The year 2001 became a huge year for the Shaman King franchise. With an anime adaptation airing, tons of new products started coming out for the franchise. Now with it being more than just a manga series, the stress and complexity of maintaining all of these projects begins to take it’s toll on Hiroyuki Takei.
Within Weekly Shonen Jump, on the “Table of Contents” page located at the back of the magazine, each author can leave a short comment to their fans. Below is a transcription of the original Japanese text along with a rough English translation. For some of these comments, we are also providing some additional information/context. There may be some minor errors. The comments listed here are for the ones where the issue # for Weekly Shonen Jump was for 2000.
| Issue # | Release Date (MM/DD/YY) | Shaman King Chapter # | Author Comment (Japanese) | Author Comment (English) | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12/4/00 | 116 | 別府温泉に行きたい。 でもさすがに普段の休みじゃ行けない。 正月は別府にするかな。 | I want to go to the Beppu Onsen. But as expected, I can’t go on a normal holiday. Maybe I can go to Beppu over New Year’s. | |
| 2 | 12/11/00 | 117 | 来年こそは、絶対ガレージを仕事場にしたい。 横田基地か所沢あたりで。車並べる。 | Next year I want to use my garage as a workshop. Just like the Yokota Air Base or Tokorozawa. Line up the cars. | Tokorozawa is in reference to the “Tokorozawa Aviation Museum“ |
| 3-4 | 12/18/00 | 118 | 今まで一度も経験がないのに、何故か入院している夢を見た。 しかもすっぱだかで。 | I had a dream that I was hospitalized for some reason, even though I never have been before. It felt very real. | |
| 5-6 | 1/4/01 | 119 | 21世紀あけましておめでとう。今世紀はより一層がんばりますので、どうぞよろしく。 | Happy New Year to you from the 21st Century. I will do my best in this century, so please look forward to it. | |
| 7 | 1/15/01 | 120 | 夜明けの日光。 華厳の滝へ。 朝日とフランシス・レイのいろは坂、超ハマッてメロ。 | Was in Nikkō at dawn. At Kegon Falls. On a Sunday morning drive on Irohazaka playing Francis Lai is super great. | Nikkō is a small city in Tochigi Prefecture. The Irohazaka is a road outside of that city. Francis Lai was a French composer who has 131 film music credits and had 4 albums released in Japan. |
| 8 | 1/22/01 | 121 | みんな正月はおせ度べた！? っていうか好き? 僕は未だにカズノコしか食べれんね | Was everyone excited for New Years? Do you still like it? I just only eat Kazunoko | Kazunoko is Herring Roe |
| 9 | 1/29/01 | 122 | 作年ラストの仕事場。15人状態で超楽しかった。 全員忘年会待う。またやろう米年。 | Last day in the office for the year. It was super fun with 15 people. Everyone is ready for the year-end party. Let’s do it again. | |
| 10 | 2/5/01 | 123 | 池袋サンシャインで「世界の生きたフクロウ展」見てきた。池袋だけに生けらしい。 | I went to see the “World’s Living Owl Exhibition” at Ikebukuro Sunshine. It seems that Ikebukuro is the only place to see it. | |
| 11 | 2/10/01 | 124 | 日光江戸村行って、鬼武者解いて、すっかりそんなムードに包まれた一週間でござった | I went to Edo Wonderland, then played Onimusha, so I was completely in that mood for a week. | “Edo Wonderland” official English name for “Nikko Edomura”. “Onimusha” released on Jan 25, 2001 |
| 12 | 2/19/01 | 125 | 遅ればせながらやっと手元に皆さんの年賀状が届きました。況山応援メラ感謝です。 | While a little late, I have finally have all of your New Year’s cards in my hands. Thank you for your support. | |
| 13 | 2/26/01 | 126 | 歯医者に行くたんびに思うけどあの診療台って、モデラーには最適ですよね。欲し。 | Every time I go to the dentist, I think that the examination chair is perfect for modelers. Want. | |
| 14 | 3/5/01 | 127 | ものっそい好きな尾玉なみえ先生からパイン色紙を頂いてしまった。秘宝にします。 | I got an autographed board from Namie Odama, who I’m a big fan of. I will treasure it. | Nami Odama is Japanese gag manga artist and at the time was creating Junjō Pine (純情パイン) |
| 15 | 3/12/01 | 128 | すっかり春ですね。オープンドライブが最高に気持ちいい休日を過ごしております。 | Spring is almost here. We spend our holidays out on the open road. | |
| 16 | 3/19/01 | 129 | 200羽の梟を見に富士国際花園へ行ってきました。 雪解けの富士の中に楽園があった。 | I saw 200 owls at the Fuji Kachoen Garden Park. It’s a paradise near Mt. Fuji after the snow melts. | Article about the park from 2015 by Japan Travel. |
| 17 | 3/26/01 | 130 | 熱海駅前のレストランフルヤは味も内装も超70’s。 チキンライスは感動ものです。 | Restaurant Furuya in front of Atami Station has a very 70s style décor. The Chicken Rice was impressive. | |
| 18 | 4/2/01 | 131 | 修善寺・独鈷の湯にてヒッピー系不思議カメラマンに出会う。古いポラロイドで写真を撮ってくれました。 | I met a strange hippie photographer at Tokko no Yu in Shuzenji. He took my photo with an old Polaroid. | Tokko no Yu in Shuzenji official website |
| 19 | 4/9/01 | 132 | 熱川バナナワニ園は箱庭的景観が好き。バイオハザード感覚で歩くと、超ハマります。 | I love how the miniature garden scenery at the Atagawa Bananawani Park. It’s awesome to pretend you’re in Resident Evil when you walk around. | The videogame Resident Evil is called “Biohazard” (バイオハザード) in Japan had multiple games released by 2001. |
| 20 | 4/16/01 | On break | |||
| 21-22 | 4/23/01 | 133 | 俺の寝相が原因で物が倒れ、流血の惨事に。 生まれて初めて救 急車呼んだ。ショック。 | I was sleeping on the floor and something fell over, and caused a bloodbath. For the first time in my life, I called an ambulance. Shocked. | |
| 23 | 5/7/01 | 134 | という訳でアニメになります。恥ずかしいけど俺もがんばるので、 漫画井々応援よろしくお願いします | So it’s going to be an anime. It’s embarrassing, but I’ll continue to do my best here, so please continue to support the manga too. | The Shaman King anime began broadcasting on July 4, 2001. |
| 24 | 5/14/01 | 135 | いつも頑張ってくれているスタッフに感謝の意を込め、皆で別府温泉行ってきました。 | In order to show my gratitude for my staff, we all went to the Beppu Onsen. | |
| 25 | 5/21/01 | 136 | 梅雨ですね。キリンジの似合う季節になりました。雨の日は外に飛び出したい衝動にかられず部屋で落ちつけるので、割と好き | It’s the rainy season. This is the season to best listen to Kirinji. I like these rainy days because I can relax in my room without the urge to go outside. | The band “Kirinji” (キリンジ) formed in 1996. |
| 26 | 5/28/01 | 137 | マンションの庭の一本の木に、突然、大量のミツバチが来ました。 巣を作るようです。 | A large number of bees, suddenly, rushed out of a nearby garden tree into our apartment house. It seems they wanted to build a nest. | |
| 27 | 6/4/01 | 138 | 仕事場恒例の誕生P交換。今年も俺の番がきた。皆、嫌な物くれるのうまくなったなあ | It was the annual birthday present exchange at work. It was my time again. Everyone has gotten better at giving weird gifts. | |
| 28 | 6/11/01 | 139 | 今さらながら「うるるとさらら」のアイツ名前なんて言うのか? 歌とか好き。 おま。 | I know it’s late to ask now, but what’s the guy’s name for “Ururu Sarara?” I like the song. Yeah. | One of the TV ads for Daikin room air conditioners. |
| 29 | 6/18/01 | 140 | プレステの「ジョジョ」 すんごいね。 ポリゴンであの佇まいさえ再現するとは。 動です | “Jojo” on the PlayStation is amazing. I didn’t know they could even replicate the style with polygons. It’s dynamic. | “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” released on the PlayStation in Japan on October 14, 1999 and re-released in the Capcom Collection on January 25, 2001. |
| 30 | 6/25/01 | 141 | レゴの産地デンマークは世界最古の秘宝館もあるらしい。 俺のストライク国家かも。 | The birthplace of Lego, Denmark, is also the home of the world’s oldest exotic museum. This might be on my go-to list of countries. | |
| 31 | 7/2/01 | 142 | 私の大リスペクトする西岸良平先生の「たんぽぽさんの詩」が再販されましたイェーイ。皆もこれ読んで優しい気持ちになろう | Ryohei Nishigishi, who I greatly respect, has re-released “Dandelion-san’s Poem”. Let’s all read it and feel the kindness! | The Shaman King anime began it’s broadcast this week. |
| 32 | 7/9/01 | 143 | あのエアコンのキャラの名前やっとわかった。 うるるでもさ ららでもないのだよ | I finally found out that name of that air conditioner character. He’s not Ururu, nor Sarara | The Daikin “Ururu Sarara” was a line of the room air conditioners. The mascot was named in 2003 to “Pichon-kun.” |
| 33 | 7/16/01 | 144 | デビュー以来、6年間担当をつとめた小池氏が異動します。今まで本当にありがとう。 | Mr. Koike, who has been in charge of me for 6 years since my debut will be moving on. Thank you very much for all of your support. | |
| 34 | 7/23/01 | 145 | そして新担当の井上氏、こんな僕ですが、これからはどうぞよろしくおねがいします。 | And Mr. Inoue, who is now in charge of me, please take care of us going forward. | |
| 35 | 7/30/01 | 146 | 引越ししたらの木がボーボーなので、チェーンソー買いに行ってきます。 これから。 | When I moved, the trees were very shabby, so I need to buy a chainsaw. Going now. | |
| 36-37 | 8/6/01 | 147 | うちのインコが言藁を党えました。ひとりでブチブチしゃべってて気持ち悪いです…。 | My parakeet has learned some words. Now it doesn’t feel like I’m talking to myself anymore…. | |
| 38 | 8/20/01 | 148 | 御殿場 F 美術館へ行ってきた。そこにたたずむ様はまるで仏像の如く神秘的だったよ。 | I went to the Gotemba Ferrari Museum of Art. The way they are presented is mysterious, like statues of Buddha. | The museum closed in March 2008. VeloceToday has an article from their visit in 2002. |
| 39 | 8/27/01 | 149 | ン・マ一一イパスタの店発見。でも、諏訪湖付近なんだよな。まあいいや。 またい湖。 | Mmm… I discovered an Italian pasta shop. But it’s near Lake Suwa. Whatever. It’s another lake. | |
| 40 | 9/3/01 | 150 | 郡山の動物 R「メヒコ」外装も内装も味も動物も超素敵でした。布張り壁は永遠の夢。 | The Animal Restaurant “Mehico” in Koriyama is super nice on the outside, inside, along with the food and animals. The upholstered walls were visualizing a dream. | Officially called “Mehico“, as a localization of “Mexico.” Trip Advisor has some photos of the place. |
| 41 | 9/10/01 | On break | |||
| 42 | 9/17/01 | 151 | 今吏だがアニメのうち入りなるものに行き、やっと関係者みんなに会えました。 遅い? | I finally went to the anime production and was able to meet everyone involved. Was I too late? | |
| 43 | 9/22/01 | 152 | ヤボ用であの歌詞の続きを書きました。 我ながらいい出来。 ほんのり転職を考えたり。 | I wrote some more lyrics while I was running errands. That was some good work. Maybe I should change professions. | |
| 44 | 10/1/01 | 153 | 国同士考え方が遡っても世界中の人達にとって一番大切なのは家族ってこと一緒だと愚う。 | No matter how far back the history of a country may go, the most important thing for everyone on earth is to be a family. | |
| 45 | 10/6/01 | 154 | 前にアシやってたT君、某誌連載決定おめでとう。大変だけど、まぁお互いがんばろうぜ | Congratulations to my former assistant, T-kun, for being serialized in a certain magazine. It’s a lot of work, but let’s both do our best. | |
| 46 | 10/15/01 | 155 | 新ランボ、DはともかくV吸気孔に胸キュン。 どこまでも愛形に強いこの身の辛さ。 | The new Lambo, besides the design, I’m very excited about the V-intake vent. I’d endure any pain to have a form that looks that cool. | |
| 47 | 10/22/01 | 156 | 行ってきましたJFイン名古屋。 カラーと風邪でかなりやばめでしたが楽しかった！ありがとみんな | I went to the Jump Festa in Nagoya. I was pretty sick and discolored, but it was fun! Thanks everyone. | |
| 48 | 10/29/01 | 157 | JF行った人及び林原様ごめんなさい！！！ 例の話ズレました（泣）もう少しだけ… 持って… | I’m sorry I wasn’t able to attend Jump Festa with Hayashibara-sama!!! I was just really busy (cry). Just have a little… more to go… | |
| 49 | 11/5/01 | 158 | 一か月以上続いた風邪がようやく鎮☆静☆化。最近は頭痛とのど痛程度ですので楽勝。 | The cold I’ve been fighting over the last month has finally ☆ calmed ☆ down! Now it’s just a headache and a sore throat, so I’m doing better. | |
| 50 | 11/12/01 | 159 | 近々取材のためまた恐山行ってきます。久々なので夷はチョッビリワクワクしてます。 | I’ll be going to Osorezan again soon for some research. It’s been a long time since I’ve been there, so I’m a little excited. | |
| 51 | 11/19/01 | 160 | 車！追突されて速度遊反切れるてBあがって立ち往生！?全て初めてにして一日の出来事。 | Car! When I was out driving, I was hit in a rear-end collision that somehow killed my battery!? This was the first time this has ever happened to me. | |
| 52 | 11/26/01 | On break |
Contributions:
- The Grand Line for actual Weekly Shonen Jump release dates.
- 咲良さくら, Dit, 晴, Clover, Stacey, Elliot Têtedoie for Japanese transcription assistance