Struggling to find the exact start date for the Naruto manga? You’re not alone, as multiple dates for its debut often cause confusion. Getting the correct timeline is key to understanding its history.
The Naruto manga officially started on September 21, 1999, when its first chapter, “Uzumaki Naruto!!,” was published in the 43rd issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine in Japan. This date marks the official beginning of the series’ serialization, created by Masashi Kishimoto.
Based on official publication records and timelines, this guide clarifies the entire release schedule. You will discover the difference between the magazine debut, the collected volume release, the English version premiere, and even the pre-series prototype.
Key Facts
- Definitive Start Date: The Naruto manga officially began its serialization in Japan on September 21, 1999, in issue #43 of Weekly Shōnen Jump.
- Pre-Series Prototype: A one-shot prototype version of Naruto was published two years earlier in the August 1997 issue of Akamaru Jump.
- Anime Followed Manga: The anime adaptation premiered on October 3, 2002, which was just over three years after the manga had already started.
- First English Release: The official English version first appeared in the debut issue of the American Shonen Jump magazine in January 2003.
- Complete Manga Run: The series ran for 15 years, concluding with chapter 700 on November 10, 2014, and was compiled into 72 total volumes.
When Did the Naruto Manga Officially Start?
The Naruto manga, written and illustrated by Masashi Kishimoto, officially began its serialization in Japan on September 21, 1999. The very first chapter was published by the company Shueisha in the 43rd issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine for that year. This date is the definitive starting point for the manga’s incredible 15-year journey, establishing the foundation of a global phenomenon.
It is important to differentiate this magazine serialization date from the release of the first collected book. While chapters appeared weekly in the magazine, they were later compiled into paperback volumes known as tankōbon. The first of these volumes hit bookstores in Japan several months after the initial chapter’s debut, creating a separate but related milestone in the manga’s history. Official publication records from Shueisha confirm these distinct dates.
Understanding this two-tiered release schedule is crucial. The weekly serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump was how most Japanese fans originally experienced the story as it unfolded. The collected volumes then allowed new readers to catch up and fans to own the series in a more permanent format. The September 1999 date, however, remains the true birth of the Naruto manga series.
Was There a Naruto Prototype Before the Official 2026 Series?
Yes, before the official series, Masashi Kishimoto created a prototype one-shot version of Naruto that was published in the August 1997 issue of Akamaru Jump. This earlier take on the concept explored similar themes but featured a different narrative and art style. Kishimoto would later refine these ideas for the final 1999 serialization that became a massive success.
This 1997 one-shot wasn’t even Kishimoto’s first professional work. His career began with a different one-shot manga titled Karakuri, which was published in 1995. This earlier work was highly regarded and even won him the prestigious “Hop Step Award” from Shueisha, marking him as a promising new talent in the manga industry. These two works show the creative evolution that led to the Naruto we know today.
- Karakuri (1995): Kishimoto’s first published one-shot, which earned him industry recognition and put him on the path to creating a serialized manga.
- Naruto One-Shot (1997): Published in a seasonal special issue of Jump called Akamaru Jump, this served as the direct conceptual prototype for the main series. It tested the core idea of a boy connected to a powerful fox spirit.
How Was the 1997 Naruto One-Shot Different?
The 1997 one-shot, which served as a pilot for the series, had several key differences from the final version. Kishimoto himself noted he was not pleased with the art, which he dramatically improved for the weekly series. The story and character concepts were also notably different.
- Naruto’s Origin: In the prototype, Naruto was the actual son of the Nine-Tailed Fox, not a human host (Jinchuriki) in whom the fox was sealed.
- The Story’s Focus: The plot revolved around Naruto, living in a rural area, trying to make a single human friend. It was a smaller, more contained story about loneliness and acceptance.
- Setting: Instead of the bustling ninja world with organized Hidden Villages, the one-shot was set in a more traditional, rural Japanese landscape.
- Character Roles: There were no mentions of other key characters like Sasuke or Sakura, and the focus was almost entirely on Naruto’s personal struggle.
How Did the Manga’s Publication Schedule Evolve?
The Naruto manga was published on a dual schedule. First, a new chapter was released weekly in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine from September 1999 to November 2014. Then, these individual chapters were periodically collected and released as tankōbon, which are bound paperback volumes that collect several chapters into a single book.
This system allowed the series to maintain constant engagement with its audience through the weekly magazine while also building a library of collected volumes for new readers and collectors. The first tankōbon volume of Naruto was officially released in Japan on March 3, 2000. Over its 15-year run, the series produced an incredible 700 chapters, which were ultimately compiled into 72 complete tankōbon volumes.
This table outlines the key publication milestones for the Japanese release.
| Publication Milestone | Publisher | Date |
|---|---|---|
| First Magazine Chapter | Shueisha | September 21, 1999 |
| First Tankōbon Volume | Shueisha | March 3, 2000 |
| Final Magazine Chapter | Shueisha | November 10, 2014 |
| Final Tankōbon Volume | Shueisha | February 4, 2015 |
When Did the Naruto Manga Get an English Release?
The English version of the Naruto manga was first released by Viz Media in the January 2003 issue of the North American Shonen Jump magazine. This marked the first time the series was officially available to an English-speaking audience. The first collected paperback volume in English was subsequently published on August 6, 2003.
There was a significant time lag of nearly four years between the Japanese debut and the American one. To close this gap and catch up to the Japanese releases more quickly, Viz Media launched a campaign known as “Naruto Nation.” This initiative involved releasing three volumes per month for a period in 2007, rapidly accelerating the availability of the story for Western fans.
Here is a comparison of the initial Japanese and North American release timelines.
| Release Type | Japan (Shueisha) | North America (Viz Media) |
|---|---|---|
| First Magazine Chapter | September 1999 | January 2003 |
| First Volume (Tankōbon) | March 3, 2000 | August 6, 2003 |
How Does the Manga’s Start Date Compare to the Anime’s Premiere?
The Naruto anime premiered on October 3, 2002, in Japan, which was three years and one month after the manga’s debut in September 1999. The anime series, produced by Studio Pierrot and broadcast on TV Tokyo, began its run well after the manga had already built a substantial story and a dedicated fanbase.
This time gap is a common practice in the industry. It serves a crucial purpose:
* It allows the manga to get far ahead of the anime’s story, creating a buffer of source material.
* This buffer prevents the anime from catching up too quickly and needing to create excessive “filler” content not present in the original manga.
The manga’s three-year head start ensured that the anime adaptation had a rich and well-developed world and plot to draw from right from its very first episode. This strategy was key to the anime’s own massive success, as it could adapt established and popular story arcs from the manga.
FAQs About when did naruto manga start
When did the Naruto manga officially end?
The final chapter of the Naruto manga (Chapter 700) was released in Weekly Shōnen Jump on November 10, 2014. This concluded the main storyline after a 15-year serialization. The final collected volume (Volume 72) was then released a few months later on February 4, 2015, bringing the epic journey to its official close.
How many total chapters and volumes does the Naruto manga have?
The complete Naruto manga consists of exactly 700 chapters. These chapters were collected and published into a total of 72 tankōbon paperback volumes. The story is officially divided into two parts: Part I covers the first 27 volumes, while Part II, which corresponds to the Shippuden era in the anime, covers the final 45 volumes.
What was the very first chapter of the Naruto manga called?
The first chapter of the Naruto manga is titled “Uzumaki Naruto!!”. This foundational chapter introduces the main character, Naruto Uzumaki, reveals his dream of becoming Hokage, and establishes the central conflict involving the Nine-Tailed Fox sealed within him. It perfectly sets the stage for the entire series.
How long was the gap between the Japanese and English manga releases?
There was a significant gap of over three years between the initial releases. The manga first appeared in Japan in September 1999, but the first English serialization in the American Shonen Jump magazine did not happen until January 2003. Viz Media later ran an accelerated release campaign to close this gap for eager Western fans.
Who is the creator of Naruto?
The creator of the Naruto manga is Masashi Kishimoto. He is credited as both the writer and illustrator for the entire 15-year run of the series. Kishimoto developed the concept from a one-shot prototype he created in 1997, building it into the global phenomenon it is today. His first-ever published work was a different manga called Karakuri in 1995.
Was the Naruto story planned from the start?
Masashi Kishimoto had many core elements planned, but the story also evolved significantly during its long run. He established the central rivalry between Naruto and Sasuke and the main character themes from the beginning. However, many specific plot points, like the full backstory of the Akatsuki, were developed as the serialization progressed.
Did the manga start in color or black and white?
Like most weekly manga in Japan, Naruto was published almost entirely in black and white. While the first few pages of a chapter in Weekly Shōnen Jump might occasionally be printed in color to celebrate a milestone, the vast majority of the 700 chapters were originally drawn and printed in black and white.
Is Boruto by the same author as Naruto?
While Masashi Kishimoto created the characters, he was not the original writer for the Boruto: Naruto Next Generations manga. It was initially written by Ukyō Kodachi and illustrated by Mikio Ikemoto, with Kishimoto serving as a supervisor. However, Kishimoto later took over as the main writer for the Boruto manga starting from chapter 52.
What is the difference between Shonen Jump and a tankōbon?
Weekly Shōnen Jump is a large weekly magazine that serializes individual chapters from many different manga series at once. A tankōbon is a smaller, standalone paperback book that collects several chapters (usually 7-10) of a single manga series, like Naruto, into one volume for easier reading and long-term collection.
When did the first Naruto movie come out relative to the manga?
The first Naruto movie, Ninja Clash in the Land of Snow, was released in Japan on August 21, 2004. This was nearly five years after the manga first began its serialization in September 1999. The events of this movie are set during Part I of the series, taking place after episode 101 of the anime adaptation.
Final Thoughts on when did naruto manga start
Understanding when the Naruto manga started requires looking at a timeline of key dates rather than a single answer. While the definitive start of its official serialization is September 21, 1999, its creative journey began with the 1997 prototype. Furthermore, its journey to becoming a global hit includes the first collected volume release in 2000, the anime premiere in 2002, and the crucial English-language debut in 2003. Each date marks a critical step in the legacy of Masashi Kishimoto’s iconic series.
