Masashi Kishimoto

Masashi Kishimoto is globally recognized for creating the iconic ‘Naruto’ manga series, which has sold over 250 million copies worldwide. Kishimoto’s professional career began with the submission of his manga pilot, ‘Karakuri,’ to Shueisha in 1995. This effort earned him an honorable mention in Shueisha’s monthly ‘Hop Step Award’ in 1996, marking his formal entry into the manga industry. He then published a one-shot version of ‘Naruto’ in Akamaru Jump Summer in 1997.

In 1998, he debuted a serialized version of ‘Karakuri’ in Weekly Sh?nen Jump, though it was subsequently canceled. Kishimoto achieved a significant breakthrough when the serialized version of ‘Naruto’ premiered in Weekly Sh?nen Jump in September 1999. The series rapidly gained immense popularity, running for over 15 years and concluding on November 10, 2014, with 700 chapters compiled into 72 volumes. ‘Naruto’ became a global phenomenon, adapted into two anime series, multiple films, video games, and extensive related media.

In 2019, Kishimoto launched a new original manga series, ‘Samurai 8: The Tale of Hachimaru.’ Demonstrating his continued dedication to the ‘Naruto’ universe, he took over full writing duties for the ‘Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’ manga in 2020, solidifying his role in shaping the future of the beloved franchise.