Explanation of "Attack on Titan" Author Hajime Isayama! How to Read His Name, Hometown, and New Work?

"Attack on Titan" is a manga by Hajime Isayama that was serialized in Kodansha's "Bessatsu Shonen Magazine" from September 2009 to April 2021. Including digital books, the cumulative number of published comics has surpassed 140 million copies worldwide, becoming a massive hit. It has been adapted into an anime and movie, and has also seen diverse multimedia expansions such as games and live-action films.

In this article, we focus on Hajime Isayama, the author of "Attack on Titan." We explain the roots of Isayama, including how to read his name and his birthplace, as well as why he is hailed as a genius by the public. Additionally, we cover readers' questions like "Is the next work decided?" and "When will it be serialized?" alongside comments following the conclusion of the anime "Attack on Titan" The Final Season final part aired on November 4, 2023.

What is "Attack on Titan"?

"Attack on Titan" is the story of a world where “Titans” that prey on humans exist. The protagonist, Eren Jaeger, who was born and raised within the massive three walls (Wall Maria/Rose/Sina), which keep Titans out, encounters a scene of a Colossal Titan breaking the wall with his childhood friends Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlelt.

After witnessing his mother being devoured before his eyes, Eren vows to eradicate every single Titan from this world and joins the military organization within the walls (training corps). Later, he is assigned to the Survey Corps, where he risks his life to fight and slay Titans together with Mikasa, Armin, and other comrades.

The manga concluded with the May issue of "Bessatsu Shonen Magazine," released on April 9, 2021. Meanwhile, the anime "Attack on Titan" started airing on TV in April 2013, followed by Season 2, Season 3, The Final Season Part 1 and Part 2, and finally, The Final Season conclusion, front and back parts.

Introduction to "Attack on Titan" Author Hajime Isayama

Whether it's a pen name or real name is not specified, but it is said that the surname "Isayama" originates from the current Fukuoka or Oita prefecture.

Basic Information of "Attack on Titan" Author Hajime Isayama 【Profile】

Born on August 29, 1986, Hajime Isayama is 36 years old (as of September 2022). He hails from Hita City, Oita Prefecture (formerly Oyama Town). After attending the electrical department of Oita Prefectural Hita Forestry High School, he graduated from the Manga Department of Kyushu Designer Gakuin.

In 2006, he received an honorable mention for "Attack on Titan" at Kodansha's MGP (Magazine Grand Prix). In 2008, he won the Special Encouragement Award at the 80th Weekly Shonen Magazine Newcomer Manga Award for "HEART BREAK ONE." That same year, he debuted in "Magazine SPECIAL" with "orz," which won the 81st Weekly Shonen Magazine Newcomer Manga Award. The following year, in 2009, he began serializing "Attack on Titan" in "Bessatsu Shonen Magazine." The work won the 35th Kodansha Manga Award in the youth category in 2011.

When Isayama initially entered Kyushu Designer Gakuin, it is said that his father opposed him becoming a manga artist. However, when he decided to move to Tokyo after graduating from Kyushu Designer Gakuin to seriously pursue a career in manga, his father seemed happy.

Where is Hajime Isayama's Hometown?

Isayama is from Hita City, Oita Prefecture (formerly Oyama Town). Until he was 19, when he moved to a city to pursue his dream of becoming a manga artist, he lived in a land surrounded by nature.

In his official blog, Isayama expressed his feelings at that time: "I felt cramped in this town surrounded by mountains like walls, and it's akin to the action principle of the protagonist of Attack on Titan, which is something like 'Someday I will leave the outer wall and see the broad world.'" It is strongly suggested that Isayama's hometown significantly influenced the setting of "Attack on Titan."

In his hometown, a variety of collaboration projects with "Attack on Titan" are being held. Here are a few to introduce, including past collaboration examples.

・"Attack on Titan Collaboration Plum Wine" by Oyama Dream Factory Co., Ltd.

In 2014, from Oyama Town, Hita City, Oita Prefecture, Oyama Dream Factory Co., Ltd. released "Attack on Titan Collaboration Plum Wine." It's characterized by plum wine with a flavor matched to the characters' images and an original label. It also uses plums cultivated at Isayama's family plum farm as raw materials. Even now, it is available for purchase at the official online shop of Yumehibiki Matured Authentic Plum Wine.

・Statues of Eren, Mikasa, Armin's Childhood at the Front of Oyama Dam, Oyama Town, Hita City

In front of the Oyama Dam in Oyama Town, Hita City, statues from the first project of a crowdfunding-funded bronze statue project—featuring the childhood of Eren Jaeger, Mikasa Ackerman, and Armin Arlelt—are erected. Their gaze up at the wall surface of Oyama Dam, posing as Wall Maria, looks like one scene from the work. At the foot of the statue lies Isayama's handprints.

・Captain Levi Statue at Hita Station Square

As the second bronze statue project, one of the most popular characters in "Attack on Titan", the "Captain Levi Statue" of Levi Ackerman, is situated at Hita Station Square.

・Attack on Titan in HITA Museum

At "Attack on Titan in HITA Museum" in Oyama Town, Hita City, many valuable original art and videos of "Attack on Titan" are exhibited, along with works from Isayama's childhood and youth.

・Attack on Titan in HITA Museum ANNEX

As the annex of "Attack on Titan in HITA Museum," it opened on the premises of Sapporo Breweries Kyushu Hita Plant on August 20, 2023. It exhibits reproduced original drawings (with comments) of volumes 1 through 34 selected by Isayama, along with photos and works from his childhood, large wall collages, panels, tapestries, and more.

Furthermore, starting from November 18, 2023, a new exhibition "Immersive Comic" kicked off. Various famous scenes are projected onto three giant screens, allowing visitors to fully experience the world of "Attack on Titan" with dynamic grandeur.

What Are Hajime Isayama's Royalties Like?

"Attack on Titan" is read by many people internationally. Just how large are the royalties? We predicted an estimated amount based on the number of printings and royalty rate.

The number of published copies, as of December 25, 2019, is assumed to be 100 million. The rate varies by career and publisher, but an average of 8-12% is said to be standard. Assuming a 10% royalty, it would amount to 100 million copies x 495 yen (for one comic volume, tax included) x 10% = 4.95 billion yen. By November 2023, when total cumulative published copies worldwide exceeded 140 million, it amounts to 6.93 billion yen.
*Conditions for overseas editions differ, hence calculations for Japanese conditions were used here.

Even from just royalties, it amounts to a massive sum, and other earnings include original usage fees for anime and film adaptations, and license fees from various character merchandise sales. When combined, it's likely that the total surpasses what was calculated above.

Why Is Hajime Isayama Called a Genius?

Isayama is often hailed as a 'genius' on social media. One reason is the intricate foreshadowing woven throughout the series. Some foreshadowings set up in the first chapter were resolved over 10 years later. "Attack on Titan" readers often shared comments like "Only someone as brilliant as Isayama-sensei can create such plot twists." or "Isayama-sensei is a genius for beautifully resolving numerous foreshadowings."

The fact that his debut work became an explosive hit is another reason he is called a genius. When Isayama brought the one-shot manga, which became the prototype for "Attack on Titan," to Weekly Shonen Magazine’s editorial department, he was just a 19-year-old student. It's rare for a debut work to become a hit, and in interviews, he stated, "It feels like a temporary dream, living in an abnormal state for about eight years."

Isayama's Reaction to the Anime's Final Episode?

To commemorate the airing of the final part of the final season, a comment from Isayama was released on the anime's official site just before the broadcast.

Thank you so much for accompanying us for ten long years since the TV anime adaptation.
The climax scene, corresponding to the conclusion (part two), was also challenging in the original work, so
"I bet MAPPA has it tough. I imagine MAPPA is wishing they wouldn't have to do it.
I'm sorry, MAPPA. Really sorry," I thought while being excited about how it would be expressed in the anime.
Also, I had the chance to slightly redraw a part at the very end as per my wish.
Please watch it to the very end.

Furthermore, after the broadcast concluded, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the "Attack on Titan" anime posted a newly drawn illustration and a comment by Isayama to commemorate the series' conclusion. The illustration shows the fighting figures of Armin, Eren, and Mikasa, with words of gratitude to the fans who have enjoyed the "Attack on Titan" anime so far.

What About Hajime Isayama's New Work? Is There a Draft for the Next Work?

As mentioned earlier, the final chapter of "Attack on Titan" was published in the May 2021 issue of "Bessatsu Shonen Magazine," released on April 9, 2021. The last volume, 34, was released on June 9, 2021. Since then, until November 2023, there have been no substantial updates from the author about his next work.

Shintaro Kawakubo, the editor of "Attack on Titan," said in an interview, "There are no plans to start discussions (about the next work). I believe there won't even be a discussion for at least a year."

It is uncertain whether Isayama is taking a well-deserved rest after a lengthy serialization or possibly considering his next work. Readers are surely eagerly awaiting an announcement of Isayama’s new work.

Summary of Hajime Isayama, Author of "Attack on Titan"

"Attack on Titan" crosses generations and borders, loved widely. We've shared information about Hajime Isayama, the creator of this mega-hit.

Along with the final part of the anime "Attack on Titan" final season conclusion, how about revisiting the original "Attack on Titan" comics by Hajime Isayama?

(C)諫山創・講談社／「進撃の巨人」The Final Season製作委員会

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