For manga fans, waiting for a new chapter is normal. But sometimes, that wait turns into months or even years. When a popular series suddenly stops, the reason is often the same: the creator’s health. Drawing manga is a very tough job. The weekly deadlines, long hours, and pressure to deliver perfect art can take a big toll on the body and mind. Many famous manga artists have had to stop their work to recover. Here are 10 well-known manga series that went on hiatus because of the author’s health problems.
The Famous Cases That Changed the Industry
Hunter x Hunter by Yoshihiro Togashi
No list about manga hiatuses is complete without mentioning Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter. This series is famous for its complex story and characters like Gon and Killua. It is also just as famous for its long and frequent breaks. Togashi has struggled with severe back pain for many years. This condition makes it very hard for him to sit and draw for long periods.
Fans have become used to waiting. The manga has been on and off hiatus for years. In late 2024, Togashi shared on social media that he was working on new chapters, including completing Chapter 405 . He even started working on the next one. While this gave fans hope, it also reminded everyone of his ongoing health battle. His return to work suggests his condition might be improving, but the worry for his well-being is always there. Other manga creators, like Makoto Yukimura of Vinland Saga, have also spoken about their concern for Togashi’s health .
Berserk by Kentaro Miura
Berserk is a dark fantasy masterpiece. Its story of Guts and his never-ending struggle has inspired countless other works. But the series came to a tragic halt in May 2021. The creator, Kentaro Miura, passed away at the age of 54 due to an acute aortic dissection .
For years, Miura worked with incredible dedication. He was known as a perfectionist who handled most of the art and story himself. Assistants who worked with him said he often worked 16-hour days, skipping meals to get every detail right . Even when the series moved to a monthly schedule, the work was too much. After his passing, the series was put on an indefinite hold. It was later continued by Miura’s friend, Kouji Mori, and his former assistants at Studio Gaga, using the notes Miura left behind . The story of Berserk is a sad reminder of the human cost behind great art.
Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue
Takehiko Inoue’s Vagabond is a stunning retelling of the life of the famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. The art in this manga is often called some of the best in the business. It looks more like detailed paintings than simple drawings. However, Vagabond has been on an indefinite hiatus since 2015 .
Inoue did not stop because he was sick, but because he reached a creative dead end. He explained that he started to question the very meaning of drawing. He felt he had reached a point where he could no longer move forward with the story in a way that felt true . He decided to focus on his other manga, Real, which deals with wheelchair basketball. While the reason is creative, the years of intense work on such a detailed series likely led to this burnout. Fans still hope for its return, but for now, Musashi’s journey remains unfinished.
Hiatuses Due to Ongoing Health Battles
D.Gray-man by Katsura Hoshino
D.Gray-man follows young exorcist Allen Walker in a gothic, steampunk world. The series started in 2004 in Weekly Shonen Jump. Over the years, Katsura Hoshino’s health has caused many long breaks. The manga has moved from a weekly magazine to a monthly one and then to a quarterly one to help her keep working .
Hoshino has dealt with various illnesses that affect her ability to draw. These health issues have led to multiple extended hiatuses. One major pause lasted from 2014 to 2016. Another went from late 2020 to early 2023. The series returned with a new chapter in January 2023, and Volume 29 was released in July 2025 . But as of late 2025, the manga is on another indefinite break. The next chapter has no release date because of the author’s ongoing health concerns. This irregular schedule is hard for fans, but most understand that Hoshino’s health comes first.
The Case Study of Vanitas by Jun Mochizuki
From the creator of Pandora Hearts, Jun Mochizuki’s The Case Study of Vanitas is a gothic fantasy set in 19th-century Paris. The story follows vampire Noé and human doctor Vanitas. This series has also faced several breaks due to the author’s health .
The manga has had an irregular release schedule for a while. It was on hiatus from June 2022 to May 2023. More recently, it took a break in May 2024 that got extended. The series did return with a new chapter in July 2025, and then another in October 2025 . Good news came when it was confirmed that a new chapter will be released on December 22, 2025 . For now, the series is active again, but the pattern of breaks shows that managing her health is a constant priority for Mochizuki.
Black Butler by Yana Toboso
The popular dark fantasy series Black Butler, created by Yana Toboso, follows the young earl Ciel Phantomhive and his demon butler Sebastian. The manga went on an indefinite hiatus in 2024 . Fans knew that Toboso had been working on the series for nearly two decades, since 2006. Everyone agreed she deserved a break.
The wait turned out to be shorter than expected. The manga returned from its break on April 18, 2025 . This return was well-timed, as it came just after the new anime arc, the Emerald Witch Arc, started airing. The series has sold over 35 million copies, making it one of the best-selling manga of all time . Its quick return was a relief for fans who were worried about a longer wait.
World Trigger by Daisuke Ashihara
World Trigger by Daisuke Ashihara is known for its strategic battles and large cast of characters. The manga started in Weekly Shonen Jump but had to go on a long, two-year hiatus because of the author’s health . When it returned in 2018, it moved to the monthly magazine Jump SQ. to give Ashihara a less stressful schedule.
This change to a monthly format has helped the series continue more steadily. While the manga is now running, the anime situation is more complex. A reboot of the anime was announced, but it will only cover the first season again . This means a fourth season to adapt the newer manga arcs is delayed. For fans, this was disappointing news, but the main thing is that Ashihara is healthy enough to keep drawing the original story.
Long Hiatuses With Hope for a Return
Nana by Ai Yazawa
Ai Yazawa’s Nana is a beloved story about two young women with the same name and their lives in Tokyo. It became a cultural hit in the early 2000s. However, the manga has been on hiatus since 2009 . The reason was Yazawa’s poor health. She became ill and was no longer able to continue the series.
For over 15 years, fans had no idea if the story would ever end. Then, in August 2025, Yazawa gave an update. She confirmed that the series is not finished and that she plans to continue it when she can . She shared that the story is already in its final stages. While she did not give a date, her words gave a huge wave of hope to the dedicated fanbase who have been waiting for over a decade to see how the story of Nana Komatsu and Nana Osaki finally ends.
Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada and Tsukasa Abe
This modern hit is different from others on this list. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End is a recent success story. It won the Manga Taisho award in 2021 and has sold over 30 million copies . The anime adaptation was a massive hit worldwide. However, in October 2025, the editorial department of Weekly Shonen Sunday announced that the manga would go on a break .
The reason was to look after the health of its creators, writer Kanehito Yamada and illustrator Tsukasa Abe. The official statement said they were taking time to adjust the serialization schedule and format. The goal is to keep delivering the story at its best . This is a smart move. Instead of waiting until someone gets very sick, the team decided to take a proactive break. This shows a positive change in the industry, where preventing burnout is becoming more important.
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Oshi no Ko by Aka Akasaka
The popular series Oshi no Ko, created by Aka Akasaka, also had to take a break. This manga, which deals with the dark side of the entertainment industry, became a huge hit. In late 2023, Akasaka confirmed that both Oshi no Ko and his other series, Love Agency, would go on a month-long hiatus .
Akasaka admitted that he had fallen ill. In a letter shared with fans, he apologized for the break. He explained that he discussed it with his team and decided to take the time off to recover. He assured everyone that he was feeling much better and ready to get back to work . This was a straightforward case of a creator needing a short break to recover from sickness and return to full health.
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For more updates on your favorite manga series and the well-being of the creators behind them, keep reading VvipTimes. We bring you the latest on when your most anticipated stories are set to return.
