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Butsu Zone Oneshot!

Hello, all readers!

It’s been a long time coming, but it’s finally here! Mankin-Trad’s first Butsu Zone release! We’ve wanted to get this out for a long time, but there has been delays. But today’s the day where we get this thing out there to you!

But before you start reading our first release, let’s cover some background information!

Butsu Zone is Takei’s first success, long running manga. Well, it’s not very long, but longer than Jumbor, and that’s what really counts. Anyways, back in the summer of 1996 (I think), after the success of his manga Itako No Anna, he puts out his first oneshot into Weekly Shonen Jump, “Butsu Zone.” Everybody likes it, and then it is published in Weekly Shonen Jump. Then it goes on it’s normal chapter run for 19 chapters before being cancelled. Now, the reason it was cancelled was because it had a bit too many Buddist references. It’s not that people we’re offended by it or anything, it’s just alot of people didn’t really get all the references off-hand. Everybody loved everything else about the manga. That’s why, a few months later, Shaman King was born! Takei’s editors basically told him to tell the same story, just reduce the Buddhism alot.

Now, this isn’t the end of the story. Butsu Zone has always been the story Takei WANTED to tell. Shaman King is the story people wanted to hear. But this difference didn’t stop anybody. Towards the start of Shaman King’s “second wind” (this is the Volumes 27-30), Takei desided that he would want to bring Butsu Zone back. By now, he has the noteablity of a manga author, SK is starting to look up, and an end of the series is in sight (in his mind). So, Senju, the lead character in Butsu Zone makes a special, fully playable apperence in the Shaman King: Funbari Spirits game for PS2 in Japan (More on this game, later this month!). With this game, the SFOV music CDs were created. This is noteworthy, since Takei was able to get some of the key voice actors of SK characters in one place, and help set up for his next project; Butsu Zone Drama CDs.

The Butsu Zone Drama CDs were an interesting project. Takei didn’t really have too much backing behind getting Butsu Zone back out on the market. So, in order to create these Drama CDs, most of the start up money was out of Takei’s own pocket. Avex covered alot of production costs and such, but this was Takei’s game, and he ran with it. Like the Butsu Zone volumes, there are 3 Drama CDs. CD 1 covers the start of Volume 1 of the manga and the entire oneshot of Itako No Anna. CD 2 finishes up Volume 1 and gets into Volume 2 a bit. CD 3 picks up a bit of Volume 2, but then goes onto an alternate ending, which is different from the manga. I guess, this is how Takei wanted Butsu Zone if he could write it over again. And with that note, we all thought that Butsu Zone was basically put to a rest. But we we’re proved wrong…

With the release of the Jyuki Ningen Jumbor Volume in Japan, there was an annoucement. “Butsu Zone; two complete volumes! Coming Soon!” So, Butsu Zone isn’t over yet. On July 18th, 2007, there will be 2 reprint volumes of Butsu Zone released in Japan. Orginally it was 3 volumes, but each volume had a oneshot at the end of it. So, we are assuming that all these oneshots will be removed, and this should condense to 2 volumes worth. Since these are reprints, we believe it will stick to the orginal ending. But there is always room for more stuff to be added! Once these volumes are released, I’ll have more info.
Butsu Zone Oneshot
Now, I’ll present to you, the manga oneshot that started Butsu Zone, Shaman King, Jyuki Ningen Jumbor, and basically Takei’s entire career…. the Butsu Zone One shot!

Also, Takei is in France right now. Like literally, right now. He has a Q&A session later today. If you want to know more, come visit the Mankin-Trad Forums! You need to be registered in order to post. Also, a new Shaman King chapter, next Friday. Once yuya replies to my e-mail, I will know more.