naruto and Sakura rise to the challenge, having become stronger ninja during Sasuke's absence. But more importantly, the kind and caring Sakura, under the tutelage of the legendary Lady Tsunade, has grown into a skilled medical ninja, one that is unmatched mentally and physically. Read on to learn how this month's free card, "Sakura Haruno (PR-040)," can help you deal some serious damage and win card battles!

Go-To Ninja
The best thing about this Sakura promo card is that she has a fantastic Combat value, as well as solid Support while healthy or injured. Just like in the anime, Sakura is valuable to have around — she'll fit into any Team as a great Support Ninja on Turn 3. In the back, Sakura is protected from powerful effects like those of "Shikamaru Nara (N-US014)," but she's still able to use her extraordinary effect to bash through the opposing Head Ninja.

Read more about this month's free card in the June issue of SHONEN JUMP!

©2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN All Rights Reserved.

SHONEN JUMP Issue 78

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 0:00:00 -0700

The Invasion BeginsDestruction!
The brutal onslaught on Konohagakure continues. Pain unleashes an attack so devastating it's going to change Konoha forever! Plus, in the world of Naruto cards, we’ve got an action-packed mini-manga about the card game featuring a battle between Naruto and Kakashi!

Bo-bobo’s B-B-Blasting Off!
The man, the myth, the afro… Bo-bobo is shifting gears and taking his special brand of super silly antics to the realm of manga volumes! See him off by checking out the brain-busting feature "Real Life Lessons from the Hair Kingdom!"

Free Naruto card inside!

Plus, here's what's happening in SHONEN JUMP manga!

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo: It's the last installment in SHONEN JUMP before the series goes straight to manga volumes!

Tegami Bachi: Is Lag doing the right thing in delivering Niche to Lovesome Downs?

YuYu Hakusho: Kurama meets up with an old mate, but this reunion could tip the balance of power in the Demon Plane...

One Piece: Time is ticking down for Luffy's crew until the bomb is set to go off. Meanwhile, will Luffy get lucky against Crocodile?

Bleach: Ichigo and friends have finally made it to Hueco Mundo, and Aizen's immense fortress is within sight...

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Can Chazz stand up to David Rabb and his terrifying Shadow Game?

One Piece Anime Announcement

Thu, 14 May 2009 8:01:00 -0700

FUNimation Entertainment, Toei Animation, Shueisha and Fuji Television Announce Online Simulcast of One Piece Anime Leaders to Stream Episodes of Popular Anime Series Immediately Following Japanese Television DebutFlower Mound, Texas — May 14

FUNimation® Entertainment and the Japanese powerhouse consortium of producer Toei Animation Co., Ltd., publisher Shueisha, Inc. and broadcaster Fuji Television Network, Inc. have entered into an agreement giving the American anime leader exclusive rights to the U.S. and Canadian online simulcast of the studios' signature animated series One Piece.

Starting Saturday, May 30th at 9:00 p.m. CDT, just one hour after airing in Japan, FUNimation and the consortium will stream the first, free, professionally-produced, accurately English-subtitled One Piece series episode beginning with episode 403 via the official One Piece website www.onepieceofficial.com followed soon thereafter by FUNimation partner sites.

Each new episode of the current season will be rolled out weekly as One Piece continues its Japanese television run.

In addition, beginning Thursday, May 14th FUNimation will stream episodes from the Sabaody Archipelago Saga story arc starting with episode 391. FUNimation will also offer both its produced uncut, English-tracked and English-subtitled adaptations of the hugely successful series beginning with the first episode.

This decision was made by the production consortium for the North American, English-language One Piece DVDs, which is comprised of Toei Animation Co. Ltd, Shueisha, and Fuji Television Network, Inc., with the goal of maximizing the business potential of package media and merchandising in North America, among other things, in consideration of the growing online viewer market in the United States in recent years.

"With digital technology drastically changing the media environment surrounding broadcasts, we've gained the understanding and cooperation of Shueisha, the publisher of the original manga, and Fuji Television, which broadcasts the show in Japan, the primary target audience. With help from FUNimation, our One Piece partner in North America, we've managed to make a One Piece simulcast a reality. With this simulcast, we'll be able to deliver a version of One Piece with much "fresher"　excitement and greatness than ever before to even more viewers in the United States than ever before. It's incredibly exciting." Said Kanji Kazahaya, director of Toei Animation Co., Ltd.

"This simulcast is a turning point for FUNimation, our One Piece partners and the U.S. anime industry," said Gen Fukunaga, president and CEO of FUNimation Entertainment. "Thanks to our close partnership with Toei, Shueisha and Fuji Television, together we have effectively closed the longstanding gap between the Japanese broadcast and U.S. distribution of a series. As One Piece continues to be one of the top rated anime still in production, we can assure U.S. fans that new episodes of One Piece will not only make the voyage overseas, but will do it virtually instantaneously."

About One PieceOne Piece is a story of a time when pirates ruled the seas. With several bands of pirates battling over the great hidden treasure called One Piece which was left by the legendary pirate king, Gold Roger. One day, Monkey D. Luffy — a young boy who admired pirates — mistakenly ate Cursed Fruit turning himself into a rubber man. Ten years later Luffy set out to sea to become King of the Pirates and launch his own quest to discover "One Piece."

After Eiichiro Oda's original manga debuted in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1997, this monstrous hit has gone on to surpass 50 volumes and has consistently remained a best-seller; the latest volume, Volume 53, sold 2.6 million copies in its first printing. In 1999, Toei Animation created a popular animated version of One Piece for television which currently airs on Fuji TV affiliates.

In North America, the original manga appears in the monthly SHONEN JUMP magazine (www.shonenjump.com) sold by VIZ Media, LLC, which also sells the individual volumes. In addition to this anime simulcast, plans are underway for the latest chapters of the Japanese manga, which are ahead of the anime story, to appear in SHONEN JUMP starting in the fall of 2009. FUNimation, a Toei animation license　holder, will be streaming the animated version in North America.

FUNimation Entertainment will release the next home entertainment volume of the series, "One Piece: Second Season, First Voyage" on DVD on June 30th.

About Toei AnimationToei Animation Co., Ltd. (Jasdaq:4816) (http://www.toei-anim.co.jp or http://www.toei-anim.co.jp/english/index.html) is the largest animation production company in Japan since 1956, and have produced many celebrated TV series such as Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Zatch Bell!, Digimon Adventure, and One Piece. With headquarters in Tokyo and sales offices in Los Angeles, Hong Kong and Paris, Toei Animation ranks amongst the world's most prolific animation production studios. Toei Animation's operations include animation development and production, and worldwide marketing and program licensing. Since its founding in 1956, Toei Animation has produced more than 9,900 episodes of TV series (181 titles) and 192 long feature films as of September, 2008.

About Shueisha, Inc.Shueisha Inc., founded in 1926, is the Japan's top sales publisher and publishes 40 magazines including comic magazine, women's, men's, sports, literary, etc. as well as trade books. Its most successful comic magazine, "Shonen Jump", is printed 3 million copies weekly in Japan alone and many animations such as "ONE PIECE", "NARUTO", "Yu-Gi-Oh!" and "Dragon Ball" are based on Shonen Jump. Beyond publishing, Shueisha strategically works with other media and carries out many activities such as producing animation and merchandising for its strong properties. To learn more, please visit http://www.shueisha.co.jp/.

About Fuji Television Network, Inc.

Since commencing broadcasts in 1959, Fuji Television Network, Inc. (http://www.fujitv.co.jp/en) has continually produced high quality dramas, variety programs, sports, news programming, motion pictures, as well as animation. As Japan's top commercial broadcaster, Fuji has not only been able to remain the country's top revenue gainer, but has been able to capture the number one position　in all three ratings categories over the past four years. Thanks to the continued close relationship with Shueisha and Toei Animation, Fuji TV has been able to broadcast anime hits such as Dragon Ball and One Piece.

About FUNimation EntertainmentFUNimation® Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Navarre Corporation, is the leading company for home video sales of Japanese animation in the United States. FUNimation has a proven formula for launching and advancing brands, and manages a full spectrum of rights for most of its brands including broadcasting, licensing, production, internet, and home video sales and distribution. For more information about FUNimation Entertainment and its brands, visit www.funimation.com.

Pirate Checklist
Streaming anime starts on May 14 at www.onepieceofficial.com
Simulcast anime starts on May 30 at www.onepieceofficial.com
SHONEN JUMP July issue available June 2
One Piece Manga Volume 21 available June 2

Claymore: Waking Up On The Wrong Side

Fri, 01 May 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Claymore: Waking Up On The Wrong Side...They are predators. They disguise themselves as normal humans, moving through society while mortals are oblivious to the horror they wreak upon unsuspecting innocents. (No, we're not talking about talent agents or lawyers.) Yoma feed on human intestines while assuming the human identity of one of their victims. Surely there is no greater menace than these abominations, right? Wrong.

Clare is a Claymore, one of many warriors a mysterious Organization creates to act as mankind's defense against the Yoma. Grafting the flesh of one of these monstrosities onto a girl's body affords them amazing power, yet comes with a price: all who survive long enough inevitably Awaken, transforming into a creature far more powerful than any Yoma. These Awakened Ones have grown more numerous lately, and even the Organization is having problems keeping up with them! Out of all the Awakened Ones, four among them stand on the top as the most dangerous.PriscillaHaving climbed the ranks of the Organization within mere months, Priscilla quickly became the No. 2 warrior. Although possessing amazing power and staggering potential, Priscilla's naive beliefs made her unable to accept her own defeat. Priscilla transformed into one of the most powerful beings in existence. When she was in her Awakened form, she destroyed someone very important to Clare, who is now pursuing her for revenge.RifulDon't let her innocent face and cheerful attitude fool you. Riful of the West, formerly a No. 1 warrior in the Organization, is a Creature of the Abyss, one of three Awakened Ones thought to be the most powerful. Recently she's been working toward expanding her own ranks with an army of Awakened Ones. Her preferred method is to torture captured Claymores, forcing them to Awaken. Unsurprisingly, she has relatively few supporters in her cause.IsleyCalled "The Silver King of the North," Isley was one of the early Claymores created while men were allowed in the ranks. In addition to his territory, Isley also controls a calamitous army of Awakened Beings that make up the vast majority of his power. Isley has been traveling together with Priscilla, but between the two Awakened Ones, which one is the master?LucielaLuciela was a part of a failed experiment by the Organization, in which they tried to tap into an Awakened One's power while safely bringing the Claymore back from their Awakened state through a sibling. In Luciela's case, her sister Rafaela was unable to bring her back to normal. Luciela then became the third Creature of the Abyss. Her sister is searching for her, and now Isley has started to make his move into her territory...

As the battles between the Awakened Ones escalate, the Organization joins in the fray with a secret weapon whose powers rival those of Priscilla. And what are the true reasons behind the Organization's desire to wipe out the Awakened Ones? Find out by reading Claymore, in stores now!

Claymore is rated T+. More ratings info at ratings.viz.com.

By Christopher Turner

Jump Festa Diary: An Otaku Is Born!

Fri, 01 May 2009 0:00:00 -0700

In the realm of otaku dreams, meeting your favorite manga creator is the ultimate. But imagine sitting down in the same room as your number one SHONEN JUMP artist and getting them to answer your questions directly! On top of that, you get an all-expense-paid trip to Japan and Jump Festa, a festival of all things SHONEN JUMP. It all actually happened to one lucky fan, Devin Hargrove, who's here to give you the full version of his astonishing tale from our May issue!

The Adventure Begins!

Going into this trip I had no idea what to expect. Everything that I knew about Japan I had read, seen in manga and anime, or heard from other people who had been there. However, I can honestly say that nothing in any anime or manga comes close to portraying what Japan is truly like.

My dad and me, riding the subway in Tokyo.
The Sights and Sounds of Tokyo!

Looking down from the plane as we flew into Narita Airport, I could see a bustling city filled with intensity. The lights from the skyline breathed life into it, like blood flowing through the body. And at the heart of it all was the people. I expected Tokyo to be just like any big city, filled with people, congested traffic and that city smell that always seems to linger. But instead I was met with a cleanliness and efficiency that I had never seen before.

A nighttime view of Tokyo.
First Stop: Manga Headquarters

My very first experience in Japan was touring the facilities at Shueisha, the publisher of Weekly Shonen Jump in Tokyo. I was humbled to be in the same building where my favorite manga, Bleach, is published. I can’t possibly describe the state of awe I was in as I sat looking at the original manuscripts of the manga with the editor himself, Hattori-san. I was so enthralled I could have been struck by lightning and wouldn't have cared. That was really just a preview of things to come...

Real Bleach pages, right in front of me!
Shibuya bound!

Our first venture into Tokyo led us to the Shibuya district, where I was able to see just how lively the city was. The streets were filled with businessmen just getting off work, school kids heading out for a night with their friends, and other people. But everywhere I went there was always one thing that stood out — these people added a liveliness to the city that was intoxicating and compelling.

A busy intersection in Shibuya, a trendy part of Tokyo.
Next Up: Adventure in Electric Town

The next stop was what can only be described as the greatest place on earth, Akihabara (a.k.a. Electric Town). It was like a dream; everywhere I looked, model shops lined the streets, with anime and manga stores stacked neatly on the upper floors. As if that wasn't enough to satisfy even the most extreme otaku, cosplay stores and electronics shops were thrown in as well. It was enough to cause any manga or anime fan to salivate with delight! But, as all good things must come to an end, so did Akihabara. And so I walked back to the hotel, the buzz from being in otaku paradise slowly fading away. I would have never guessed what was in store for me the next day.

Me, wondering how I'm going to carry all of this stuff home.
Jump Festa, At Last

Saturday, we headed for Jump Festa in Chiba, a suburb of Tokyo. I did some shopping at the vendor booths and decided to grab hold of my inner-otaku and do some cosplay. But my fear of looking stupid while cosplaying was suddenly outweighed by my fear of public speaking, as I was told I was to give a small speech on stage to a few hundred listeners. The only encouraging advice given to me was the fact that most of them only had Yu-Gi-Oh! on their minds, and if I messed up they wouldn’t notice. In the end, everything turned out okay. It was the next little bit of information that nearly gave me a heart attack — I would not only be meeting, but interviewing, my favorite manga artist: Tite Kubo-sensei! If the tour of Shueisha left me in awe, then I can only describe the feeling as being in the presence of greatness.

A crowded pavilion at Jump Festa.
In the the Presence of Greatness

As I watched Kubo-sensei enter the room in true rock star fashion, I knew I was way out of my league. It was the greatest moment of my life, and I was nearly in too much shock to speak, but somehow made it through. After the interview, I received the greatest surprise of the whole trip — Kubo-sensei presented me with an autographed poster board featuring the hand-drawn image of Ichigo Kurosaki for my birthday! In all the excitement of the trip, I had forgotten my own birthday.

The greatest surprise of the whole trip.
Nameks Invade Japan
The next day, I put on my Piccolo costume and cosplayed with the best of them. My very first cosplay experience turned out okay, and as the day ended I realized that I had graduated from being a part-time anime and manga fan to being a full-time otaku. And along with many great memories, that is what I brought back with me from Japan.

Read more great features in the May issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Naruto Catch-Up Coverage: Be a Part of Generation Ninja

Fri, 01 May 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Naruto Catch-Up Coverage: Be a Part of Generation NinjaWelcome to our third and final installment of our Naruto catch-up coverage, in which you'll read about everything that happens in volumes 42–44 of the manga, as well as the seven chapters from volume 45 that you can preview online for a limited time (details below). As you know, we've been speeding up the manga's release to bring you closer than ever to what's currently out in Japan, and to do this, we gave Naruto a break from SJ while we put out a ton of manga volumes. Now Naruto is back in SJ! If you want to avoid spoilers at all costs, STOP here and read all of the manga covered in this section before continuing on to the first chapter of this month's Naruto!

A Master's Final Message

Caught in a fierce battle against the Akatsuki leader Pain, Jiraiya recalls the areas in his life in which he feels he has failed. He begins to question whether or not he lived the true shinobi way… yet through it all Jiraiya can't help thinking of Naruto and his determination. In the moment of truth, the pervy sage makes the critical choice that the Great Lord Elder foresaw, and writes a message hidden within a secret code on the back of a toad (actually Lord Fukasaku) before sending him off to Konoha. Jiraiya has figured out who Pain is! (Volume 42)

Brother vs. Brother

After years of waiting, Sasuke finally comes face to face with his brother Itachi. Their showdown begins with hand-to-hand combat. Itachi gains the upper hand early on, but Sasuke turns to his Chidori stream and quickly gains control. Suddenly, it becomes apparent that the two are waging a series of genjutsu battles! All this happens under the watchful eye of the Akatsuki ninja Zetsu, but all he can actually see is Sasuke and Itachi standing motionless in the room. (Volume 42)

Read the rest of our Naruto Catch-Up coverage — and get the lowdown on Sasuke and Itachi's fight — in the May issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Monthly Manga News Extra!

Fri, 01 May 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Monthly Manga News Extra!What do Black Cat, Dragon Drive and Dr. Slump have in common? They’re all awesome? Well, yeah, but what else? You’ve been following the stories with intense devotion? That, too, but keep guessing. Give up? They will all complete their run in the next few months, and you’ll finally get to find out what happens in the end!

Black Cat by Kentaro Yabuki
Train finds out the true extent of Creed’s powers and realizes he might not be strong enough to win...

Dragon Drive by Ken-ichi Sakura
Two boys, Reiji and Takumi, are all that stand between a madman and the end of everything on earth!

Dr. Slump by Akira Toriyama
Toriyama-sensei’s cartoony drawing style, loopy puns, silly characters and impossible inventions make this truly a one-of-a-kind experience.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game: Beast Warriors Are Back

Fri, 01 May 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game: Beast Warriors Are BackThere was a time when Beast-Warrior monsters dominated the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game landscape, tearing up opponents with bestial fury. "Chiron the Mage," "Gene-Warped Warwolf" and "Indomitable Fighter Lei Lei" are just some of the monsters of this type. Now this monster-type comes roaring back by way of the powerful Beast-Warrior Effect Monster, "Beast King Barbaros"! A lightning-fast and high-level card for Synchro Summoning, a strong mid-game aggressor and even a possible resource for finishing off a tough opponent, Barbaros is ready to put the fight back in your Deck! Read on for tips on how to use this issue's free card!

No Tribute, No Problem!
"Beast King Barbaros," a Level 8 card, can enter the game in a flash. While most cards of this level require two Tributes, you can put Barbaros directly into play without one. If you do, the ATK becomes 1900, but that is still big enough to put down the likes of "Krebons" or "Plaguespreader Zombie." To top it off, by choosing instead to Tribute three monsters to Summon Barbaros, you can clear not only the opponent's Monster Card Zones, but all the Spell or Trap Cards he or she controls — all in one fell swoop! That opens them up to the strong 3000 Attack Points and protects you from Spell or Trap Card response when you attack!

Read more about this month's free card in the May issue of SHONEN JUMP!

Dragon Drive: Powering Up Your Dragon!

Fri, 01 May 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Dragon Drive: Powering Up Your Dragon!Got a weak dragon that needs some powering up? Don't just throw it out with yesterday's newspaper. Instead, follow the example of Dragon Drive's resident loser-turned-winner Reiji Ozora! Before Reiji started playing Dragon Drive, the virtual video game where combatants fight each other with dragons, he was the kind of kid who would quit a game halfway than follow through. But Dragon Drive was different for Reiji. He started out with a wimpy-looking dragon he dubbed "Chibi" (chibi is Japanese for small), but he quickly found out that looks can definitely be deceiving. Over time, he learned how to tap into Chibi's powers, and became an incredible force to be reckoned with!

If you wanna follow Reiji's path and get the most out of your dragon, follow our pro tips and you'll be on your way in no time!

Pro Tip: Get in Touch with Your Dragon's Feelings

We don't mean you need to cook up some chicken soup and have a heart-warming talk all night long, but it would be good to get your emotions and actions in sync with your dragon. If the two of you aren't on the same page, then things can turn out disastrously. When Reiji and Chibi first play Dragon Drive, they find themselves cornered by Daisuke and his dragon Kanpa. Frightened out of his wits, Reiji tries to run away, but Chibi chooses to stand up to the oncoming threat. Impressed by Chibi's courage, Reiji decides it's time to stop being a coward and start fighting together with Chibi.

Pro Tip: Believe in Your Dragon

Jumping off of high places isn't exactly the sanest method of bonding with your dragon, but desperate times call for desperate measures. When Reiji see Maiko being attacked by Ichiro and his dragon Junrashi, he decides the fastest (and coolest!) way of rescuing her is to jump off a crane! Even though the risks of jumping from such a high place in the virtual world can cause psychological damage, Reiji is determined to help his friend and trusts his dragon implicitly.

Pro Tip: Don't Push That Reset Button!

Tired of hearing people say, "Learn from your mistakes"? Well then, get used to it, because you won't be able to learn and grow with your dragon if you keep hitting that reset button. If you take the attitude that your dragon is not strong enough to handle challenges like Daisuke did when he found himself trapped underground while his dragon Kanpa was above fighting on his own, then you'll never get your dragon to power up. Reiji showed Daisuke that his dragon is fighting for more than himself — he's also fighting for Daisuke! Once Daisuke realized that, then he was able to become more powerful as well.

Pro Tip: Don't Give In to Anger

When playing a life-or-death game, it's pretty easy to find yourself getting riled up. After all, one misstep can mean the death of a friend or you yourself, but fighting angry is not the best way to maximize your dragon's fighting potential. When Reiji sees Daisuke being sneered at and bullied by two twins who are possessed by the dragon Darx, he mistakenly allows his anger to take control of himself and Chibi. After feeling Chibi's pain, Reiji realizes that his dragon's true fighting power doesn't come from anger or hatred. Instead, Chibi's true power comes from the power to save!
In the final analysis, always take care of your dragon! The more love and affection you have for your dragon, the more in tune you will be with each other. And if you keep following Reiji's example, you might just find yourself a new best friend.

To see more great Dragon Drive action, check out the manga volumes in stores now!

SHONEN JUMP Issue 77

Fri, 01 May 2009 0:00:00 -0700

I'm Back!The almighty Pain has descended upon Konoha in Naruto. Despite being severely outnumbered, Pain is not only holding his own, he’s mowing down the village’s defenses with ease. Could this be the end of Konohagakure? And just what the heck is Naruto doing during all this?!

Return of the SJ Cover Contest!
Sharpen those pencils, grab all your pens, find some paper and start sending stuff in! It’s the return of the SJ Cover Contest! This is your chance to have your cover design featured in the magazine!

We Survived Jump Festa
Picture this: thousands of excited fans, who love all things SHONEN JUMP, packed into a huge convention center going from booth to booth with grins on their faces and stars in their eyes — it's called Jump Festa! We were there, and so was the lucky winner of the SHONEN JUMP Experience Contest! Read about his life-changing adventure!

Free Yu-Gi-Oh! card inside!

Plus, here's what's happening in SHONEN JUMP manga!

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo: Bo-bobo and the crew have split into three factions, but they will all have to work together to win against three new hair haters.

One Piece: Luffy's back to settle the score, and he has figured out how to sandbag the evil Croc!

YuYu Hakusho: Hiei's back in the Demon Plane, and the man who gave him the evil eye and trained him to be a swordsman is there waiting for him!

Tegami Bachi: Lag's on his way to his Letter Bee interview, but he gets sidetracked when he meets an abandoned girl, who also happens to be a letter!

Bleach: Orihime's rescue mission has begun, and Chad and Uryû want to show Ichigo just how much their powers have grown...

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: One of the most highly anticipated matches of the tournament begins — Chazz Princeton versus David Rabb!

Web Exclusive! Buso Renkin: Alchemy In Action!

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 0:00:00 -0700

*Web Exclusive!* Buso Renkin: Alchemy in Action!Monsters walk the earth disguised as humans. Warriors fight to protect society from unknown terrors. And butterfly masks are the latest fashion for villains on the go! Welcome to the world of Buso Renkin! Kazuki Muto learns the truth about this hidden world when he meets the mysterious Alchemist Warrior Tokiko Tsumura. Operating in the shadows, she and the Alchemist Army fight to vanquish the deadly homunculi. Their sole defenses are the Buso Renkin, powerful weapons formed when a magical alloy called kakugane is activated by the user's fighting spirit.
Kazuki Muto – Sunlight Heart

Kazuki was an ordinary high schooler before an unwanted act of heroism cost him his life. The old saying that the weapon is the heart of the warrior is, in Kazuki’s case, very literal! His heart now destroyed, Kazuki’s kakugane currently functions as a replacement. Kazuki’s simple, straightforward attitude gives the Sunlight Heart its form. Well, that and his penchant for sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong!

Tokiko Tsumura – Valkyrie Skirt

Tokiko brought Kazuki into this battle, and she’s prepared to see him through it. Beautiful but deadly, the cold-hearted Alchemist Warrior’s Valkyrie Skirt is as dangerous as it is efficient. Just like its user, the Skirt's many robotic razor blades mercilessly cut straight to the point — and a lot more. Comrades and homunculi alike have good reason to fear Tokiko’s icy wrath, as her skirt is also handy for punishing trainees who don’t follow orders!

Papillon - Near-Death Happiness

Kazuki’s longtime rival Papillon’s Buso Renkin is by no means lacking. In keeping with his rather outlandish fashion sense and fanatical obsession with butterflies, Papillion’s gunpowder Buso Renkin makes its first appearance about halfway through the series. A very flexible weapon, it can scatter explosive particles and blast his enemies, jetpack him out of harm’s way, and even flaunt his ever-present insect motif!

Captain Bravo – Silver Skin

Captain Bravo may have a light-hearted attitude in general, but there’s little doubt as to how he got his place as warrior chief. His Silver Skin creates an unyielding barrier that makes him all but invincible in combat. Kazuki’s mentor is perhaps living proof that the spirit of a warrior is truly unbreakable.

Dr. Butterfly - Alice in Wonderland

Leader of the L.X.E., a commune of homunculi, Dr. Butterfly is both a genius alchemist and a deadly warrior! Named after the famous fairy tale, Dr. Butterfly’s Buso Renkin is guaranteed to send you down the rabbit hole… and beyond! It can either blanket the battlefield in thick fog for an easy surprise attack, or shine a bright light that can give his opponents nightmarish hallucinations. In this case, looking to the light is definitely not a good idea!

Moon Face - Satellite 30

Is he the man on the moon… or the moon on the man? This ghastly grinner is in love with himself and is ready to share the love between his thirty doubles! What Moon Face lacks in power he makes up for in numbers by having a copy of himself for every phase of the moon. Even Captain Bravo has his work cut out for him to best this lunar lunatic!

To learn more about the Buso Renkin and the Alchemist Army, read Buso Renkin. It's in stores now!

By Christopher Turner

Web Exclusive! Orihime's Benevolent Betrayal

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 0:00:00 -0700

*Web Exclusive!* Bleach: Orihime's Benevolent BetrayalIf you've been keeping up with Bleach (and we know you have!), you might have noticed the sudden focus on Orihime. She started out as a damsel in distress, but over the course of the story, has become a pivotal character in the manga. Her unique abilities are so profound, they even intrigue Sôsuke Aizen, the leader of the Arrancars. Aizen has sinister plans in store for her — to harness her seemingly impossible power not only to heal people but make it seem like their injuries never occurred. You'll have to keep reading to find out what they are! For now, let's take a look back and see the progression of Orihime!

I See Dead People…

When Orihime was a baby, her parents would often beat her to silence her. Her brother Sora, who was 15 years older, took her away from them and raised her on his own. One day, he died in a car accident, but his soul stayed behind. As the years passed, he felt Orihime slowly drifting away from him as she made new friends. In order to get Orihime back, Sora decides to kill her, but in the end, it is Orihime's love for her brother that ultimately saves him. He realizes that she stopped praying at his memorial and started talking about her friends in order to not make him worry and to share in her newfound happiness.

The Power to Protect

When a Hollow attacks Orihime's friends Chizuru and Tatsuki, she decides to step in and protect them. The hairpin her brother gave her when she was little houses Orihime's powers and manifests itself into the Shunshun-Rikka, the Six Princess Shielding Flowers. Depending on the situation, Orihime can command them to either shield or reject.

Hinagiku, Baigon and Lily combine to form Santen Ketsushun, a triangular shield that "rejects" an enemy's attack. Shunô and Ayame together create Sôten Kishun, a reflection shield that can reverse any damage to a person. Finally, Tsubaki forms Koten Zanshun, a slicing attack that blows a hole in the enemy, creates a shield inside and rejects the union of matter.

Watching from Behind…

Where did Orihime's power come from? The Shielding Flowers tell her that her powers come from Ichigo. Later on, Urahara explains that coming into contact with Ichigo activated her latent powers. However, Orihime still needs to train in order to better use her powers, especially since Rukia was taken back to the Soul Society and condemned to die.

Orihime decides to follow Ichigo on his quest to rescue Rukia and trains with Yoruichi. Despite her training, she still feels she's a liability when it comes to battle because she lacks a killer's instinct. Often, she finds herself standing in the back, wanting to protect Ichigo, but she usually ends up being the one who needs protecting.

Special Gifts

Although Orihime feels she is weak and unable to protect her friends in battle, her powers are actually quite astonishing. Her ability to "reject" any wound, as well as her ability to reject most attacks, is unique. Aizen develops an interest in her powers after Ulquiorra, an Arrancar, witnesses her treating an injured Chad. Her powers are special because they are neither Soul Reaper- nor Hollow-like, but there is another among the Visoreds who possesses similar abilities. Despite her talents, Orihime still feels like she's a burden to her friends…

Sacrifice

When Ichigo feels down because he's unable to control his inner Hollow, Orihime becomes despondent because she can't cheer him up. To make matters worse, later Orihime feels jealous of Rukia because Rukia is able to kick Ichigo out of his doldrums. In spite of her jealousy, Orihime decides to get stronger and train with Rukia in the Soul Society.

Around this time, Aizen launches an attack against Karakura Town, but is his objective really to take on the Soul Reapers there? Ulquiorra intercepts Orihime to tell her that Lord Aizen is interested in her powers. If she refuses to help the Arrancars, then the lives of those she cherishes the most will be in danger. Being the kind-hearted soul she is, how can she stand by and watch Ichigo and her friends suffer?

To learn more about Orihime and her plight in Bleach, check out the manga in SHONEN JUMP!

Ultimate Ninja 4: Naruto Shippuden: The Ultimate Fighting Tips!

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Ultimate Ninja 4: Naruto Shippuden: The Ultimate Fighting Tips!Last month, we demoed Ultimate Ninja 4: Naruto Shippuden. Now the game’s about to hit store shelves! Before you sit down with your friends to determine which of you is the real Hokage is, check out these crucial tips!

Don’t Eat a Boot… Substitute!

You won’t get far in fights just by blocking! The way of the ninja is to deceive the enemy and gain the advantage. That’s where Substitution Jutsu comes in. While it may zap some of your chakra, it will let you land a string of attacks on your enemy if timed correctly — and seriously shorten their life bar!

Don’t Fall On Your Rump… Shadow Clone Jump!

When you’re in the Master Mode, the Shadow Clone Jump is going to be your main way of crossing chasms and difficult terrain. Not only does it help you do extra-long jumps, it can really save your bacon. You’ll be able to pull yourself out of bottomless pits before you fall too far. Just make sure you’ve got enough chakra!

Read the rest of the article in the April issue of SHONEN JUMP!

©2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN All Rights Reserved.

DragonBall Evolution: Evolve Into Action!

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 0:00:00 -0700

DragonBall: Evolution: Evolve Into Action!Your wish is our command. DragonBall: Evolution will be bursting into theaters next month. In the meantime, you can read our special report. You’ll hear directly from the actors and visit the set in our SJ travelogue. Start powering up…

SJ: When you play Lord Piccolo, what thing do you care about most?

James Marsters: When I think of Piccolo, the one word that comes to my mind is solitude. I always remember Piccolo floating above a beautiful landscape, but he’s not looking at the beautiful landscape. He’s looking at his feet and meditating. That more than anything is Piccolo for me, and what he’s meditating on is revenge. I’m playing Piccolo as a man who went into prison for a long time, where he had no mirrors. He finally busts out after 2,000 years, looks in the mirror and sees he’s old, decrepit and weak. He despises himself, and hates the mystics for putting him in prison and stealing his youth. At that point, he wants to kill the mystics, their family, the whole town and planet they protect. It’s all about revenge.

Find out what other actors like Justin Chatwin and Chow Yun-Fat told us in the April issue of SHONEN JUMP!

DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION Motion Picture © 2008 Twentieth Century FoxFilm Corporation. Based on the DRAGONBALL graphic novel series created by Akira Toriyama. All rights reserved. DRAGONBALL ™ & © Bird Studio/Shueisha, Inc. All rights reserved.

Screenplay by Ben Ramsey.
Based on the DRAGONBALL graphic novel series created by Akira Toriyama.

Dragon Ball Collectible Card Game: Master of the Universe!

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Dragon Ball Collectible Card Game: Master of the Universe!Without a doubt, Goku is the strongest Warrior in the Dragon Ball universe. With an endless thirst for adventure and friendship — and food — this mighty Saiyan Warrior has saved the Earth countless times from the brink of destruction. He has even succeeded in fending off the evil maneuvers of Cell (to the terror of Majin Buu!). Let’s see how this month’s free Dragon Ball Collectible Card Game card — “Goku (PR-001)” — lives up to the legend. Try out these card tips the next time you go to battle!

Self-Healing Power
Having 7/3, 8/4 and 9/5 as stats are just the tip of the iceberg for “Goku (PR-001).” With a solid power of 5/2 (healthy) and 4/0 (injured), this Turn 5 Warrior’s ability allows him to heal himself while he is the defender. Throw in the fact that Goku possesses the “Super Heal” and “Toughness” Special Abilities, and that means he’ll be around long enough to keep getting stronger!

Read more about this card and the others in the April issue of SHONEN JUMP!

©BIRD STUDIO/SHUEISHA, TOEI ANIMATION

Naruto Catch-Up Coverage: Be a Part of Generation Ninja

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Naruto Catch-Up Coverage: Be a Part of Generation NinjaWelcome to our second month of Naruto catch-up coverage, in which we’ll recap volumes 38-41 of the manga. If you’ve been busy fighting rogue ninja and haven’t heard the news, here’s what’s been happening: We’re speeding up the manga to get closer to where the story is in Japan. To make this possible, we’re giving Naruto a break from SJ this month and keeping you up to date with this huge catch-up section.

It’s all part of Generation Ninja, and it will make the way you experience Naruto even better! For more about Generation Ninja, visit naruto.com. In the meantime, we’ve got tons of Naruto video game, anime, card and gear coverage in this issue to keep you smiling. Best of all, Naruto returns to SJ next month, so don’t miss it!

Manga Volume Calendar
While Naruto's away, we're going to release a whopping 11 graphic novels in three months!
February......34, 35, 36, 37
March......... 38, 39, 40, 41
April.............42, 43, 44

Naruto Believes It!

Naruto closes in on the ruthless Akatsuki ninja Kakuzu with his Wind Style Rasenshuriken. Unfortunately, Naruto doesn't quite have a handle on his new jutsu and fails. But as you know, this ninja doesn’t give up easily. He tries again, hiding in a crowd of shadow doppelgangers, and gives Kakuzu a handful of seriously destructive chakra! (Volume 38)

The Student Becomes the Master!

Knowing that his current body won’t last much longer, Naruto’s nemesis Orochimaru tries to transfer to a new host — Sasuke, whose power he has coveted for so long. However, Sasuke has very different ideas about how things are going to go. The two end up in a bloody battle that ends with Sasuke absorbing Orochimaru!

Read the rest of our Naruto Catch-Up coverage — and get the lowdown on his mentor Jiraiya — in the April issue of SHONEN JUMP!

SHONEN JUMP Issue 76

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 0:00:00 -0700

Payback Time!In Bleach, Orihime goes AWOL, it's up to Ichigo to journey into Hueco Mundo to retrieve her — without any help from the Soul Reapers!

Generation Ninja Continues!
Get your headbands out and shine them up because Naruto's back next month! To get you ready for his triumphant return, we've got another huge catch-up section for you to devour.

We Were There!
DragonBall: Evolution has so much intense action, it'll give you a concussion! We sent our roving Saiyan reporter out to Mexico to gather the dragonballs… er, the juicy tidbits that'll have you piling into theaters next month.

Free two-sided Naruto pin-up inside!

Free Dragon Ball card inside!

Plus, here's what's happening in SHONEN JUMP manga!

Rosario+Vampire: As if school life with monsters isn't bad enough, now Tsukune's got a gang of monstrels to deal with in this special preview!

Tegami Bachi: Is there more than meets the eye to Lag Seeing? Find out what happens when a ferocious Gaichuu attacks him and Gauche...

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo: Before facing the Hair Hunter Captains from 100 years ago, Bo-bobo and the gang get a JUMP on some Hair Hunter minions!

YuYu Hakusho: Yusuke's made his mind up about his father's invitation, but he before he does anything, he has a question for Keiko...

One Piece: Just how strong are Zolo's swords? He'll soon find out when he faces a man who is a human sword!

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Bastion thinks he has Jaden's Deck all figured out, but understimating Jaden might prove to be a fatal mistake.

July Monthly Manga News

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 15:09:00 -0700

July Monthly Manga NewsSummer is here, and we have a great idea about how you can make the most of your leisure time. How about catching up with our favorite manga characters?! From assassins who don’t know how to play fair (duh!) to Saiyan warriors defending their turf to a god of death learning about love, we say it’s a great month to get some serious manga reading done!

Next Month's SHONEN JUMP Manga Volumes

Naruto • Vol. 45

Battlefield, Konoha: Sasuke and Naruto's powers are ever-increasing. Sasuke can now use the Mangekyo Sharingan in crazy new ways, and Naruto may be even stronger than his fallen sensei, Jiraiya! But can anyone stop the Pains of the Akatsuki as they launch their deadly strike against Konoha?! And what other mysterious powers do each of Pain's six bodies possess?

Shaman King • Vol. 23

Epilogue IV: Hao wants Spirit of Fire to consume the Golem for its mana... with young Salerm still inside! Yoh will do what it takes to save her, even fighting off the Golem and the ghost of Ludsev's father! With this many attackers, Yoh could seriously use the help of a friend — one like Joco and his powerful new Over Soul!

Bonus Features: Character Sketches! Takei-Sensei Shares His Thoughts on Being Busy!

The Prince of Tennis • Vol. 32

Two of a Cunning Kind: The National Tournament moves into the quarterfinal round, and the Seishun players find themselves pitted against their old rivals — Hyotei. Kicking things off is the No. 3 Singles match between Momoshiro and Hyotei's resident "genius," Yushi Oshitari. Will all of Momo's strength and cunning be enough to defeat the "Player of a Thousand Techniques"?

Bonus Features: Character Popularity Poll Results!

Plus available next month from SHONEN JUMP ADVANCED

Gin Tama • Vol. 13

After All, Your Enemy Yesterday Is Still Your Enemy Today: Gin's Street Fighting Lessons Learned (Top 5): 1. Frontal wedgies are extremely effective. 2. Girls hit a lot harder the more innocent they look (unless they are alien gorillas). 3. Only morons start fights in the Ninja Bar. 4. Using a bazooka is cheating (but it sure settles things quickly). 5. No one hits harder than Shinpachi's sister Otae when she's riled!

Bonus Features: Creator Comments!

Kurohime • Vol. 12

Kiss of Death: First she traveled back in time to save Zero while he was still a child. Then she had to fight her worst enemies all over again in the form of the "Kurohime Punishment Squad." Now, within the jaws of Shishijo, a living castle shaped like a giant lion, Kurohime faces her most bitter enemy — Sword — who, like her, has known the pain of lost love. Meanwhile, back in the present, the goddess Yashahime continues her seduction of Kurohime's beloved — the former Zero, now known as Dark Zero, the god of death!

Reborn! • Vol. 12

Prince Ripper: The battle between the Varia assassins and Tsuna's "family" for the Vongola rings is on! Tsuna's intervention on Lambo's behalf has caused forfeiture of both their rings, so it's up to Gokudera to hold up the side. He gives it his all, but the Varia are proving themselves masters of not playing fair and appear to view the rules, such as they are, as applicable only to their opponents!

Bonus Features: Extra Manga Chapter! Haru’s Haru-Haru Interview!

Strawberry 100% • Vol. 9

Bikini Tutoring: Junpei pays a visit to Yui's family and very nearly destroys Yui's school career! Then he attempts the nearly impossible — spending time with Tsukasa, Satsuki and Aya all on the same day! After all this, will he find being trapped in a burning building a welcome change of pace?

Bonus Features: Strawberry 100% Four-Panel Manga Theater!

Ultimate Muscle • Vol. 23

Battle 23: In an unsettling development, Kid Muscle faces bad guys that are so evil they can only be countered with... other bad guys! Deep inside the evil fortress known as General Palast, the Kid finds himself outnumbered by the unruly, chaotic and ruthless Demon Seeds. Fortunately, a whole gang of reformed baddies from the past has his back. They're calling themselves the Army of Idols, and they're ready to stomp the Demon Seeds and look totally awesome doing it!
The SJA series on this page are rated T+. More ratings info at ratings.viz.com.

Plus Available in VIZBIG

LARGE FORMAT!
Dragon Ball • Vol. 5 FINAL VOLUME!

The Fearsome Power of Piccolo: The Great Demon King Piccolo is all set for world domination — but first, he needs to gather the seven Dragon Balls to restore his youth and power. Son Goku and his friends pit themselves against this heartless monster, but it's looking more and more grim for the side of good as Piccolo picks them off one by one. Their only hope is a martial arts technique that imprisoned Piccolo years ago. Contains volumes 13-16 of the original Dragon Ball manga volumes!

Bonus Features: Color Pages! Chapter Title Gallery!
Dragon Ball is rated T.

SHONEN JUMP Myspace: JUMP ON IN!

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:30:00 -0800

SHONEN JUMP MySpace: Jump On In!Always dreamed about being our friend? Well, your dream just came true. SHONEN JUMP is now on MySpace! Join our online family and get the latest scoop or drop us a line.

Check us out at myspace.com/shonenjump!

©2003-2009 MySpace.com. All Rights Reserved.

Naruto Shippuden: Welcome to Tin Card Alley!

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 0:00:00 -0800

Naruto Shippuden: Welcome to Tin Card Alley!Gaara, Kakashi and Naruto… they're three of the most-skilled ninja from the world of Naruto. Battling against all odds, they are the guardians of their village, and in the Naruto Collectible Card Game, they are some of the fiercest cards around. Let's take a look at what they can do!

Naruto's New Trick!

After two-and-a-half years of training under Jiraiya, Naruto has become one powerhouse of a shinobi. "Naruto Uzumaki (N-524)," a Turn 3 "Genin" Ninja card, possesses not only spectacular power (6 Combat injured) and characteristic (Clone Status), it also has an incredible new effect that searches the top five cards of his deck for game-winning cards like "Explosion of the Rasengan (J-382)" and "Naruto 2K Uzumaki Barrage (J-145)."

Read more about this card and the others in the March issue of SHONEN JUMP!

©2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN All Rights Reserved.

Web Exclusive Luffy's Greatest Hits!

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 0:00:00 -0800

*Web Exclusive* Luffy's Greatest Hits!Come one, come all! Get on board the Merry Go for a ride through Luffy's greatest battles. He's fought some pretty tough opponents — fishies, clowns and giants to name a few — but he always pulls through in the end. It's no stretch to say that each and every battle has been heart-stopping, sweat-inducing and nail-biting, so let's relive each thrilling moment!

Hit #1: Luffy vs. "Iron Mace" Alvida (One Piece, Volume 1)
Hey Luffy, that's no way to treat a lady. One of the first classic Luffy battles is against the lady pirate "Iron Mace" Alvida, back before her Devil Fruit diet! This self-proclaimed beauty has been an eyesore for Koby, the Navy wannabe, and Luffy's more than ready to help cut her down to size.

Hit #2: Luffy vs. "Axe-Hand" Morgan (One Piece, Volume 1)
Zolo's been captured and tricked by the Navy, whose leader is Captain "Axe-Hand" Morgan. What's the best way of dealing with an overgrown man who has an oversized axe for a hand? A good ol' boot to the face will do the trick! Now that's what we call athlete's foot.

Hit #3: Luffy vs. Buggy the Clown (One Piece, Volumes 2 & 3)
No more clowning around for Buggy! In the past, he was part of a pirate crew with "Red-Haired" Shanks and accidentally swallowed a Devil's Fruit he was going to sell. He may look like a clown, but there's nothing funny when this guy decides to split...

Hit #4: Luffy vs. Captain Kuro (One Piece, Volumes 4 & 5)
Looks like Luffy's stuck between a rock and a hard place… Captain Kuro has been masquerading as a butler for some time in order to get his hands on an heiress's fortune. He has everyone fooled, except for Usopp, the town liar. Now it's up to Luffy and his mates to help Usopp stop Captain Kuro!

Hit #5: Luffy vs. Don Krieg (One Piece, Volumes 7 - 8)
Spiking the punch is not the right way to get a party started, right Don Krieg? Don Krieg appears out of the blue, battered and broken from his experience in the Grand Line. He gets some much needed grub from the roughest, toughest restaurant in the high seas, but his way of showing gratitude isn't exactly the most polite way of doing things...

Hit #6: Luffy vs. "Sawtooth" Arlong (One Piece, Volumes 10 & 11)
"Sawtooth"Arlong has bitten off more than he can chew… and Luffy's here to teach him some manners. After all, taking over an island and forcing the inhabitants to pay taxes they can't afford isn't very nice. And besides, Arlong's got a thief with extraordinary navigating skills working under him, something Luffy's crew sorely lacks.

Hit #7: Luffy vs. Zolo (One Piece, Volume 13)
The fighter and the swordsman square off in a good ol' fashioned brawl. What started out as a great relationship between Luffy and Zolo has deteriorated because of a simple misunderstanding. However, Luffy and Zolo aren't the types to sit down and talk things out, so they decide to settle their differences the best way they know how... with their fists!

Hit #8: Luffy vs. Dorry (One Piece, Volume 14)
Luffy's in big trouble now! He and his crew find themselves stuck on Little Garden, a mysterious island teeming with prehistoric creatures, but dinosaurs are the least of their worries when they stumble onto a century-old battle between two giants, Dorry and Broggy. And this battle is all about size!

Hit #9: Luffy vs. Mr. 3 (One Piece, Volume 14)
Is it gonna be lights out for Mr. 3? The Baroque Works agent is a sculptor with masterful taste, but Luffy isn't one to sit back and admire art from a distance. When he finds out Mr. 3 plans to turn the Straw Hats into lovely wax sculptures, Luffy decides to blow out the candle himself!

Hit #10: Luffy vs. Wapol of Tin (One Piece, Volumes 16 & 17)
Luffy brings down the house, brick by brick! These two fought once on the high seas before reaching Drum Island. Now Wapol's back at Drum Island, and he isn't very happy to find out that his castle has been inhabited by an outlaw doctor. This man's appetite has no end, but Luffy's got the perfect stomach medicine...

Don't miss out on more rockin' battles with Luffy, both in SHONEN JUMP and in the One Piece manga volumes!

Web Exclusive! Prince of Tennis Strategy Guide!

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 0:00:00 -0800

*Web Exclusive!* Prince of Tennis Strategy Guide!The regulars for Seishun Academy in Prince of Tennis are a tough bunch, led by a Nationals-level captain, a "genius" and a tennis prodigy, so we understand if your knees shake a bit at the idea of facing them. But don't worry cuz SJ got a chance to scout out Seishun, and luckily for us, Inui just happened to leave his data book out in the open! Here's our guide to each player's strengths and how you can counterattack!

RYOMA'S TWIST SERVE
The Twist Serve is a tricky move that requires putting enough topspin on the ball so that the ball "twists" straight at the opponent's body. Although the Twist Serve is difficult to return, it can be done!

Counterattack! Returning a Twist Serve requires a combination of timing and power. The trick is to hit the ball just after it bounces. Even Momo in his first match against Ryoma has a hard time at first, but once he got his timing down, he was able to return it.

Real-Life Pros! Stefan Edberg used the Twist Serve to help set up his serve-and-volley game.

TEZUKA'S ZERO SHIKI
Tezuka's Zero Shiki (drop shot) contains such an unreal amount of backspin that the ball literally rolls backward upon contact with the ground. Sadaharu puts up a pretty good fight against Tezuka, but is his "Data Tennis" enough to counter the Zero Shiki?

Counterattack! Defending against a drop shot is difficult enough, but defending against one that spins backward on the ground is almost impossible. Sadaharu is able to return Tezuka's Zero Shiki by anticipating it; however, agility and acceleration are also necessary to cover a lot of ground.

Real-Life Pros! Rafael Nadal is a master of the drop shot, a very effective shot for clay-court specialists.

FUJI'S HIGUMA OTOSHI
Out of the Triple Counters, the Higuma Otoshi, or Bear Drop, is Fuji's ultimate defense against any smash. Using a combination of timing and finesse, he is able to counter smashes by skillfully returning them over his opponent's head.

Counterattack! Since Fuji's move needed precise timing, Ryoma was able to figure out how to beat the Higuma Otoshi. By carefully aiming his smash to nick the top of the net, he was able to slightly alter the ball's trajectory without giving Fuji enough time to compensate.

Real-Life Pros! Roger Federer is one player who is capable of returning smashes effectively.

KAORU'S SNAKE
The Snake is a forehand shot with intense spin, creating the illusion that the ball's path is actually bending sideways like a snake! The shot is very effective because it forces the opponent to run around the court to return the ball, tiring him out in the process.

Counterattack! Start aerobicizing! You'll need stamina for all that running. Also, Ryoma provides the perfect blueprint on how to beat the Snake: by hitting low, deep balls that force Kaoru to bend down and exert extra energy, Ryoma is able to wear Kaoru out.

Real-Life Pros! Jimmy Connors, in a historic U.S. Open match, sent a backhand shot around the net for a winner.

MOMO'S DUNK SMASH
Starting with a skillfully timed leap to reach balls up in the air, Momo's Dunk Smash is lethal and unreturnable. The shot requires great physical strength and reach and, if done properly, can stop a rally dead in its tracks.

Counterattack! Once Momo performs his Dunk Smash, there really isn't any hope of returning it. The best way to beat Momo is to make sure he doesn't get a chance to use the smash, by keeping him deep in the baseline with powerful strokes.

Real-Life Pros! Pete Sampras has the perfect combination of strength and leaping ability to perform a flawless leaping smash.

For more great Prince of Tennis action, check out the manga volumes. They're on sale now!

DragonBall: Evolution: Wish Fulfillment

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 0:00:00 -0800

DragonBall: Evolution: Wish FulfillmentOnly two months to go. Anticipation is at 70 percent and building… DragonBall: Evolution the motion picture is almost here and raining blows all over your local multiplex screen! Goku vs. Piccolo, giant Kamehameha blasts, Shenron the dragon, Bulma fending off Yamcha's advances… We're freaking out just thinking about it!

Training and Facilitating
In DragonBall: Evolution, Goku (Justin Chatwin) is living a pretty normal teenage life, fighting off bullies and learning martial arts from his grandfather, when he learns that he's destined for something far, far greater. A series of events leads him to embark on a great quest to discover his true powers and stop Lord Piccolo (James Marsters) and his plan for world domination.

See more photos and find out more in the March issue of SHONEN JUMP!

DRAGONBALL: EVOLUTION Motion Picture © 2008 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Based on the DRAGONBALL graphic novel series created by Akira Toriyama. All rights reserved. DRAGONBALL ™ & © Bird Studio/Shueisha, Inc. All rights reserved. Screenplay by Ben Ramsey. Based on the DRAGONBALL graphic novel series created by Akira Toriyama.

Naruto Catch-Up: Generation Ninja

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 0:00:00 -0800

Naruto Catch-Up: Generation NinjaWelcome to the Naruto catch-up section! As we mentioned in the February issue, we're speeding up the manga to get closer to where the story is in Japan. To do this, we're sending the Naruto manga off on an important mission for the next two months — but don't panic! A good ninja always keeps a cool head no matter what the situation. While Naruto's away, we're going to keep you up to date with huge catch-up sections and special features in the March, April and May issues, plus we'll have our usual video game, anime, card and gear coverage. It's all part of Generation Ninja, and it will make the way you experience Naruto even better!

Manga Volume Calendar
While Naruto's away, we're going to release a whopping 11 graphic novels in three months!
February......34, 35, 36, 37
March......... 38, 39, 40, 41
April.............42, 43, 44

The Story Thus Far...

Naruto has returned from training, older and much stronger. His childhood friends have also been training and have grown up as well. Naruto's old three-man cell is no more now that their teammate Sasuke has left the village on a mission of revenge. With the help of a new member named Sai and a new leader, Captain Yamato, the team tracks Sasuke to the lair of their enemy Orochimaru, but they're unsuccessful in bringing him back. Now the gang heads back to the Village Hidden in the Leaves to regroup.

Sai Learns the Hard Way

Sai is attempting to rediscover the emotions that were wiped away by his Anbu Black Ops training. He turns to a book for advice on how to get along better with his new teammates. Thinking that a nickname will make Sakura feel special, he calls her “Homely” and gets his first lesson — a slap on the face! (Volume 35)

The Akatsuki Make Their Move

Having failed to capture Naruto and hold on to Gaara, the Akatsuki begin tracking down the other Jinchûriki — individuals who host a tailed beast. The first of the tailed beasts (or Biju) to fall is the Two-Tailed Cat Demon. Although its host puts up a fight, powerful members of the Akatsuki — Hidan and Kakuzu — take her down. (Volume 35)

You can find out more about what's going on with Naruto — and get a step-by-step guide to a Super-Rasengan, a chakra lesson and an in-depth look at the Akatsuki — pick up the March issue of SHONEN JUMP!

SHONEN JUMP Issue 75

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 0:00:00 -0800

Battle in the SkyIn Bleach, Orihime finds herself trapped between a rock and a hard place when Ulquiorra, an Arrancar, demands that she go back with him to Hueco Mundo! And don't miss this month’s news on the trading card game, anime and awesome Bleach gear!

New Manga Alert!
Treat yourselves to a manga by Hiroyuki Asada called Tegami Bachi ("letter bee") that's being serialized in SJ beginning this issue! Join letter bee Gauche Suede as he delivers a special item across a bewildering place called Amberground!

SHONEN JUMP Accelerated!
Naruto's little break from the pages of SJ starts this month, but we've got a massive catch-up section packed with info that will keep your mighty ninja hearts full. In the meantime, check out the latest in Naruto video games, trading cards, anime and stuff, plus the exclusive posters!

Free two-sided Naruto poster inside!

Free Yu-Gi-Oh! card inside!

Plus, here's what's happening in SHONEN JUMP manga!

Black Cat: Ever wonder how Train and Sven first met? Then check out this special preview!

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo: Will the flowers be cut down, or will hair be trimmed? Find out in the epic flowers vs. hair battle!

YuYu Hakusho: Trouble seems to find Yusuke, and this time it's his demon father looking for help...

One Piece: Nami finds herself in a prickly situation, but perhaps her opponent is feeling a bit under the weather...

Yu-Gi-Oh! GX: Bastion thinks he knows how to counter Jaden's deck this time, but can he pull off a win?

SHONEN JUMP

Watch the "Kakashi Chronicles" anime!

Special Kakashi Online Manga Preview!

Naruto: Hatake Kakashi: The Man, the Myth, the... Role Model?!

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Your Ticket to the Dueling Stadium

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: Capture the Glory, Again!

Shaman King: Shaman Fight Team-by-Team Rundown

Bleach: The 3rd Phantom: Lost in Limbo

Games We Love

SHONEN JUMP Issue 80

Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG: 2009 SHONEN JUMP Champion Q&A

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Duel & Play Like a Pro!

Bleach: The 3rd Phantom: Fear The Phantom!

Gin Tama: Food for... Gin's Thoughts!

Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's: Rattle Your X-Sabers!

Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3: Catch the Next Wave!

Know Your Ninja Weapons!

Yu-Gi-Oh!: Before the Card Games...

SHONEN JUMP Issue 79

One Piece Streaming Anime Plans on Hold

Pirate Flag Contest!

Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo: Real-Life Lessons from the Hair Kingdom!

Rurouni Kenshin: Samurai Code

Shippuden Showdown: Naruto's Card Battle

Naruto Shippuden Anime: Shinobi Showdown!

D.Gray-Man: The Noah's Arc

Naruto CCG: The Ninja Doctor Is In!

SHONEN JUMP Issue 78

One Piece Anime Announcement

Claymore: Waking Up On The Wrong Side

Jump Festa Diary: An Otaku Is Born!

Naruto Catch-Up Coverage: Be a Part of Generation Ninja

Monthly Manga News Extra!

Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game: Beast Warriors Are Back

Dragon Drive: Powering Up Your Dragon!

SHONEN JUMP Issue 77

*Web Exclusive!* Buso Renkin: Alchemy In Action!

*Web Exclusive!* Orihime's Benevolent Betrayal

Ultimate Ninja 4: Naruto Shippuden: The Ultimate Fighting Tips!

DragonBall Evolution: Evolve Into Action!

Dragon Ball Collectible Card Game: Master of the Universe!

Naruto Catch-Up Coverage: Be a Part of Generation Ninja

SHONEN JUMP Issue 76

July Monthly Manga News

SHONEN JUMP Myspace: JUMP ON IN!

Naruto Shippuden: Welcome to Tin Card Alley!

*Web Exclusive* Luffy's Greatest Hits!

*Web Exclusive!* Prince of Tennis Strategy Guide!

DragonBall: Evolution: Wish Fulfillment

Naruto Catch-Up: Generation Ninja

SHONEN JUMP Issue 75

Web Exclusive! Buso Renkin: Alchemy In Action!

Web Exclusive! Orihime's Benevolent Betrayal

Web Exclusive Luffy's Greatest Hits!

Web Exclusive! Prince of Tennis Strategy Guide!