Hajime Isayama Expresses Respect for Legendary Postcard Artist Toru Mitsumine as He Reflects on 30 Years of Contributions

Toru Mitsumine, known as the “legendary postcard artist,” has been active in submission activities for nearly 30 years, from the late 1980s to the present.

Notably, his submission volume is impressive; he has submitted to various genres, primarily focusing on bishoujo manga magazines, and his illustrations have appeared simultaneously in multiple publications.

Even if people may not know Mitsumine’s name, many have likely been captivated by his unique and impactful art style at some point. Due to his highly active and mysterious behavior, rumors have circulated, suggesting there might be “multiple people involved,” that he could “actually be a woman,” or even that “editors are drawing his submissions.” These rumors evolved into urban legends, leading to whispers among editors that “books submitted by Mitsumine never fail,” labeling him as the “house spirit of the publishing industry.” It came to be said that “the presence of Mitsumine’s submission signifies that a work is recognized as a book.”

Even as his name has spread, he has continued to submit without stepping into the limelight, captivating many hearts and inspiring numerous creators to become his fans. Hajime Isayama, the author of “Attack on Titan,” has also named him as someone he “respects,” and he is regarded as a living legend who even appeared on the TV program “Tamori Club.”

In the current Reiwa era, Mitsumine has gained support from a broad range of fans, including those from the ’90s as well as new fans emerging from the social media age. In the summer of 2024, his biographical manga “Ijin Gaho Toru Mitsumine” was published by Shonen Gahosha.

Amidst the changing media landscape, we sought to uncover how he views the world today while continuing his activities unchanged.

 

In the ’90s, he submitted 100 pieces a month but said he was “scolded by my family.”

――What prompted you to start submitting your work?

“I’ve always loved submitting. At first, I submitted written pieces to magazines like ‘The Television’ and general publications. I also enjoyed submitting to radio shows, listening to broadcasts by Mami Koyama and Hiroko Taniyama on ‘All Night Nippon,’ and sending in my contributions. During the early ’80s bishoujo manga boom, I became a fan of manga artist Tō Moriyama. I submitted to magazines for the chance to get one of his telephone cards, and when I was accepted, I was so thrilled that I got even more into submitting. I admired Shotaro Ishinomori and wanted to be a manga artist, so I started submitting illustrations from there.”

――What do you find most rewarding about submitting?

“The joy of getting published sums it up. It’s disappointing when you put in effort and don’t get accepted. But sometimes, a piece you thought was rejected shows up months later, like a comeback. Occasionally, when the submission volume is low for a month, past rejected works get published. I often think, ‘I didn’t submit that,’ but it’s fun to realize how much has happened in between. It’s not just about the happiness of getting published; there’s also a sense of relief, which makes it a complex feeling.”

――How frequently have you been submitting your work?

“During my most active period in the ’90s, I submitted around 100 pieces a month. There were plenty of magazines back then, and I bought as many as I could to submit to. After I suffered a stroke in 2015, my submissions decreased to about 20 to 30 a month. The stroke was a significant event; I collapsed at work, and since I live alone, my family found out about my health issues. I had been hiding my submission activities from them. ‘Toru Mitsumine ‘ is my pen name. When my family entered my room to collect my clothes, they were shocked at how messy it was, especially when they saw magazines where my work had been published, including many adult comics. They got angry about that.”

――Have you been able to gain your family’s understanding?

“Well, after everything that happened, I think my family and even relatives know about my activities, especially with the biography out. I don’t bring it up, and they seem to understand but don’t mention it either (laughs).”