Shinichi Okada
Description
Shinichi Okada is a Japanese writer and original creator, primarily known for his work on the Doreiku franchise. His full name in kanji is 岡田伸一. After graduating from university, he held a series of part-time jobs before committing to a career in writing.
Okada’s career began with the serialization of his debut novel, Boku to 23-nin no Dorei (literally, 23 Slaves and Me), as a web fiction on the Everystar platform. The story, a survival game involving a device called the SCM (Slave Control Method) that can turn opponents into slaves, became the foundation for a multimedia franchise. The novels were later published in print by Futabasha, starting in 2013. This original story spawned a manga adaptation illustrated by Hiroto Ōishi, titled Dorei-ku: Boku to 23-nin no Dorei, which was also serialized on Everystar and later collected into ten volumes. A live-action film adaptation of the manga was released in Japan in June 2014, and a twelve-episode television anime adaptation premiered in April 2018.
In 2019, a direct manga sequel series titled Dorei-ku: Gang Age was launched on the Piccoma website, with art by Takayoshi Kuroda. This series, for which Okada is credited as the original creator, was published in three compiled volumes and concluded in October 2020.
Beyond the Doreiku franchise, Okada has also created other manga series. From 2016 to 2018, he collaborated with illustrator J-ta Yamada on the manga Inō Maze (Supernatural Power Maze), which was serialized in Square Enix's Shonen Gangan magazine. The story is set in a city where people with supernatural abilities navigate a hidden and dangerous maze.
Shinichi Okada’s significance in the industry stems from his role as the originator of the Doreiku property, a seinen series noted for its themes of suspense, action, and psychological horror involving domination and survival. His work has seen adaptation across multiple media, including novels, manga, live-action film, and anime, establishing him as a creator whose original concepts have been successfully expanded into major franchises.
Okada’s career began with the serialization of his debut novel, Boku to 23-nin no Dorei (literally, 23 Slaves and Me), as a web fiction on the Everystar platform. The story, a survival game involving a device called the SCM (Slave Control Method) that can turn opponents into slaves, became the foundation for a multimedia franchise. The novels were later published in print by Futabasha, starting in 2013. This original story spawned a manga adaptation illustrated by Hiroto Ōishi, titled Dorei-ku: Boku to 23-nin no Dorei, which was also serialized on Everystar and later collected into ten volumes. A live-action film adaptation of the manga was released in Japan in June 2014, and a twelve-episode television anime adaptation premiered in April 2018.
In 2019, a direct manga sequel series titled Dorei-ku: Gang Age was launched on the Piccoma website, with art by Takayoshi Kuroda. This series, for which Okada is credited as the original creator, was published in three compiled volumes and concluded in October 2020.
Beyond the Doreiku franchise, Okada has also created other manga series. From 2016 to 2018, he collaborated with illustrator J-ta Yamada on the manga Inō Maze (Supernatural Power Maze), which was serialized in Square Enix's Shonen Gangan magazine. The story is set in a city where people with supernatural abilities navigate a hidden and dangerous maze.
Shinichi Okada’s significance in the industry stems from his role as the originator of the Doreiku property, a seinen series noted for its themes of suspense, action, and psychological horror involving domination and survival. His work has seen adaptation across multiple media, including novels, manga, live-action film, and anime, establishing him as a creator whose original concepts have been successfully expanded into major franchises.
Works
- Topics: Manga overview
- Topics: Anime overview