Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, the renowned character designer and animator behind the original Mobile Suit Gundam, is set to launch a new manga series titled Giniro no Michi -Handa-yama Ibun- (Silver Road -Strange Stories of the Handa Silver Mine-). The short-term series will debut in the 13th issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump magazine on March 6th, marking Yasuhiko’s first venture into the magazine.
Story of Godai Tomoatsu
The manga will focus on Godai Tomoatsu, a leading Japanese entrepreneur from the early Meiji period, and depict his efforts to revive the Handa Silver Mine, one of Japan’s major mines during the Edo period. The story will explore how Godai overcomes challenges and misunderstandings in his endeavor.
Yasuhiko’s Manga Career
Early Works
Yoshikazu Yasuhiko’s manga career began with Arion in 1979, followed by The Venus Wars in 1986.
Gundam: The Origin
In 2001, Yasuhiko launched Gundam: The Origin, a manga retelling of the original 1979 Mobile Suit Gundam series.
Inui to Tatsumi: Siberia Shuppei Hishi
Yasuhiko’s “final new series,” Inui to Tatsumi: Siberia Shuppei Hishi, ran from September 2020 to May 2024 in Kodansha’s Monthly Afternoon magazine.
From Animator to Mangaka
Early Animation Career
Yasuhiko began his animation career at Mushi Productions in 1967. He collaborated with Yoshiyuki Tomino on Nozomi in the Sun (1971), where he designed the characters.
Mobile Suit Gundam
Yasuhiko and Tomino also worked together on Space Battleship Yamato and Brave Raideen before Tomino created Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979, with Yasuhiko as the character designer.
Gundam Franchise Contributions
Yasuhiko contributed to character designs for other Gundam installments, including Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam and Mobile Suit Gundam F91. He also directed and designed the characters for Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin.
Short-Term Series
Giniro no Michi -Handa-yama Ibun- will be a short-term series, published every two weeks in Weekly Young Jump magazine.
