Sazae-san Celebrates Its 80th Anniversary: The Legendary Manga Series Meets Readers in Digital Format for the First Time

Sazae-san, one of the most deep-rooted and respected works in the history of Japanese manga, is celebrating the 80th anniversary of its debut with a monumental step. Penned by the legendary artist Machiko Hasegawa, the series, which has graced libraries with its physical prints until now, officially took its place on digital platforms for the first time as of April 22. This move comes as a big surprise for fans who cherish the series' traditional structure, while also providing new generations of readers with the opportunity to access this classic.

As part of the digitalization process, the first 16 volumes of the 68-volume Sazae-san series have been released in e-book format. In addition, the entire 6-volume Ijiwaru Baasan (Granny Mischief) series—another popular work by Machiko Hasegawa that follows the adventures of a grumpy yet hilarious old woman—has also been transferred to the digital environment. This project, carried out by Asahi Shimbun Publications, aims to keep the legacy of the series alive in the digital age.

Sazae-san is considered not just a manga, but a cultural phenomenon that reflects Japan's post-war transformation and family structure. First published in the Fukuichi Shinbun newspaper on April 22, 1946, the series later continued for many years in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper. Furthermore, its anime adaptation, which has been running continuously since 1969, holds the Guinness World Record for the "longest-running animated television series." The episodes, which air on Sunday evenings, are still followed with great interest by millions of people of all ages in Japan.

The creator of the series, Machiko Hasegawa, is a name who revolutionized the industry as one of Japan's first professional female manga artists. The works of the artist, who passed away in 1992, are known for masterfully blending social values with the humor of daily life. This digital expansion was realized with the support of the Machiko Hasegawa Art Museum, which was established to preserve the artist's legacy. Fans are eagerly awaiting the gradual addition of the remaining volumes of Sazae-san to digital platforms in the coming period.