Shonan Bakusozoku: Bomber Bikers of Shonan (Japanese: 湘南爆走族, Hepburn: Shōnan Bakusōzoku) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Satoshi Yoshida. It was serialized in Shōnen Gahōsha's Shōnen King magazine from 1982 to 1987 and published in 16 volumes. A prequel has been serialized in Young Champion No. 3 since January 2022, with its individual chapters collected into three volumes. The series has been adapted into 12 OVAs and a live-action film.
Media
Manga
Written and illustrated by Satoshi Yoshida, the series originated as a one-shot published in Shōnen Gahōsha's Shōnen King magazine in August 1982. The one-shot was turned into a full series, which was serialized in Shōnen King from 1982 to 1987.[2] Shōnen Gahōsha collected the series' individual chapters into 16 tankōbon volumes.[3] The series has been re-released by Kodansha,[4]Akita Shoten,[2] and Shogakukan.[5] A new one-shot for the series was published in Shogakukan's Big Comic in 2017.[6]
A prequel series, titled Shonan Bakusozoku First Flag, began serialization in Akita Shoten's Young Champion No. 3 magazine on January 11, 2022.[2] As of November 2024, Akita Shoten has collected its individual chapters into four tankōbon volumes.[7]
A live-action film adaptation, directed by Daiki Yamada and starring Yōsuke Eguchi and Yūji Oda, was released in 1987.[10]
Reception
Mike Toole of Anime News Network described the series as a "hit" and "major phenomenon" in Japan.[1][11] However, he also noted that "Shonan Bosozoku completely failed to resonate with American fans".[11]
The series has 29 million copies in circulation.[2]
