Photo: Selbymay / CC BY-SA 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Okay, I have a soft spot for Isayama, because here's a guy who built one of the most ferociously plotted manga of the century as his very first serialization. That early rough art? It only makes me love Attack on Titan more, because you watch him level up panel by panel while never once losing the grip on his sprawling web of foreshadowing. Eleven-plus years, thirty-four volumes, and he lands the plane. That takes a stubbornness most people don't have. And then I find out the brain behind all that dread and despair is out here watching MMA and blogging about it, and honestly it cracks me up. The contrast is everything. He swung for something huge, refused to soften it, and pulled it off. Quiet weird genius, and I'm here for it.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
Story
Overview
Hajime Isayama is a Japanese manga artist born on August 29, 1986, in Oyama, Hita, Oita Prefecture. He is best known as the creator of Attack on Titan, which ran in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine from 2009 to 2021 and was collected in 34 volumes. The series became a global phenomenon, spawning a critically acclaimed anime adaptation and earning Isayama multiple major awards, including the 35th Kodansha Manga Award and a special prize at the 50th Angouleme International Comics Festival. He debuted in 2008 after winning the 81st Weekly Shonen Magazine Newcomer Manga Award with his short work orz.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Hajime Isayama
- Name (Japanese)
- 諫山創
- Reading
- いさやま はじめ
- Born
- August 29, 1986 (age 40)
- Origin
- Hita, Oita Prefecture, Japan
- Occupation
- Manga artist
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Virgo / Tiger
- Agency
- Freelance (published by Kodansha)
- Active years
- 2009–present
2. Background
- High school
- Oita Prefectural Hita Rinko High School
- University
- Kyushu Designer Gakuin (Manga Department)
- Debut
- 2008 — placed in the 81st Weekly Shonen Magazine Newcomer Manga Award with orz, debuting in Magazine SPECIAL
Awards & achievements
- 2006 — Kodansha Magazine Grand Prix (MGP) Honorable Mention (prototype of Attack on Titan)
- 2008 — 80th Weekly Shonen Magazine Newcomer Manga Award Special Encouragement Prize (HEART BREAK ONE)
- 2008 — 81st Weekly Shonen Magazine Newcomer Manga Award (orz)
- 2011 — 35th Kodansha Manga Award, Boys' Category (Attack on Titan)
- 2021 — 3rd Noma Publishing Culture Award (Attack on Titan, series completion)
- 2023 — 50th Angouleme International Comics Festival, Special Prize (Attack on Titan)
Timeline
- 1986Born in Oyama, Hita, Oita Prefecture
- 2006Submitted the prototype of Attack on Titan to the Kodansha Magazine Grand Prix and received an honorable mention
- 2008Won the 80th Weekly Shonen Magazine Newcomer Manga Award Special Encouragement Prize with HEART BREAK ONE, and placed in the 81st award with orz, marking his debut
- 2009Attack on Titan began serialization in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine
- 2011Won the 35th Kodansha Manga Award (Boys' Category) for Attack on Titan
- 2018Announced his marriage via blog
- 2021Attack on Titan concluded in the May 2021 issue of Bessatsu Shonen Magazine (34 volumes); received the 3rd Noma Publishing Culture Award
- 2023Received a special prize at the 50th Angouleme International Comics Festival
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Married (announced on his blog on December 31, 2018)
4. Personality
Hobbies
- Watching mixed martial arts
- Fan activities for Momoiro Clover Z
- Listening to film critic Tomohiro Machiyama's radio program
Specialties
- Manga creation
- Martial arts (hobbyist level, punching bag practice)
5. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manga | Attack on Titan | Story and art | 2009 |
| Manga | HEART BREAK ONE | Story and art | 2008 |
| Manga | orz | Story and art | 2008 |
| Manga (collected volumes) | Attack on Titan (complete, 34 volumes) | Story and art | 2010 |
6. Links
- Official sitehttp://blog.livedoor.jp/isayamahazime/
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%AB%AB%E5%B1%B1%E5%89%B5
- Wikidatahttps://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3782468
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Hajime Isayama born?
Hajime Isayama was born on August 29, 1986 and is 40 years old.
Where is Hajime Isayama from?
Hajime Isayama is from Hita, Oita Prefecture, Japan.
What does Hajime Isayama do?
Hajime Isayama works as Manga artist.
Where did Hajime Isayama study?
Hajime Isayama attended Kyushu Designer Gakuin.
What agency is Hajime Isayama with?
Hajime Isayama is with Freelance (published by Kodansha).
How long has Hajime Isayama been active?
Hajime Isayama's recorded active years are 2009–present.
What is Hajime Isayama known for?
Hajime Isayama's notable works include Attack on Titan, HEART BREAK ONE, orz.
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