The End of a 34-Year Era: "Minami no Teiou" Manga Concludes with 188th Volume
An era has officially come to an end in the world of manga. The legendary series Minami no Teiou (The King of Minami), which has been published continuously in Weekly Manga Goraku magazine since 1992, concluded with its 188th volume, which hit shelves on April 9th. Written by Dai Tennoji and illustrated by Rikiya Go, this massive work managed to remain one of Japan's most-followed financial dramas for exactly 34 years.
The series tells the story of Ginjiro Manda, a ruthless loan shark operating in the Minami district of Osaka. Known as the "Devil of Minami," Manda is a character famous for his "toichi" system—charging 10% interest every 10 days—yet he adheres to his own strict code of conduct. Beyond being a crime story, Minami no Teiou gained a wide fan base by masterfully exploring Japan's economic underworld, legal loopholes, and the dramas of people trapped in debt.
Achieving historic success, the series ranks 4th on the list of Japan's longest-running manga with its 188-volume collection. Selling over 60 million copies in total, Minami no Teiou did not limit its popularity to the printed page. It became an integral part of Japanese pop culture through more than 60 V-Cinema productions starring Riki Takeuchi, as well as television series and animated adaptations. In particular, the Manda character brought to life by Takeuchi is considered the symbol of the loan shark figure in Japan.
Publisher Nihon Bungeisha described the series' farewell as an "emotional and satisfying finale." The conclusion of this work, which served as the flagship of the same magazine for 34 years, symbolizes the end of an era in the manga industry. While this farewell is sad for fans, Ginjiro Manda's story seems destined to be discussed for many years to come, thanks to the massive archive of volumes and cult film adaptations it leaves behind.
