Volume 1

Manga Volume 1: DREAMS AND REALITY (夢と現実)

Volume One front cover

The first volume was released by Shueisha on January 5, 2009. There are about 200 pages in total, with 7 chapters of roughly 25 pages each, though the first chapter is about 50 pages. Bakuman did decently in both manga sales and Shonen Jump (Shonen Manga Magazine) rankings for the first volume.

Statistics

Japanese Release Date: January 5, 2009

English Release Date: August 3, 2010

Characters Introduced:

• Nobuhiro Mashiro
• Moritaka Mashiro

• Akito Takagi
• Miho Azuki

• Kaya Miyoshi

• Moritaka’s Family

• Ishizawa

• Niizuma Eiji (name only)

Stories Introduced:

• Sunglass Pitcher

• Double Earth: The Two Earths

Volume Rankings:

Copies Sold: Roughly 200,000 in the first two weeks Ranking: 4th, then 9th in the first two weeks

Chapters

• Page 1: Dreams and Reality: (夢と現実) August 8, 2008

• Page 2: Fool and Wise: (馬鹿と利口) August 23, 2008

• Page 3: Pen and Manuscripts: (ペンとネーム) August 30, 2008

• Page 4: Parent and Child: (親と子) September 8, 2008

• Page 5: Time and Key: (時と鍵) September 14, 2008

• Page 6: Best and Worst: (ピンとキリ) September 20, 2008

• Page 7: Smile and Blushes: (笑顔と赤面症) September 27, 2008

Summary

Introduction and Mashiro’s Uncle

The story begins with Moritaka Mashiro, an amazing artist in High School who draws the girl he loves, Miho Azuki in his math book and Akito Takagi finds it. When Mashiro demands for it back, Takagi asks him if they want to make a manga together because Mashiro is a good artist. Mashiro declines Takagi possibly because of his Mangaka uncle. He remembered his uncle only published one gag story before he died. Also, his uncle wrote letters to the girl he loved for many years and was thinking of proposing to her once, but then, she got engaged. Then, Takagi calls Mashiro, asking him to go to Azuki's house. Upon reaching Azuki’s mansion, Takagi asks if it was true that she wanted to be a voice actor. Then they tell her about their dreams to become Manga-kas. Azuki replies by saying she wants to become a voice actor. However, Mashiro accidentally asks if Azuki will marry him. Azuki accepts, but only if they accomplish their dreams.

The next day, Takagi walks with Mashiro on the way to school and asks him if his uncle was Kawaguchi Taro. Mashiro replies that Taro was just his pen name and his real name was Mashiro Nobuhiro. He died a while back; his parents believe he overworked but Mashiro says he commit suicide. Mashiro backs it up by saying he never married and was jobless for many years.

In the exams, Mashiro can't think properly and asks if he can go to the nurse's office. Then Takagi also goes to the nurse. Upon seeing Takagi, Mashiro says he's been thinking of Azuki. On the roof, Takagi says that he picked him to be the artist for his manga not for his drawing skills, but for his personality. Takagi says that people like Azuki are smart because they're sensible. She has a good personality (graceful and well-mannered) rather than Iwase (another girl) who has good grades but is very arrogant. To this, Mashiro agrees to work with him because they think alike but Takagi asks if his parents are okay with this. His mom at first, does not approve but reluctantly agrees because his father doesn't mind him being a manga-ka. Then Mashiro's grandpa gives him his uncle Nobuhiro's keys for his manga studio. Takagi and Mashiro find supplies, action figures, magazines and manuscripts in his uncle's studio. Takagi takes out some manuscripts that look like drafts. Mashiro explains that you have to draw a na-me (draft with words and pictures) for the artist, rather than just writing a script. The artist will then change it and give it to an editor.

First Steps Towards Manga and Azuki’s Mom

Takagi and Mashiro both want to draw a masculine manga (not something weak or shojo). Takagi asks if he can study some of his uncle's na-mes. Mashiro's goal is to make an anime before they’re 18 for Azuki. Mashiro sees that his uncle was working extremely hard and apologizes to his dad for believing his uncle commit suicide. The determination of his uncle persuades Mashiro to work full-heartedly; for manga and Azuki.

Mashiro finds the letters his uncle wrote to the girl he loved in a closet full of manuscripts. The last letter says that she is going to get married and that she won't write anymore after the wedding so she apologizes. Then, they find out that the girl was Azuki's mom. Takagi and Mashiro meet Azuki's mom. They tell her they are sorry for reading her letters. Then Azuki's mom admits loving Mashiro's uncle but she was too embarrassed to say anything to Nobuhiro. She believes his uncle's gag story was based on how Kawaguchi Taro felt. Mashiro tells Azuki's mom that he doesn't want Azuki to know about the letters between his uncle and her.

Mashiro has been practicing to draw using some manga pens and falls asleep in the exams. He explains the three different kinds of pens he has used.

G Pens: (The pen most manga-kas use) They’re very hard to use because the lines aren't consistent enough

Kabura Pens: (What his uncle used) They make very good lines but make the drawings have no flavor. However, they are good for backgrounds

Maru Pens: Good for very thin lines

He also says that drawing still figures are easy but it's hard to make movement, expressions, and composition. Mashiro is amazed how his uncle, who didn't use G pens or white-out, became a pro in three years. For the sake of manga, Mashiro has decided to go to Yakusa North High School because it isn't the best school so he will have more time to draw.

Drawing a Manga for Jump

Reading in Shonen Jump, they find Niizuma Eiji who one the 2nd prize in a manga contest at the age of 15. He's praised for his artwork by judges. Back in school, they remember a kid in their class called Ishizawa who loves drawing chibi-style girls. Mashiro says once you win an award, you will get an editor. Even if you lose, an editor might like it and still accept you. However, their editors are chosen for them so they might be good or bad. His uncle once said a really good editor constantly rejected a newbie artist's work. He says because of this, it led the artist to fame.

Takagi and Mashiro decide to give a manuscript not for Shonen Jump to see what their editor's opinion is. On their way to his uncle's studio, he sees Azuki. Takagi gets really shy and looks down whilst Azuki hides behind her mom. When they turned their head and saw each other, he told Takagi he felt as if they were on the same frequency.

Takagi gives him a manuscript called Double Earth: The Two Earths. It’s about the Earth and people here are just clones of the people on the real earth. ‘’“We were experimented, and thanks to us, there is no war or pollution on the real Earth”’’. Mashiro thinks it's amazing and asks if they want to publish it for Jump. Takagi has another idea called Sunglass Pitcher. It's about a student who gets hit by a baseball and goes blind but appears ten years later and wins a game with a fastball. It turns out he worked hard with his father and when everyone realizes he's blind, he has to fight against the baseball association and his rivals on the pitch. However, they decide to write Two Earths for Jump by Summer Vacation.

Miyoshi Kaya, best friends with Azuki at school, wants to talk with Takagi. She's angry because she told Takagi what Azuki wanted to be when she grew up and Takagi asked Azuki if it was true. When Miyoshi leaves, Takagi says he loves her (I think). Miyoshi goes back to Azuki. Azuki thinks Takagi likes Miyoshi because she's cute, unlike Iwase whose stuck-up. Miyoshi also wants to find out who Azuki likes. She asks Azuki but she gets really embarrassed and says she's really self conscious and blushes when she sees boys.

Meanwhile, Takagi and Mashiro are working really hard on their manga. They finish on 28/08/2008. They decide to bring over the manuscript to Shueisha (Manga Company) tomorrow. Also, Niizuma Eiji's Tezuka Award for Large Bander gets published into Jump.