Weekly Shonen Sunday

Also known as 週刊少年サンデー [Shukan Shonen Sande]

Weekly Shonen Sunday
November 20, 1975

Weekly Shonen Sunday is a weekly manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan.

When Kodansha launched the first weekly manga magazine devoted to young boys, Weekly Shonen Magazine on Tuesday, March 17, 1959, rival publisher Shogakukan was quick to counter, and Weekly Shonen Sunday hit the stands on Sunday, April 5, 1959.

Strangely enough, despite its title, Weekly Shonen Sunday is published on Wednesdays, with the “Sunday” meant to make readers have the feeling of a relaxing weekend (presumably reading manga).

Osamu Tezuka’s feature, Dr. Thrill (1959) kicked off the magazine’s publication, and over the years it has been home to many of Tezuka’s important adventure series, such as Wonder 3 (1965-66), and the first parts of both Vampires (1966-69), and Dororo (1967-69).

A sister-publication to Weekly Shonen Sunday, known as Best Shonen Sunday was also published from Spring 1960 to Spring 1974. Initially published quarterly, it switched to a monthly release beginning with the December 1964 issue. It’s last issue was March 1974, when it was cancelled due to sluggish sales and the paper shortage caused by the 1973 oil crisis. It is home to a few of Tezuka’s lesser-known short stories.