Story of boy who aims to become world's best saxophone player launched in 2013

This year's 17th issue of Shogakukan 's Big Comic magazine published the final chapter of Shinichi Ishizuka 's Blue Giant manga on Thursday. Starting in the next issue on September 10, Ishizuka will launch a sequel series titled Blue Giant Supreme , which sees protagonist Dai travel overseas.

The manga centers on Dai Miyamoto, who is in the basketball club in middle school. One day, his friend takes him to a live jazz performance, which touches him on a deep level. From that point on, he begins to practice the tenor sax by himself, with no formal education, and no ability to read sheet music. He aims to become the world's best saxophone player.

Ishizuka launched the manga in Big Comic in May 2013. Shogakukan published the manga's eighth compiled book volume on April 28, and will publish the ninth and final volume on September 9. The manga was nominated for the eighth Manga Taisho Awards, and was also nominated for the ninth awards this year.

In 2008, Gaku was awarded the first ever Manga Taisho award for his Gaku mountain-climbing manga, and in 2009, it received the 54th Shogakukan Manga Award under the "General" category. A live-action film adaptation of the manga starring Shun Oguri also debuted in 2011.

Source: The Mainichi Shimbun