Hajime no Ippo manga sales: a 100 million-copy boxing epic
A 35-year run in Weekly Shonen Magazine reached a nine-figure cumulative total, but its year-by-year chart history remains patchy.
Published: 2026-08-19. Updated: 2026-08-19.
Short answer: George Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo passed 100 million copies in cumulative circulation in July 2023, coinciding with its 138th collected volume, according to Otaku USA Magazine and CBR. The series has run in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine since October 1989. Public Oricon annual series totals for the title are not available.
The 100 million milestone
Otaku USA Magazine reports that Hajime no Ippo reached over 100 million copies in circulation with the release of its 138th volume on July 14, 2023. CBR's best-selling manga list likewise places the series at 100 million volumes sold.
The milestone came after more than 34 years of serialization. Morikawa marked the occasion with a commemorative illustration for Weekly Shonen Magazine, and Kodansha displayed banners at its building.
A record-breaking run in Weekly Shonen Magazine
Hajime no Ippo launched in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine on October 11, 1989. It has become one of the longest-running active manga in the magazine, with CBR listing 137 volumes as of early 2024 and later sources noting 141 volumes by late 2024.
Because the series predates detailed public Oricon annual rankings, its public sales record is essentially the cumulative 100 million figure rather than a year-by-year chart history.
Why Oricon annual data is scarce
Oricon's public annual rankings highlight the top-selling series and volumes each year. A long-running sports manga with steady but not explosive annual sales is unlikely to appear in those published top lists, even after crossing 100 million copies in total.
That absence does not indicate poor performance. It reflects the mismatch between a long-tail cumulative hit and a ranking system designed to capture annual blockbusters.
Where public evidence stops: The 100 million copies milestone is the latest verified publisher-side figure we found. Later volume counts, annual Oricon series sales, and regional breakdowns are not documented in publicly available sources we could verify.
Anime and franchise reach
Hajime no Ippo has received multiple anime adaptations, including the original Fighting! series and Rising, both streamed by Crunchyroll. The anime raised the property's international profile, though it is harder to tie directly to manga volume sales without publisher updates.
The manga's continued serialization also means its cumulative total will keep rising, but the pace depends on release frequency and market conditions.
How to read the numbers
The most defensible claim is that Hajime no Ippo is a 100 million-copy-plus sports manga that reached the milestone in mid-2023. Per-volume averages, annual sales rates, and international splits should be treated as unverified unless they come from an original Oricon chart or Kodansha disclosure.
For researchers and fans, the key takeaway is that cumulative longevity matters. Hajime no Ippo built its nine-figure total across decades rather than through a short burst of annual chart dominance.
Frequently asked questions
How many copies of Hajime no Ippo have been sold?
The series exceeded 100 million copies in circulation with the release of volume 138 in July 2023.
Is Hajime no Ippo still serialized?
Yes. It has run in Kodansha's Weekly Shonen Magazine since October 1989 and continues as of this writing.
Does Hajime no Ippo appear on Oricon's annual charts?
No verified Oricon annual series total is publicly available. The 100 million figure is cumulative circulation reported by the publisher.