Rurouni Kenshin Manga Will Finally Return After A Year-Long Hiatus

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Summary

  • Rurouni Kenshin is considered a top anime series, with a sequel manga called The Hokkaido Arc.
  • Despite breaks due to the author’s health, the Hokkaido Arc is set to return in Spring 2025.
  • The original Rurouni Kenshin manga has sold over 72 million copies and is one of the best-selling manga series.

As an avid manga enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of Japanese pop culture, I must say that the return of Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc is like a beacon of hope for many of us who cherished the original series. Despite the controversy surrounding its author, Nobuhiro Watsuki’s work has left an indelible mark on the world of anime and manga.

Regardless of the debates about its creator, Rurouni Kenshin is often hailed as one of the greatest anime series ever produced. Following the conclusion of the initial manga, the author continued exploring other story arcs. The Hokkaido arc serves as a sequel to the original manga narrative.

The manga has been on hiatus since June 2024 as a result of creator Nobuhiro Watsuki’s poor health, but fans of the storyline about Himura Kenshin will be delighted to learn that it will resume in Spring 2025. This resumption seems to be due to an improvement in Watsuki’s health.

How Did Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc Come About

Initially in 1999, Nobuhiro Watsuki shared his plans for a sequel set in Hokkaido. Later on in 2012, he expressed his wish to illustrate the Hokkaido arc prior to Rurouni Kenshin: Restoration. However, ultimately, he abandoned this concept altogether.

After witnessing the Rurouni Kenshin musical, Nobuhiro Watsuki was persuaded to initiate the sequel production. The sequel, titled “Rurouni Kenshin: The Hokkaido Arc,” began its serialization in Jump Square magazine in September 2017. Advertisements for the series were displayed prominently at Shinjuku Station using posters.

However, only two months after its release, the Hokkaido Arc of Rurouni Kenshin was halted by Shueisha. The decision came following the discovery that Nobuhiro Watsuki, the author, had inappropriate content in his possession. This revelation stunned fans worldwide, as he was widely recognized as one of the top mangaka globally. Moreover, Watsuki was a respected mentor to other celebrated manga creators.

Initially, a situation that could have ended Nobuhiro Watsuki’s career led to a temporary ban lasting a few months instead, starting in July 2018. Since then, the series has experienced intermittent hiatuses primarily because of the author’s health issues.

Rurouni Kenshin Is Among The Best-Selling Manga Series

  • It has sold over 70 million copies
  • Many fans still adore it

Back in April of 1994, I found myself engrossed in a captivating tale called Rurouni Kenshin, which unfolded chapter by chapter. Over the years that followed, this story took me on an incredible journey through 255 chapters before concluding in 1999. The entire collection was later assembled into a grand total of 28 volumes.

1996 saw the beginning of the anime adaptation of Rurouni Kenshin, which concluded in 1998. This project was a joint effort among various studios. In late 2021, it was announced that a second anime adaptation by Liden Films would follow. The first season premiered in July 2023 and ran till December of the same year. The second season debuted in October 2024.

Rurouni Kenshin is streaming on Crunchyroll.

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2024-12-26 22:55