Most Popular Books by Takehiko Inoue

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue creates a dramatic tale of triumph over adversity. This is the story of three young men whose lives are profoundly changed by their involvement with wheelchair basketball. Critically acclaimed, award-winning manga artist Takehiko Inoue doesn’t pull any punches in this stunning portrayal of people struggling with serious life issues. Masterfully combining rich character development with beautifully detailed line art, Inoue, the creator of the mega-hit masterpieces Slam Dunk and Vagabond, lifts the manga medium to a completely new level of storytelling. While Togawa and the Tigers are finally gelling and coming together as a team, Nomiya finds himself still without a job and without any real direction in life. His true path continues to elude him until an unlikely source gives him new perspective on it all. Meanwhile, Takahashi struggles with acceptance and rehabilitation, but he hasn''t given up on himself just yet.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue creates a dramatic tale of triumph over adversity. This is the story of three young men whose lives are profoundly changed by their involvement with wheelchair basketball. Critically acclaimed, award-winning manga artist Takehiko Inoue doesn’t pull any punches in this stunning portrayal of people struggling with serious life issues. Masterfully combining rich character development with beautifully detailed line art, Inoue, the creator of the mega-hit masterpieces Slam Dunk and Vagabond, lifts the manga medium to a completely new level of storytelling. While Nomiya has finally found a goal in life that he knows he will truly strive to achieve, Takahashi takes another step forward out of the depths of despair on his journey toward recovery. And he finds solace in the company of a most unlikely pair. Gyupaa!

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? It’s do or die for the Shohoku High School Basketball Team! If they want a spot in the Nationals, they need to win this game. As the second half winds down, Shohoku hangs on to a one-point lead over Ryonan despite Mitsui’s collapse. Ryonan keeps the pressure on with their best players, Uozumi, Fukuda and Sendoh, giving it all they’ve got. Sakuragi steps up defensively, and now he’s Shohoku’s last hope of staying alive in the tournament, but is he up to the challenge?

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? In a white-hot competition, you need your confidence to carry you to victory. In the Shohoku vs. Ryonan game, Akagi, still recovering from an ankle injury, has his confidence shaken when Ryonan''s Uozumi knocks him down. Now doubting his effectiveness, Akagi begins deferring opportunities to his teammates. Ryonan seizes the chance to pull away, leaving Shohoku wondering how they''re going to get their mojo back! Sakuragi''s going to have to try something unthinkable to get Akagi back on his feet and his head in the game!

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? With a slight lead thanks to Mitsui, Shohoku has their hands full as the game against Sannoh heats up. Sannoh’s coach Domoto sends in Mikio, a player whose strength and size make up for his lack of experience. Coach Anzai counters by telling Shohoku to run their offense through Sakuragi, and the game becomes a battle between the two inexperienced power players. What Sannoh thought would be an easy win for them is turning out to be a lot more than they bargained for—Shohoku’s here and they mean to go all the way to the top!

• Featuring artwork from the 32+ volume manga series - Vagabond is on Japan’s top ten best seller’s list with over 100 million volumes in print. • Vagabond has sold over 22 million copies worldwide! (Not including Japan’s sales). • Vagabond is based on the novel, Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. Originally written in the early 40’s, Yoshikawa’s fictional account became so well known that his version has blurred fact from fiction. • VIZ Media is currently releasing the English translated edition of Vagabond only three months apart from the Japanese release! • The popularity of Vagabond has been attributed for the reason NHK produced its period drama TV series based on Yohikawa’s novel. • There have been 6 films and 2 TV series based on Miyamoto Musashi’s life. • Inoue received the 2000 Media Arts award for manga from the Japanese Ministry of Culture and the Kodansha award for best manga for his work on Vagabond. • Nominated for 2003 Eisner Award in the category for Best Writer/Artist! • "...reads like an Akira Kurosawa film captured on the printed page." -Cliff Biggers, Comic Buyer''s Guide • Inoue has personally created licensed merchandise on a small scale, so that the products will meet his standards of quality. • Inoue’s previous series Slam Dunk has over 100 million copies in print worldwide. • Everything Takehiko Inoue has published has hit the top ten sales list in Japan. Water features Inoue’s masterful work in color. It also highlights artwork created specifically for this volume. In a recent interview, Takehiko Inoue claimed that in his first major follow-up to Slam Dunk, he wanted to delve as deeply as possible into visual artistry. The result was the incredibly realized world of Vagabond, the Sistine Chapel of manga. This artbook captures the very best of Inoue''s work, with images hand-selected by Inoue himself. Not one to skimp on color and image quality, Inoue also hand selected the specific printer. Water features Inoue’s masterful work in color. It also highlights artwork created specifically for this volume.

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? It’s the second half of Shohoku’s debut game in the National Championship. Toyotama boasts the top three scorers from the Osaka regionals, and they’re bent on nothing less than crushing Shohoku! But Coach Anzai’s got a plan: steal the ball, run and score, facing Toyotama’s run-and-gun style head on! If Shohoku can’t beat Toyotama at their best game, what chance do they have of beating last year’s champion Sannoh in the next round?

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? As the boys from Shohoku watch from the sidelines, the much-anticipated game between Ryonan High and Kainan High continues to heat up. Kainan superstar Maki''s stellar play helps swing the momentum back in his team''s direction, aided in no small part by a key player from Ryonan getting into foul trouble. However, Captain Akagi and company leave the game early when they receive an alarming bit of news: Coach Anzai has collapsed and is now in the hospital!

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? The Kings from Kainan hold firm to their four-point lead over the boys from Shohoku, and there are only 30 seconds left on the game clock! Mitsui puts up a desperate prayer of a three-pointer, but it''s the always-unpredictable Sakuragi who succeeds in shrinking the point deficit and drawing a crucial foul. But if Sakuragi wants to keep his team''s hope alive, he needs to nail his next free throw...and he''s absolutely terrible at free throws!

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? After watching a video of Sannoh’s semifinal game from the previous year, the Shohoku players, except Sakuragi of course, are feeling nervous—three of Sannoh’s starters this year played on that championship team. To make things worse, the stands are filled with Sannoh supporters eager to see their favorite rack up an easy win against Shohoku. But Coach Anzai’s been here before and he knows his players, instructing them to lead off with a surprise attack that lets Sannoh know that Shohoku’s in the house, and they aren’t going out without a fight!

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? Now that they’ve made it to the Nationals, Shohoku learns exactly where they rank in the overall standings compared to some of the other teams, and they don’t like it! Shocked to learn that they’re only a C-ranked team, they’ve got to get their game on to beat their A-ranked first round opponent, Toyotama. Even if they beat Toyotama, Shohoku’s opponent in the second round is last year’s champion, Sanno Kogyo. For Sakuragi, Akagi, Rukawa and the boys of Shohoku High, the real game begins now!

Out of shape and out of practice, Nomiya comes to terms with the reality of where he’s at in basketball and in life. Meanwhile, Togawa faces one of the biggest disappointments in his wheelchair basketball career. And just when Takahashi finds a glimmer of hope in playing ball again, he’s confronted by the enormity of how much he has to overcome. Will each player’s passion for the game be strong enough to pull him through? -- VIZ Media

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? Shohoku steadily increases their lead against Ryonan with less than ten minutes remaining in the game. But the all-out attack wears Shohoku down and fatigue is getting the better of them. Without Coach Anzai''s guidance, Shohoku struggles to hold on against Ryonan as their weaknesses are exposed one by one. Sakuragi''s inexperience is one of their biggest and the margin for error is slim with Sakuragi on the court. Is this game going to push Shohoku to the edge of total collapse?

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? Shoyo''s ace, Fujima, drops himself into the lineup and quickly helps his team retake the lead from Shohoku, and despite struggling with fatigue, Mitsui stays on the floor as well. Realizing that they are the keys to winning the game, Coach Anzai focuses on both Mitsui''s scoring finesse and Hanamichi''s monstrous rebounding, but with only five minutes left on the game clock, Shohoku will need to deliver, and fast. Which player will ignite the spark that will carry Shohoku on to victory? And does Mitsui have enough stamina left to hit some crucial three-pointers?

In Tokunaga-era Japan, a new government has just taken power and the land is disarray. Amidst the turmoil, a young man sets out on a journey seeking spriritual enlightement by way of the soword, prepared to slay anyone who gets in his way. Adapted from the fictionalizad biography Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa, this graphic novel depicts the life and times of real-life "sword saint" Miyamoto Musahi(1584-1645)

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? The second half is winding down and Shohoku is working harder than they ever have before to close the seemingly impossible lead Sannoh has over them. Rukawa has found something inside him and continues to evolve as a player, and Sakuragi is totally in his own zone. But will pushing themselves beyond their limits lead Shohoku to victory or ruin?

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? As the game against Sannoh heads into the second half, Shohoku struggles to keep up. Sannoh’s coach Domoto isn’t about to let Shohoku think they can stage an upset and lets loose his team’s explosive offense. With Shohoku on the ropes and Sakuragi upset by a substitution, the players start feeling completely outmatched, and even Akagi begins having doubts. But Coach Anzai hasn’t given up yet, and he begins priming Sakuragi on the sidelines for a comeback!

Takahashi has an awkward reunion with his father, who has been absent from his life for the past eight years. As father and son struggle with the difficulties of Takahashi''s adjustment to life in a wheelchair, they must also come face to face with how much damage was done to Takahashi as a young boy facing the reality of growing up in a broken home. -- VIZ Media

Continues the adventures of Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! Fear, failure, disgrace... Even the most renowned swordsman of all time had his low moments. For the first time ever, Miyamoto Musashi suffers a humilating loss when he takes on the deadly spear technique of Inshun, the second-generation master of Hozoin Temple. Dealing with defeat can be even more daunting of a task than facing the fiercest of warriors. Will Mushashi be up for his latest challenge?

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? As luck would have it, the basketball team narrowly avoids suspension over the all-out-brawl incident when Yohei and Mitsui''s friends take responsibility. Now, with Mitsui back in the lineup for the first time in two years, Shohoku quickly resumes practice in preparation for their upcoming tournament. As punishment for the lack of discipline they displayed in the fight, though, Coach Anzai decides on a starting lineup for Shohoku''s game without Hanamichi, Rukawa, Ryota and Mitsui. Can Anzai''s squad hold their own when their best players (and perpetual problem children) ride the bench?

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue creates a dramatic tale of triumph over adversity. This is the story of three young men whose lives are profoundly changed by their involvement with wheelchair basketball. Critically acclaimed, award-winning manga artist Takehiko Inoue doesn’t pull any punches in this stunning portrayal of people struggling with serious life issues. Masterfully combining rich character development with beautifully detailed line art, Inoue, the creator of the mega-hit masterpieces Slam Dunk and Vagabond, lifts the manga medium to a completely new level of storytelling. Kiyoharu Togawa is selected to compete for a coveted spot on Japan''s National Wheelchair Basketball Team. But with the prospects of this upcoming challenge weighing heavy on his mind, he reflects upon the demons of his past--his battle with cancer and rehabilitation as well as his bitter conflicts with his father. Togawa''s passion for his sport is just about the only thing in life that can give him the strength to pull through.

The best-selling series from Eisner-nominated Takehiko Inoue, one of Japan’s greatest manga creators. Winning isn''t everything in the game of basketball, but who wants to come in second? It takes dedication and discipline to be the best, and the Shohoku High hoops team wants to be just that. They have one last year to make their captain''s dream of reaching the finals come true—will they do it? Final Volume! With only a minute left in the game, the players of Shohoku High have closed the gap on the scoreboard with a supreme effort that has the crowd on its feet. Sannoh, the reigning champions, are still in the lead, but the game now hangs in the balance, and it isn’t over until the last whistle blows. Both teams know this is it—time to lay everything on the line and no holding back, because only one team will leave the court victorious!

Shinmen Takezo is destined to become the legendary sword-saint, Miyamoto Musashi--perhaps the most renowned samurai of all time. For now, Takezo is a cold-blooded killer, who will take on anyone in mortal combat to make a name for himself. This is the journey of a wild young brute who strives to reach enlightenment by way of the sword--fighting on the edge of death.

Continues the adventures of the Japanese swordsman Miyamoto Musashi.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! Musashi battles a different type of foe when a devastating famine threatens to ravage a remote village. Musashi attempts to help an orphaned boy enrich the soil of a barren land. But can anyone single-handedly take on the forces of nature in the manner that Musashi defeated the seventy swordsmen of the Yoshioka dojo?

• Featuring artwork from the 32+ volume manga series - Vagabond is on Japan’s top ten best seller’s list with over 100 million volumes in print. • Vagabond has sold over 22 million copies worldwide! (Not including Japan’s sales). • Vagabond is based on the novel, Musashi by Eiji Yoshikawa. Originally written in the early 40’s, Yoshikawa’s fictional account became so well known that his version has blurred fact from fiction. • VIZ Media is currently releasing the English translated edition of Vagabond only three months apart from the Japanese release! • The popularity of Vagabond has been attributed for the reason NHK produced its period drama TV series based on Yohikawa’s novel. • There have been 6 films and 2 TV series based on Miyamoto Musashi’s life. • Inoue received the 2000 Media Arts award for manga from the Japanese Ministry of Culture and the Kodansha award for best manga for his work on Vagabond. • Nominated for 2003 Eisner Award in the category for Best Writer/Artist! • "...reads like an Akira Kurosawa film captured on the printed page." -Cliff Biggers, Comic Buyer''s Guide • Inoue has personally created licensed merchandise on a small scale, so that the products will meet his standards of quality. • Inoue’s previous series Slam Dunk has over 100 million copies in print worldwide. • Everything Takehiko Inoue has published has hit the top ten sales list in Japan. Sumi presents Inoue''s magnificent pen and brush work in black and white. It also includes a behind the scenes look at Vagabond with rough sketches and photos of Inoue''s studio. In a recent interview, Takehiko Inoue claimed that in his first major follow-up to Slam Dunk, he wanted to delve as deeply as possible into visual artistry. The result was the incredibly realized world of Vagabond, the Sistine Chapel of manga. This artbook captures the very best of Inoue''s work, with images hand-selected by Inoue himself. Not one to skimp on reproduction and image quality, Inoue also hand selected the specific printer. Sumi presents Inoue''s magnificent pen and brush work in black and white. It also includes a behind the scenes look at Vagabond with rough sketches and photos of Inoue''s studio.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! "Invincible is just a word, a mirage." With this revelation, Musashi sets out again to continue along the way. But will the path he chooses take him further towards the light or deeper into the darkness that is all too familiar to him, the spiral of killing and death?

"Parental advisory, mature content"--Cover.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! The greatest samurai duel in the history of Japan between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro draws closer as their different intertwining paths head toward their imminent conclusion. For now, Kojiro finds himself in a new position as sword instructor to the powerful Hosokawa Clan in Kokura. Meanwhile, Musashi is still dealing with the aftermath of singlehandedly destroying the mighty Yoshioka School.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! REMATCH! Martial arts is more than just battling to defeat your opponent; it''s a mental test to overcome yourself. Inshun of Hozoin Temple comes upon this realization in midst of his epic rematch against Musashi. Last time, Inshun was too much for Musashi to handle, but now the tables are turned as Inshun faces his own personal demons as well as a new and revitalized Musashi.

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! Miyamoto Musashi is a man destined to be revered as a sword-saint and one of Japan''s most celebrated samurai. But Musashi wasn''t always an enlightened warrior-philosopher--for the path to greatness is filled with adversity and perilous danger. In this volume Musashi seeks out Shishido Baiken, a master of the deadly sickle and chain. Will Musashi''s sword be able to stand true against this most unusual of weapons?

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue’s critically acclaimed take on the life of Miyamoto Mushashi. Transcends the potential of what manga can be. Striving for enlightenment by way of the sword, Miyamoto Musashi is prepared to cut down anyone who stands in his way. Vagabond is an action-packed portrayal of the life and times of the quintessential warrior-philosopher--the most celebrated samurai of all time! A tempest of a man has arrived in Kyoto and the entire city is in a fervor, anticipating the storm to come. Musashi has returned for a rematch against Yoshioka Denshichiro, and he''s prepared to take down all of the Yoshioka Dojo to defeat him!

Hisanobu Takahashi thought the world was his for the taking. Natural athletic ability, effortless academic prowess and popularity with the girls gave him a sense of entitlement that knew no bounds. But a devastating traffic accident robs Hisanobu of everything. In constant pain, Hisanobu is completely overwhelmed by the reality of his paraplegia and his excruciating physical rehabilitation. -- VIZ Media

Eisner-award nominated creator Takehiko Inoue creates a dramatic tale of triumph over adversity. This is the story of three young men whose lives are profoundly changed by their involvement with wheelchair basketball. Critically acclaimed, award-winning manga artist Takehiko Inoue doesn’t pull any punches in this stunning portrayal of people struggling with serious life issues. Masterfully combining rich character development with beautifully detailed line art, Inoue, the creator of the mega-hit masterpieces Slam Dunk and Vagabond, lifts the manga medium to a completely new level of storytelling. Meet Kiyohiko Togawa, a hard-edged, no nonsense wheelchair basketball athlete with a Spartan work ethic and a keen sense of competition. Long before he ever picked up a ball, Kiyohiko was just a skinny little kid in middle school barely beginning to discover his potential to become a track star... until a vicious bout with cancer cut off his track career far too soon.