What is JUMP?
WEEKLY JUMP, rival publication of WEEKLY SHONEN SUNDAY, is a "phone book" anthology published every week, with a circulation over 4 million. It is filled with some of today's hottest titles targeted for school age boys, many of them familiar to anime fans. JUMP has among its esteemed alumni: DRAGON BALL, VIDEO GIRL AI, CITY HUNTER, FIST OF THE NORTH STAR, KIMAGURE ORANGE ROAD, SAINT SEIYA, SLAM DUNK, and YUU YUU HAKUSHO / POLTERGEIST REPORT.
Last issue's WEEKLY JUMP update (1999 Issue 15) can be found here. Also, Rika's Weekly Jump Updates Page, which contains the full set of updates, is down at the moment but will be resuming operation in a few weeks.

Selected Overviews:

NEKOMAJIN GA IRU
by Toriyama Akira

Toriyama returns to JUMP once again after his 1998 short series KAJIKA as part of the two big short stories for this double issue. NEKOMAJIN, dubbed the "unya unya miracle country short story" by Toriyama himself, features a strage fellow called Nekomajin. As the name (cat-genie) indicates, it's a cat-person that wears a vest that magic-lamp genies tend to wear. One difference is that Nekomajin charges money for services rendered, but he still works to keep the peace of the town near him by repeatedly defeating the town "devil" that is usually sealed away right outside town.
This is a short story that can be considered stereotypical Toriyama—the wonderful mix of humor and action that charmed viewers in his two long hit series DR. SLUMP and DRAGON BALL. Fans of the latter series will have quite a chuckle towards the end of the story when Nekomajin performs a feat very reminiscent of our favorite Saiyajin.

DEKA-DANCE
by Umezawa Haruto

The second short story in this double-issue is by the author of HARELUYA II BØY, which recently ended its long run. The two main characters, Seigi and Reiko, are "problematic" cops—one uses his gun as a scare tactic, and the other uses her shapely figure to her advantage. The police chief tries to rein them in, but even without guns or skin-tight clothing, these two show that justice will be served.

Selected Brief Updates:

HIKARU NO GO
story by Hotta Yumi, art by Obata Takeshi, supervised by Umezawa Yukari
Started in #2/3, 1999 (1 volume available)

Overview: Hikaru was a normal elementary school student until the spirit of Sai, an ancient master of go, became trapped in his body. At first, Hikaru knew nothing about the game of go, but with Sai's proddings and teaching him the basics, his own ability starts to blossom. Now in junior high, Hikaru is trying to find people to join the go club at school...
This Issue—19th bout: 1000 yen per bout - Akane tells the two go club members that she saw Mitani write in the correct answer to their query on the club promotion poster. The problem is that neither of the boys heard of him. One day, while Hikaru was eating at a ramen place, he and Sai overhear the owner telling the delivery boy to to to a go club. Hikaru follows the delivery boy, and finds a boy of his age playing in the club—for money. What's even worse, the boy was cheating? Hikaru notices the uniform as the boy leaves. His suspicion is confirmed by the attendant; the mystery boy is, as suspected, Mitani.

SHAMAN KING
by Takei Hiroyuki
Started in #31, 1998 (3 volumes available)

Overview: Asakura Yoh appears to be nothing but a lazy transfer student. But as his new classmate Manta found out, Yoh is actually a shaman who wishes to become the best of the shamans, the Shaman King. With training from his fiancée Anna, Yoh and his friend/spirit Amidamaru enters the Shaman Fight, the tournament which will decide who the King will be. He managed to win the first fight, but his second opponent, Faust VIII, dissected Manta in front of Yoh....
This Issue—41st Reincarnation: NATURAL BONE KILLERS - As rain falls on Manta's open belly, Yoh is being held captive by a pile of bones. Faust laughs that Yoh couldn't reach Manta even if he wanted to, but is surprised by an attack from Yoh. Yoh wonders if Manta will be all right; Amidamaru replies that he will be all right as long as they stop his bleeding and get him to a (real) doctor soon. The countdown for the bout begins. With Yoh trying to stop Manta's bleeding, Faust gives "life" to all the skeletons in the graveyard. Faust laughs that the skeletons will rip Yoh and Manta into skeletons, but is met with an angered Yoh who blows away all the skeletons. Faust tries to himself under a mound of bones, but Yoh easily crushes through the barricade. The Oracle Bell then signals for the fight to begin.