Special Feature: Looking Back at Demon Slayer by the Numbers

Demon Slayer by the Numbers ②: Ranking Position in Weekly Shonen Jump

Demon Slayer began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2016.
As many manga fans know, Weekly Shonen Jump operates under a famously intense system: each week, the order in which series are published—and whether they continue or get canceled—is largely determined by reader surveys and editorial evaluation.

While the results of these surveys are rarely made public, fans can often infer a series’ popularity from its placement within the magazine.
In general, the closer a series appears to the front cover, the better its standing. Placement toward the back of the magazine is often seen as a sign that the series may be in danger of cancellation.

The chart below shows how Demon Slayer’s placement fluctuated throughout its run in Weekly Shonen Jump.
The data was extracted by the author using Japan’s Media Arts Database (MADB Lab), managed by the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Please note that while care was taken in compiling the information, the accuracy may not be perfect.

Media Arts Database:
https://mediaarts-db.artmuseums.go.jp/?locale=en

The data shows that Demon Slayer began climbing the rankings rapidly even before the anime aired in 2019, and after the anime’s release, it consistently remained among the top three—solidifying its status as one of the magazine’s flagship titles.

At the same time, it’s worth noting that as early as 2017—about a year into its serialization—Demon Slayer had already secured a solid mid-tier position in the magazine.
Considering that this was during a time when heavyweight titles like One Piece, Gintama, Haikyu!!, My Hero Academia, Dr. STONE, and The Promised Neverland were all running in Weekly Shonen Jump, Demon Slayer’s ability to break into the middle ranks—even before any anime adaptation had been announced—is remarkable.