The popular Gintama spinoff novel series, 3-Nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-Sensei, is set to receive a full-color, vertical-scrolling manga adaptation on Shueisha’s Jump Toon service. Titled 3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei Touuunn!!, the new manga is scheduled to launch on October 6. This adaptation comes as part of Shueisha’s expanding efforts into the vertical-scrolling digital comics market.
Diving into the Ginpachi-Sensei Universe
3-Nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-Sensei (Class 3-Z’s Teacher Ginpachi) is a comedic spinoff of Hideaki Sorachi’s hugely successful Gintama manga. The novel series, written by Tomohito Ōsaki with illustrations by Sorachi, reimagines the eccentric protagonist Gintoki Sakata as a high school teacher named Ginpachi Sakata. Set in Gintama High School, it parodies traditional Japanese school dramas like 3-Nen B-gumi Kinpachi-sensei, infusing the familiar Gintama cast with school-life antics and meta-humor.
The spinoff novel series first debuted in 2006, and has seen multiple volumes published by Shueisha under their Jump J Books imprint. The concept itself is well-known to Gintama fans, having been previously animated as short segments at the end of several Gintama anime episodes. Adding to its multimedia presence, an anime adaptation of the 3-Nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-Sensei novels is also slated to premiere on TV Tokyo in October 2025.
The Jump Toon Platform and Creative Team
The upcoming vertical-scrolling manga adaptation, 3-Nen Z-Gumi Ginpachi-Sensei Touuunn!!, will be available on Shueisha’s dedicated vertical-scrolling manga service, Jump Toon. This platform, which officially launched in 2024, represents Shueisha’s strategic entry into the rapidly growing webtoon industry, aiming to deliver full-color, smartphone-optimized reading experiences.
For this specific adaptation, Ao Suzumemura is credited with the storyboard, while Yūki Aonuma is handling the artwork. This creative team will be tasked with translating the comedic essence and visual style of the Ginpachi-Sensei novels into the unique full-color, vertical-scrolling format.
Shueisha’s Embrace of Vertical Manga
Shueisha, the venerable publisher behind Weekly Shonen Jump and numerous iconic manga titles, announced its plans for Jump Toon in 2023, with the service launching in 2024. The initiative, managed by a new subsidiary called Toon Factory, aims to both produce original vertical manga titles and adapt existing popular series into the webtoon format. This move is a clear response to the global surge in popularity of webtoons, particularly from South Korea, which has seen traditional manga publishers increasingly explore new digital reading experiences. The platform already features other adapted works, including a full-color webtoon version of Haikyuu!!
The adaptation of 3-Nen Z-gumi Ginpachi-Sensei underscores Shueisha’s commitment to diversifying its content offerings and reaching wider audiences through modern digital platforms. Fans of the chaotic humor and beloved characters of the Gintama universe can look forward to experiencing Ginpachi-sensei’s classroom antics in a vibrant new format.
