Umemoto, Sachio - 1 Original cover - Apache Yakyuugun - Apache Baseball Team - 1970

Original cover illustration by Sachio Umemoto (1943-1993) used as title page in the ‘Apacha Yakyuugun’ manga series published in Shōnen King (1970 > 1972)

Media : Pencil and ink on drawing paper
Condition : Very good condition
Size : 25 x 36 cm

Sachio Umemoto (梅本さちお, 1937–2021) made his debut in the world of kashihon manga with "I Have My Dream", published by Hinomaru Bunko. Shortly thereafter, he started working as an assistant to both Masaaki Satō and Tetsuya Chiba, two influential figures in postwar manga.

His first major breakthrough came with "Kujira Daigo", a series that appeared in the inaugural issue of Weekly Shōnen Jump in 1968. Although the magazine would later become home to titles such as Naruto, Dragon Ball, and One Piece, Umemoto chose not to remain under an exclusive contract and moved to Shōnen King in 1970.

There he created Apache Baseball Army (Apache Yakyūgun), the work that would define his career. The series became a major success and was adapted into a television anime the following year. Other notable works include "Little Dan-chan" and "Flying Wings" but "Apache Baseball Army" remains his most famous and influential title.

Umemoto's work appeared extensively in Japan's major weekly manga magazines, including Weekly Shōnen King, Weekly Shōnen Champion, Weekly Shōnen Jump, and Weekly Shōnen Sunday, with more than 500 published installments across these publications.

Note: Despite its popularity and successful anime adaptation, Apache Baseball Army remains surprisingly difficult to obtain today. Modern reprints have been limited due to the presence of language and depictions now considered discriminatory, making original editions and artwork increasingly sought after by collectors.

As we prepare to move from our Antwerp gallery to a new home, we've opened the drawers one more time. This auction brings together a carefully curated selection of manga, comic, and BD art, featuring gallery finds, forgotten treasures, and works rediscovered during the transition - now offered to collectors via Catawiki

Explore all our items and combine purchases to save on shipping, or collect your winnings in Antwerp (Belgium) or soon at the new location in Ghent — open by appointment only —