Buronson

, known by the pen names and , is a Japanese manga writer. Making his debut in 1972, he first found success with the hardboiled detective manga series Doberman Deka (1975–1979) alongside illustrator Shinji Hiramatsu. He is best-known for creating the post-apocalyptic martial arts series Fist of the North Star (1983–1988) with artist Tetsuo Hara, which is one of the best-selling manga in history with over 100 million copies in circulation. He has since worked with Ryoichi Ikegami on several series, including Heat (1998–2004), which won the 2002 Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga. Buronson received a Special Award at the 2021 Saito Takao Awards for his continued contributions to manga, including his training of younger artists.

Early life and career Buronson was born on June 16, 1947, in Saku, Nagano. He was the youngest of six children in a farming family. In 2017, he established a scholarship program in his hometown.

After leaving junior high school, Buronson entered the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to escape poverty. He made his manga writing debut in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1972 with the one-shot Gorō-kun Tōjō, illustrated by Yō Hasebe. He was credited by the pen name Buronson, a nickname given to him by colleagues at Motomiya's studio after they all saw the film Adieu l'ami and felt he was similar to its actor Charles Bronson. He began his first serial, Crime Sweeper with Gorō Sakai in 1973. Its title was later changed to Pink! Punch! Miyabi. Also as Fumimura, he started the baseball manga Daiki no Mound for Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 1977 with Kenji Iwasaki. When he also began the Self-Defense Force manga Phantom Burai in Shōnen Sunday Zōkan in 1978 with Kaoru Shintani, he was writing three series simultaneously for three different publishers. The following year he started Rettō 198X with Hajime Oki in the same magazine and serialized both at the same time. He worked with Yuzuki again on Maji da yo!! (1987–1988) for Monthly Shōnen Jump. From 2001–2010, Hara created a seinen prequel in Weekly Comic Bunch, Fist of the Blue Sky, that Buronson supervised and gave advice on. Heat earned them the 2002 Shogakukan Manga Award for general manga. At Ikegami's request, the author used Sho Fumimura for Sanctuary and Odyssey, and Buronson for Strain and Heat. In 2010, Buronson teamed up with Daichi Matsuse for the manga Full Swing in Monthly Shonen Sunday. He and Ikegami then wrote a sequel to Lord, Soul Lord 2 (2011–2013), before creating Rokumonsen Rock (2013–2015). As Fumimura, the author worked with Yuka Nagate on Silencer (2012–2014) about a hitwoman, and with Ikegami on Begin (2016–2020). Buronson and Shiro Yoshida launched the series Too Beat in Big Comic Zōkan on May 17, 2021.

Works

As Buronson

Doberman Deka (1975–1979, 18 volumes, art by Shinji Hiramatsu)

Fist of the North Star (1983–1988, 27 volumes, art by Tetsuo Hara)

Japan (1992, 1 volume, art by Kentaro Miura)

Strain (1996–1998, 5 volumes, art by Ryoichi Ikegami)

Heat (1998–2004, 17 volumes, art by Ryoichi Ikegami)

Fist of the Blue Sky (2001–2010, 22 volumes, advisor only, story and art by Tetsuo Hara)

G -Gokudo Girl- (2002–2004, 5 volumes, art by Hidenori Hara) Lord (2004–2011, 22 volumes, art by Ryoichi Ikegami) Dog Law (2008–2009, art by Atsushi Kamijo) Full Swing (2010–2012, art by Daichi Matsuse)

Shin Doberman Deka (2012–2013, 2 volumes, art by Shinji Hiramatsu)

Too Beat (2021–present, art by Shiro Yoshida)

As Sho Fumimura

Astronauts (1984–1988, art by Hajime Oki)

Shogun (1988–1991, art by Jūzō Tokoro)

Sanctuary (1990–1995, 12 volumes, art by Ryoichi Ikegami)

G-Hard (1998–1999, art by Juzo Tokoro)

Silencer (2012–2014, art by Yuka Nagate) Begin (2016–2020, art by Ryoichi Ikegami)