That being said, not every Jump title released here is a hit on the level of Dragon Ball Z. Sometimes they never rise above 'cult classic,' and sometimes it's obvious why that happened.
GIN TAMA, by Hideaki Sorachi. First published in 2003 and first published in North America in 2007.
PLOT:
In an alternate world where Meiji-era Japan has modern technology and aliens landed instead of Matthew Perry, Shinpachi is simply trying to get by. He's an ex-samurai with a failing family dojo who spends most of his days getting pushed around by others. Then a white-haired samurai named Gin charges into his restaurant, picks a fight, and drags Shinpachi along with him. Together with an alien girl with a penchant for violence, the three of them are ready to take on anyone and anything, be they permed Yakuza thugs, alien moneylenders, a rampaging octopus monster, or figures from Gin's past.
