Who Is Shuichi Shigeno, the Author of "MF Ghost"? An Introduction to His Major Works

"MF Ghost" is a street racing manga currently serialized in "Weekly Young Magazine" (Kodansha), featuring public road car battles as its theme. The series boasts immense popularity, with a total circulation surpassing 6.2 million copies. The first season of the anime aired from October to December 2023, followed by the second season scheduled for October to December 2024, and a third season planned for broadcast in 2026.

This article introduces the profile of manga artist Shuichi Shigeno, the creator of "MF Ghost," and provides an overview of his works to date.

What is "MF Ghost"?

"MF Ghost" is a car racing battle manga set in the near future of "Initial D," which was serialized in "Weekly Young Magazine" from 1995 to 2013. The protagonist is Kanata Katagiri (Kanata Rivington), who comes to Japan from the United Kingdom. Competing in the "MFG" races held on Japanese public roads, Kanata skillfully drives a DBA-ZN6 Toyota 86 GT (early model), fiercely contending against rivals known as the "God Fifteen," striving to be the fastest.

Who is Shuichi Shigeno, the Author of "MF Ghost"?

Shuichi Shigeno, the author of "MF Ghost," hails from Matsunoyama, Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture. Born in March 1958, he is 67 years old as of June 2025. His career began in school when he participated in doujinshi activities, leading him to become an assistant to Akira Hio, known for the manga adaptation of "Space Battleship Yamato." He subsequently debuted as a professional manga artist.

His early work includes "Oretachi Zekkouchou," published in 1981 in "Monthly Shonen Magazine" (Kodansha). From 1983 to 1991, he began his first serialized work, "Baribari Densetsu," in the same magazine, winning the Kodansha Manga Award in 1985.

After "Baribari Densetsu" ended, he created several other works before starting the serialization of "Initial D"—which shares the same world as "MF Ghost"—in 1995. Depicting the heated public road battles among street racers, "Initial D" became his most prominent and successful work.

Does Shuichi Shigeno Have a Blog or Social Media?

Although Shigeno occasionally appears in magazine interviews to share information, he does not seem to use social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, or Facebook. Important news, such as hiatuses, are announced via the official X account of the series or the official website.

A List of Shuichi Shigeno’s Major Works!

Here are the major works illustrated by Shuichi Shigeno following his debut serialization, "Baribari Densetsu":

・Baribari Densetsu (1983–1991, "Weekly Shonen Magazine," 38 volumes)
・Shuichi Shigeno Short Stories: Lyrical Night Story (1984, "Weekly Shonen Magazine," 1 volume)
・Shuichi Shigeno Short Stories: Memory Snow (1991, 1 volume)
・Tunnel Nuketara Sky Blue (1992, "Weekly Young Magazine," 1 volume published, subsequent volumes unpublished)
・Sho (1992, "Weekly Shonen Magazine," 3 volumes)
・DO-P-KAN (1992–1995, "Young Magazine," 10 volumes)
・Initial D (1995–2013, "Young Magazine," 48 volumes)
・Takane no Hana (2014, "Young Magazine," 2 volumes)
・Sailor Ace (2015–2017, "Young Magazine," 6 volumes)
・MF Ghost (2017–present, "Young Magazine," 23 volumes as of now)
*All published by Kodansha

What Is "Initial D", Which Shares the World of "MF Ghost"?

The predecessor to "MF Ghost," "Initial D," is a story about the protagonist Takumi Fujiwara, who drives his beloved Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno (commonly known as the 86 or Hachiroku), aiming to become the fastest after racing against numerous worthy opponents. The series was serialized in "Weekly Young Magazine" from 1995, spanning 48 volumes, and its total circulation surpassed 56 million copies as of December 2022.

Beyond the manga, the series saw five TV anime seasons, an anime film, five OVAs, three "New Theatrical Edition" anime films, and a live-action movie, among many other visual adaptations. It has also been developed into drama CDs, video games, web radio shows, and pachislo (slot machine games), expanding across various media.

Many tracks distributed by Avex were used for the music of the "Initial D" anime. The intense car battles with rivals blended with dance music, further enhancing the atmosphere of the story. MOTSU, a member of the music group m.o.v.e, who performed all the opening songs for the "Initial D" TV anime, has also produced songs for "MF Ghost."

As of June 2025, all seasons of the "Initial D" anime series can be streamed on platforms such as ABEMA, Amazon Prime Video, d Anime Store, and U-NEXT.

What Is "Baribari Densetsu," Another Major Work?

"Baribari Densetsu" is Shuichi Shigeno's first serialized work, which began running in "Weekly Shonen Magazine" in 1983. Depicting the coming-of-age story of high school student Gun Koma, the young protagonist challenges the world of motorcycle racing, with the story following his rise from amateur to aspiring world champion. With 38 volumes released, the series surpassed a cumulative sales total of 26 million copies by 2018. The two OVAs released in 1986 and the theatrical anime in 1987 were released in Blu-ray format for the first time in July 2023.

In the 1986 OVA and 1987 theatrical anime, idol singer Yoko Oginome voiced the heroine Ai Ito and also performed the theme songs, which became a talking point at the time.

Together with Mitsuharu Kusunoki's teenage bike manga "Aitsu to Lullaby," which ran concurrently in "Weekly Shonen Magazine," both works led the 1980s motorcycle boom. The bikes featured in both comics were the objects of aspiration among riders of their era.

Was Shuichi Shigeno Troubled by a Lack of Success After "Baribari Densetsu"?

After "Baribari Densetsu" ended, Shigeno challenged himself with genres unrelated to motor racing, such as "Tunnel Nuketara Sky Blue." However, he reportedly struggled due to a lack of reader acceptance, as shared in interviews posted online and on YouTube.

During those difficult times, a supportive editor advised him, "Since you're into cars and love motorcycles, why not draw a car-themed manga?" This advice eventually led to the creation of "Initial D." Nevertheless, he admitted to having some internal resistance, feeling it was too simplistic to switch from a motorcycle manga to a car manga. He revealed, "I was so determined that if this failed, I was ready to quit the industry," describing a sense of desperation at the time.

Summary of Shuichi Shigeno, Author of "MF Ghost"

Shuichi Shigeno, the creator of "MF Ghost," began his career with "Oretachi Zekkouchou" published in "Monthly Shonen Magazine." He won the Kodansha Manga Award for his first serialized work, "Baribari Densetsu," in 1985. With the start of "Initial D" in 1995, he attained immense popularity. Currently, he is actively serializing "MF Ghost" in "Weekly Young Magazine."

If you have yet to explore his works, why not dive into "MF Ghost," which inherits the world of his hit "Initial D"?

（C)しげの秀一・講談社／MFゴースト製作委員会

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