Why Did Kagurabachi Manga Go on Hiatus? Explained

The popular dark fantasy manga Kagurabachi has experienced a temporary delay due to a scheduled hiatus that shifts its expected continuation past the upcoming magazine release cycle. According to @kagurabachi_x on X, the manga will go on a hiatus starting from Weekly Shonen Jump issue 31, which is set to be released on June 29, 2026, at 12 am JST, to ensure author Takeru Hokazono gets some rest from the tight schedule. The serialization will resume in August 2026, and an exact date will be announced by the official staff later.

— カグラバチ公式 (@kagurabachi_x) June 17, 2026

As of June 17, 2026, the manga has released a total of 124 chapters (via Viz Media), with the upcoming chapter slated to be released on June 22, 2026, at 12 am JST. Written and illustrated by rising talent Hokazono, Kagurabachi has rapidly grown into one of the most popular and highly anticipated series in WSJ since its debut. The announcement regarding the delay was shared officially by Weekly Shonen Jump‘s editorial team through the manga’s official X account. Meanwhile, the popular manga is scheduled for an anime adaptation release in April 2027.

Title	Kagurabachi
Creator	Takeru Hokazono
Manga Release Date	September 19, 2023 — present
Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #31 Release	June 29, 2024
Upcoming Anime Release Date	April 2027
Manga MAL Rating (as of June 17, 2026)	8.05 / 10
Availability	Shueisha (MANGA Plus), Viz Media

Kagurabachi Manga Enters Hiatus as Takeru Hokazono Takes Rest

The official reason provided for Kagurabachi manga’s hiatus is to allow creator Hokazono to take a planned rest period. Although Hokazono intended to continue writing despite his health issues, the editorial team convinced him to prioritize his health.

Lately, in the Kagurabachi manga, sharp-eyed readers have pointed out that the art quality has deteriorated a bit, appearing noticeably more sketchy with increasingly incomplete panels during highly demanding action sequences. This visual strain is partly due to the relentless pressure of weekly submissions in Weekly Shonen Jump, a crushing workload compounded by Hokazono executing back-to-back color pages and assisting with heavy franchise pre-production.

In the modern manga industry, scheduling periodic breaks has become standard practice to prevent long-term damage to both a creator’s health and their work. A prime example of this is Yoshihiro Togashi’s legendary Hunter x Hunter manga, which has faced extensive, year-long hiatuses due to the author’s chronic health struggles built up from early serialization pressures.

Since launching, Kagurabachi has maintained a remarkably consistent serialization pace. Hokazono has delivered highly detailed artwork and complex action choreography week after week, which demands an immense workload. Recent chapters have featured major plot progression and intense visual sequences, raising the stakes of the narrative.

Weekly Shonen Jump Confirms Kagurabachi‘s August Return

Fortunately for fans, Weekly Shonen Jump has already provided a clear timeline for the manga’s return. WSJ’s editorial team confirmed through the manga’s official X account that Kagurabachi manga is scheduled to resume serialization in August 2026, meaning the hiatus will span across the summer weeks. Meanwhile, the official anime teaser trailer dropped a month ago and has sent fans into a frenzy, making it further harder for faithfuls to wait for the Jump issue alongside the cinematic version.

Here is a look at the official teaser trailer:

When the Issue officially drops, it will be widely accessible to international readers through official Shueisha channels. Fans can read the upcoming release on digital platforms such as MANGA Plus and the official Viz Media Shonen Jump app and website, where new chapters are simultaneously translated into English alongside their Japanese publication.

Once the manga returns, its expected to pick up immediately following the intense narrative developments of the current story arc: Seitei War Arc. The story is deep into the territory of the history of the Enchanted Blades and the mysterious past of the Soga Clan, who opted to sacrifice Princess Chiaki. After the hiatus is lifted, the story will probably delve into how Kunishige Rokuhira (Chihiro’s father) forged those swords. We will also learn the story behind Chihiro’s father and Togo’s equation with the Soga Clan.

Meanwhile, with the return schedule locked in, readers can rest assured that this delay is strictly temporary.

What are your wildest theories for where the story goes next after this unexpected break? Comment below!

Kagurabachi can be read on Viz Media and MANGA Plus.