Tite Kubo

Tite Kubo is a highly respected Japanese writer and manga artist, best known for creating the popular manga series Bleach. With over 120 million copies in circulation since its introduction in 2001, Bleach has become one of the best-selling manga series in the world. Kubo was born on June 26, 1977, in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. He is the son of a town council member and was a popular personality growing up. Kubo's interest in manga began in elementary school, inspired by the manga series Saint Seiya.

At the age of 17, Kubo decided to become a manga artist after reading Dragon Ball. He submitted his first concept for the series Zombiepowder when he was 18, but it was rejected multiple times. It wasn't until he was 22 that Zombiepowder was finally accepted by Shonen Jump. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled after four volumes in late 2000, leaving Kubo in emotional turmoil.

Kubo's next series, Bleach, was a significant success. The series follows a high school student who becomes a shinigami and fights hollows. Bleach began regular publication in 2001 and has been running in Weekly Shonen Jump ever since. In 2005, Bleach won the prestigious Shogakukan Manga Award in the shonen (boys) category. Kubo's debut series, ZOMBIEPOWDER., was a four-volume series for Weekly Shonen Jump, and his work has been translated into numerous languages and inspired an animated TV series in Japan.