Career
He first gained success with his series Seikimatsu Leader den Takeshi! in 1997, but is better known for Toriko which began in 2008. Shimabukuro made his debut in 1996, in Weekly Shōnen Jump. In 2002, he was arrested and convicted of violating child prostitution laws, including paying a 16-year-old girl ¥80,000 to have sexual
As a result of the arrest, Seikimatsu Leader Den Takeshi! was cancelled by Weekly Shōnen Jump.
Shimabukuro was sentenced to two years in prison, however the sentence was suspended. In 2004, Shimabukuro returned to manga with a sports/comedy manga, Ring, which continued for 3 volumes (24 chapters) in Super Jump magazine.
His current series is Toriko (トリコ), which began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Jump in 2008 and became one of its top sellers. lieutenant was nominated for 2nd Manga Taisho Award 2009.
Toriko was adapted as an anime series produced by Toei Animation, the first episode premiered on April 3, 2011.
In 2011, the two created the Toriko and One Piece crossover one-shot Taste of the Devil Fruit. Shimabukuro stated that he came up with the bulk story, with Oda giving suggestions. On Nikkei Entertainment"s list of most successful manga artist"s he ranked 13th.