In Honor of Master Mangaka Kazuo Umezu's 90th Birthday, 'UMEZZ AUTHENTIC COLLECTION' Launches: First Volume 'Definitive Edition' of 'The Drifting Classroom' Released

The doyen of the horror genre, Kazuo Umezu, is honored in his 90th birth year with the launch of the UMEZZ AUTHENTIC COLLECTION series, aiming to reprint his works in their original magazine size (B5) according to the author's own wishes. The first step is the release of the 'Definitive Edition' version of Umezu's masterpiece 'The Drifting Classroom', Volume 1, now available in Japanese bookstores and online platforms as of June 19, 2025.

This special collection is being prepared to honor the legacy Umezu left to manga after his passing in 2024 at the age of 88. Publishers note that the author greatly desired for his works to be printed in the original magazine format (B5) while he was alive, but due to cost and logistical constraints at the time, this dream could not be realized. Now, just as Umezu wished, the panels and drawings meet readers in this size for the first time.

One of the most striking features of the [Definitive Edition] The Drifting Classroom is the inclusion of magazine cover pages and interleaf pages that have never appeared in any previous tankōbon volume. These pages contain the original color illustrations and special frame designs that Umezu used when the series was first serialized in Weekly Shōnen Sunday (1972-1974). For fans, this means both nostalgia and a new window into the creation process of the manga.

With 'The Drifting Classroom', Kazuo Umezu established one of the cornerstone works of horror manga not only in Japan but worldwide. The series, which follows schoolchildren mysteriously transported to a post-apocalyptic world, is known for its masterful blend of suspense and psychological horror. Although this first volume of the UMEZZ AUTHENTIC COLLECTION does not coincide with the series' 50th anniversary, it is of great importance in carrying Umezu's legacy to new generations.

The release frequency of subsequent volumes has not yet been determined, but the publisher has announced plans to present other Umezu classics in the same B5 format in the coming months. Works such as 'Kami no Kiba' and 'Makoto-chan' are expected to be included in the collection. If this first volume attracts interest, perhaps Umezu's lesser-known short stories may also see the light of day. For followers, this is a chance to experience the master's art in its purest form.