Photo: Funweek.it / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
I have a soft spot for creators who let the work do all the talking, and Shinichi Ishizuka is exactly that kind of artist. The guy grew up in Ibaraki, quietly went off to Southern Illinois University of all places — you can feel that wide-open American Midwest air somewhere in the sprawling ambition of BLUE GIANT — then came back and drew one of the most emotionally overwhelming jazz manga ever made. Jazz manga. It sounds like a niche joke, but he pulls it off completely. The fact that he keeps his face, his height, basically his entire existence off the record only makes me respect him more. He's a craftsman who decided the saxophone solos trapped in his panel lines would speak louder than any interview ever could. Born 1971, now in his prime, and honestly the manga world is lucky he showed up.
Overview
Shinichi Ishizuka is a Japanese manga artist born on January 1, 1971, in Joso City, Ibaraki Prefecture. He studied at Southern Illinois University in the United States. He is best known as the creator of the jazz manga series BLUE GIANT. His blood type, physical details, and agency affiliation are not publicly disclosed.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Shinichi Ishizuka
- Name (Japanese)
- 石塚真一
- Reading
- いしづか しんいち
- Born
- January 1, 1971 (age 55)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Capricorn / Boar (亥)
- Origin
- Joso City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
- Occupation
- Manga artist
2. Background
- University
- Southern Illinois University
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Representative work | BLUE GIANT | — | Unknown |
6. Links
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%9F%B3%E5%A1%9A%E7%9C%9F%E4%B8%80
Frequently asked questions
When was Shinichi Ishizuka born?
Born January 1, 1971 (age 55).
Where is Shinichi Ishizuka from?
Shinichi Ishizuka is from Joso City, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.
What does Shinichi Ishizuka do?
Shinichi Ishizuka works as Manga artist.
What is Shinichi Ishizuka known for?
Notable works include BLUE GIANT.
Manga artist — see all → · More people from Japan →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.