Act-Age (Japanese: アクタージュ, Hepburn: Akutāju) is a Japanese manga series written by Tatsuya Matsuki and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki. It was serialized in Shueisha's Weekly Shōnen Jump from January 2018 to August 2020, with its chapters collected into 12 tankōbon volumes. Act-Age was canceled and removed from the magazine and all official platforms after Matsuki's arrest in August 2020.
Act-Age | |
アクタージュ (Akutāju) | |
---|---|
Genre | Drama[1] |
Manga | |
Written by | Tatsuya Matsuki |
Illustrated by | Shiro Usazaki |
Published by | Shueisha |
English publisher | |
Imprint | Jump Comics |
Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Jump |
English magazine |
|
Demographic | Shōnen |
Original run | January 22, 2018 – August 11, 2020 |
Volumes | 12 |
Viz Media published the first three chapters for its "Jump Start" initiative and then the series was simultaneously published from December 2018, after a restructuring of the English Shonen Jump. Shueisha also published the series in English and Spanish on their Manga Plus platform from January 2019 to August 2020.
Plot
editThe story focuses on Kei Yonagi, a high school girl who strives to become an actress. She lives with her two younger siblings, after their father left them and their mother died. Kei has an extreme talent for method acting, to the point where she loses track of reality while acting. At an audition, some speculate that acting of this intensity could be self-destructive, and cite that as a reason for not accepting her. However, Kei catches the eye of the highly acclaimed director Sumiji Kuroyama, who steps forward with the intent of bringing out her full potential.
Characters
edit- Kei Yonagi (夜凪 景, Yonagi Kei)
- A high school girl who finds herself raising her younger siblings, Rui and Rei, on her own, after their father left them and their mother died. She has an innate talent for method acting, in which she uses memories from her own past to fully get into the role. However, her approach is extremely immersive, to the point where she gets lost in the role and becomes unable to distinguish fiction and reality.
- Sumiji Kuroyama (黒山 墨字, Kuroyama Sumiji)
- Director and the founder of Studio Daikokuten. He is famous overseas for his awards in various film festivals, but he is not as well known in Japan.
- Yuki Hiiragi (柊 雪, Hiiragi Yuki)
- Assistant director and filmmaker at Studio Daikokuten who works with Kuroyama. She is also a production manager and a talent manager for the studio.
- Chiyoko Momoshiro (百城 千世子, Momoshiro Chiyoko)
- Nicknamed "the Angel", a famous actor from the Stars Agency.
- Arisa Hoshi (星 アリサ, Hoshi Arisa)
- Founder and CEO of the Stars Agency.
- Akira Hoshi (星 アキラ, Hoshi Akira)
- Actor from the Stars Agency and the son of Arisa Hoshi.
- Araya Myojin (明神 阿良也, Myōjin Araya)
- A skilled stage play actor.
Media
editManga
editAct-Age was written by Tatsuya Matsuki and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki . It was serialized in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump from January 22, 2018,[2][3] to August 11, 2020.[4][5] Shueisha collected the chapters into twelve individual tankōbon volumes, released from May 2, 2018,[6] to July 3, 2020.[7]
On August 8, 2020, it was reported that Matsuki was arrested for allegedly approaching and inappropriately touching two female middle school students in June of that same year.[8][9] Editors from Weekly Shōnen Jump stated that they would be taking the matter seriously.[10] It was later announced that the series would immediately end publication, with the chapter released on August 11 being the last one.[5][11] On August 17, 2020, it was announced that Shueisha has suspended all sales of the manga, and that volume 13 and further volumes have been canceled.[12] On August 24, 2020, Shiro Usazaki issued a statement expressing sympathies for the victims and did not want the manga to be a work that triggers similar reactions from the victims, considering the cancellation to be appropriate. Despite regrets of having to end the manga mid-way, Usazaki urged fans of the series not to harass or blame the victims.[13][14] On September 16, 2020, Matsuki was formally indicted for the second of the two indecent acts committed;[15] Matsuki's sentencing was held on December 23 of that same year. The Tokyo District Court handed Matsuki a guilty verdict and a sentence of one year and six months in prison suspended for three years (Matsuki would not serve his sentence if he remained on good behavior for three years).[16]
Viz Media published the first three chapters for its "Jump Start" initiative and then began to simultaneously publish the series in December 2018 after a restructuring of the English Shonen Jump. Shueisha also simultaneously published in English the series on the app and website Manga Plus starting in January 2019.[17][18] Following Matsuki's arrest in August 2020, Viz Media and Manga Plus decided to not publish the series' final chapter on their platforms.[5][19] In October 2019, Viz Media announced the print release of the manga;[20] the first two volumes were released on July 7 and September 1, 2020, respectively.[21][22] Following Matsuki's arrest, Viz Media removed its listing of further volumes.[19]
Volumes
editNo. | Original release date | Original ISBN | English release date | English ISBN | ||
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1 | May 2, 2018[6] | 978-4-08-881483-4 | July 7, 2020[21] | 978-1-9747-0996-0 | ||
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2 | July 4, 2018[23] | 978-4-08-881509-1 | September 1, 2020[22] | 978-1-9747-0997-7 | ||
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3 | August 3, 2018[24] | 978-4-08-881583-1 | November 3, 2020 (canceled)[25][26] | 978-1-9747-0998-4 | ||
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4 | November 2, 2018[27] | 978-4-08-881657-9 | January 5, 2021 (canceled)[28][26] | 978-1-9747-1545-9 | ||
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5 | February 4, 2019[29] | 978-4-08-881694-4 | March 2, 2021 (canceled)[30][26] | 978-1-9747-1557-2 | ||
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6 | May 2, 2019[31] | 978-4-08-881795-8 | — | — | ||
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7 | July 4, 2019[32] | 978-4-08-881878-8 | — | — | ||
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8 | September 4, 2019[33] | 978-4-08-882051-4 | — | — | ||
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9 | December 4, 2019[34] | 978-4-08-882103-0 | — | — | ||
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10 | February 4, 2020[35] | 978-4-08-882205-1 | — | — | ||
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11 | May 13, 2020[36][a] | 978-4-08-882284-6 | — | — | ||
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12 | July 3, 2020[7] | 978-4-08-882351-5 | — | — | ||
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Chapters not released in tankōbon format
editThese chapters were not published in a tankōbon volume. They were originally serialized in Japanese in issues of Weekly Shōnen Jump from April to August 2020.
- "Star" (スター, Sutā)
- "TV Commercial" (テレビ CM, Terebi Shīemu)
- "Advertisement" (宣伝, Senden)
- "The Real Thing" (本物, Honmono)
- "Fame" (有名人, Yūmeijin)
- "Ultimate Actor's Dream" (役者冥利, Yakusha-Myōri)
- "Ultimate Actor's Dream (Part 2)" (役者冥利②, Yakusha-Myōri Ni)
- "Guaranteed Pass" (必勝, Hisshō)
- "More" (もっと, Motto)
- "Steal" (奪う, Ubau)
- "Den of Ogres" (鬼の巣, Oni no Su)
- "Actresses" (女優たち, Joyū-tachi)
- "Living Together" (共同生活, Kyōdō-Seikatsu)
- "Another Step" (また一歩, Mata Ippo)
- "Greeting" (挨拶, Aisatsu)
- "Poison" (毒, Doku)
Canceled stage play
editIn June 2020, it was announced the manga would receive a stage play adaptation in 2022 titled Act-Age: Night on the Galactic Railroad (アクタージュ act-age~銀河鉄道の夜~). The play would be produced by Horipro, and directed and written by Shū Matsui. A "remote audition" for the role of the protagonist Kei Yonagi would have been held across Japan.[38][39] On August 11, 2020, after Tatsuya Matsuki's arrest and the manga cancellation, Horipro announced the cancellation of the stage play.[40][41][42]
Reception
editBy February 2019, the first five volumes of the manga had 750,000 copies in circulation.[43] By June 2020, the first eleven volumes of the manga had over 3 million copies in circulation.[44] Volume 5 of the manga ranked thirteenth on Oricon's weekly manga rankings chart, with 52,319 copies sold.[45]
The series ranked third on the "Nationwide Bookstore Employees' Recommended Comics of 2018".[46] In April 2019, it was nominated for Best Shōnen Manga at the 43nd annual Kodansha Manga Awards.[47] In December 2019, Brutus magazine listed Act-Age on their "Most Dangerous Manga" list, which included works with the most "stimulating" and thought-provoking themes.[48] The series ranked sixth in a 2020 poll conducted by AnimeJapan of "Most Wanted Anime Adaptation".[49]
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ "The Official Website for Act-Age". Viz Media. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
- ^ Hodkins, Crystalyn (December 3, 2017). "Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine to Launch 2 New Manga in January". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
- ^ 天才的な演技力を持つ少女が女優への道を歩む、ジャンプ新連載「アクタージュ」. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. January 22, 2018. Archived from the original on May 16, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ 「アクタージュ」明日発売の週刊少年ジャンプ掲載分で連載終了. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 10, 2020. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 10, 2020). "Shueisha Cancels Publication of act-age Manga". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
- ^ a b アクタージュ act-age 1 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ a b アクタージュ act-age 12 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (August 8, 2020). "NHK: act-age Story Writer Tatsuya Matsuki Arrested on Suspicion of Committing Indecent Act with Minor (Update 2)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ 少年ジャンプ漫画の原作者逮捕 女子中学生にわいせつ行為疑い. NHK (in Japanese). August 8, 2020. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
- ^ 編集部よりお知らせ. shonenjump.com/j (in Japanese). Shueisha. August 8, 2020. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved August 8, 2020.
- ^ 舞台「アクタージュ」の上演およびヒロインオーディションの中止が決定. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). Natasha, Inc. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ Loo, Egan (August 17, 2020). "act-age Manga Volume Sales Indefinitely Suspended After Writer's Arrest". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 24, 2020). "act-age Artist Shiro Usazaki Issues Statement on Writer's Arrest, Manga's Cancellation". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ 宇佐崎しろがコメント発表、「アクタージュ」を愛するファンへお願い. Comic Natalie (in Japanese). August 24, 2020. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (September 17, 2020). "act-age Manga Writer Tatsuya Matsuki Formally Indicted for 2nd Indecent Act". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on September 19, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (December 23, 2020). "Court Hands Suspended Sentence to act-age Manga Writer Tatsuya Matsuki for Indecent Act". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 23, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
- ^ Ressler, Karen (December 10, 2018). "Viz's Shonen Jump Adds Haikyu!!, Demon Slayer, More to Simulpublishing Lineup". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 24, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2018.
- ^ Rafael Antonio Pineda (January 27, 2019). "Shueisha Launches Free Global MANGA Plus Service". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
- ^ a b Pineda, Rafael Antonio (August 12, 2020). "Viz Media Cancels Publication of act-age Manga's Last Chapter". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 13, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael (October 4, 2019). "Viz Licenses New Bleach, Naruto, One Piece Novels". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
- ^ a b "Act-Age, Vol. 1". Viz Media. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
- ^ a b "Act-Age, Vol. 2". Viz Media. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved July 8, 2020.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age 2 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age 3 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ "Act-Age, Vol. 3". Viz Media. Archived from the original on August 8, 2020. Retrieved May 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Act-Age Is Canceled". Viz Media. August 17, 2020. Archived from the original on August 19, 2020. Retrieved September 2, 2020.
Concerning Shueisha's official statement below, VIZ Media will no longer publish current and future works of Act-Age, including graphic novels and digital volumes, and chapters will be removed from the Shonen Jump digital vault.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age 4 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Act-Age, Vol. 4. Viz Media. January 5, 2021. ISBN 978-1974715459.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age 5 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Act-Age, Vol. 5. Viz Media. March 2, 2021. ISBN 978-1974715572.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age 6 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age 7 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age 8 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age 9 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age 10 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age 11 (in Japanese). Shueisha. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2022.
- ^ Sherman, Jennifer (April 9, 2020). "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Other Jump Manga Delay New Volumes Due to COVID-19 Coronavirus Concerns". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 10, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- ^ Crystalyn Hodgkins (May 31, 2020). "act-age Manga Gets Stage Play in 2022". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on July 27, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
- ^ アクタージュ act-age:「ジャンプ」人気マンガが舞台化 ヒロイン夜凪景役のオーディション開催. Mantan Web. June 1, 2020. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ 舞台「アクタージュ act-age ~銀河鉄道の夜~」ならびに ヒロイン「夜凪景」役 オーディション中止のお知らせ. HoriPro International. August 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 16, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ Harding, Daryl. "Act-Age Stage Play, Night on the Galactic Railroad, Has Been Canceled in Light of the Arrest of Manga Writer". Crunchyroll News. Archived from the original on August 18, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ Loo, Egan (August 11, 2020). "act-age Stage Play Canceled After Manga Writer Tatsuya Matsuki's Arrest". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
- ^ Sherman, J.; Ressler, K.; Sherman, C. (March 3, 2019). "Roundup of Newly Revealed Print Counts for Manga, Light Novel Series - February 2019 (Updated)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on March 3, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
- ^ 役者漫画『アクタージュ』舞台化で2022年上演 夜凪景役は公募、ホリプロが女優の卵発掘へ. Oricon (in Japanese). June 1, 2020. Archived from the original on August 16, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
- ^ Loo, Egan (February 14, 2019). "Japanese Comic Ranking, February 4–10". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 15, 2019. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
- ^ Ressler, Karen (February 4, 2019). "Japan's Bookstore Employees Rank Top Manga of 2018". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 11, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio. "43rd Annual Kodansha Manga Awards' Nominees Announced". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on April 17, 2022. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
- ^ Morrissy, Kim (December 18, 2019). "Spy×Family Included in Brutus Magazine's 'Most Dangerous Manga' of 2019 List". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on December 18, 2019. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ Loveridge, Lynzee (March 24, 2020). "180,000 Manga Readers Vote for Their Most Wanted Anime Adaptation". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
Further reading
edit- "The Making of a Jump Manga! Vol. 8: Act-Age". Manga Plus. Shueisha. Archived from the original on May 21, 2020.
- Davidson, Danica (July 21, 2020). "Act-Age Shows The Passion and Difficulties of Acting". Otaku USA. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- Hopper, Faye (July 31, 2020). "Act-age Volume 1 Review". Anime News Network.
- Surat, Daryl (August 25, 2020). "Act-Age Manga Review". Otaku USA. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
External links
edit- Act-Age on Weekly Shōnen Jump website (in Japanese)
- Act-Age on Manga Plus
- Act-Age on the Official Viz website
- Act-Age at Anime News Network's encyclopedia