The popular manga series Kagurabachi is taking an unexpected break. Takeru Hokazono, the creator of the hit Weekly Shonen Jump series, needs time to recover from a sudden illness. The manga was set to release chapter 122 on May 17, 2026, but fans will have to wait a little longer for the next installment.
Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine announced the news in its 25th issue. The chapter was originally planned for that edition. The series still appears in the issue’s postcard because the change could not be made before the printing process started. The break is only for one issue, and the story will continue soon.
The Hiatus Will Last Just One Week
The pause is short. Kagurabachi is set to return in the magazine’s 26th issue on May 25, 2026. For global readers using MANGA Plus, the chapter will be available a day earlier on May 24 due to time zone differences.
This is not the first time Hokazono has needed to step away from drawing. The manga took an unplanned one-week break in June 2025 because of a sudden illness. Another break happened in October 2025 for production reasons. These repeated pauses have made fans pay closer attention to the author’s health and workload.
Fans who follow the weekly release schedule were eagerly waiting for chapter 122. The series had been building up momentum, and readers were excited to see what happens next. Now, they will need to hold on for just one more week.
Fans Show Support for Hokazono on Social Media
The response from readers has been kind and understanding. On X (formerly Twitter), the official Kagurabachi account shared the news, and fans quickly filled the comments with caring messages.
“Please do not overwork yourself. Take all the time you need to recover.”
Many readers expressed sadness about the delay but put the author’s health first. Some wrote, “This is so sad. I feel like I lost my favorite thing,” while others added, “Take care of yourself. We will wait for you.” The worry is understandable because Hokazono is only 25 years old. His young age combined with health problems has started conversations about how hard manga creators work.
Some fans even joked that Shueisha should give the young creator more rest time. Others made half-serious guesses that maybe a live-action movie was secretly in the works. But most comments simply showed love for the series and concern for the person drawing it.
Kagurabachi Has Become a Massive Hit in a Short Time
The series first appeared in Weekly Shonen Jump in September 2023. In less than three years, it has grown into one of the magazine’s most popular titles. The story follows Chihiro, a young man training to become a sword maker with his father. After a terrible tragedy, he picks up a blade and lives only for revenge.
The manga has sold incredibly well. As of April 2026, total circulation has passed 4 million copies. The 11th collected book volume came out in Japan on May 1, 2026. These numbers are impressive for a series that does not even have an anime yet.
Part one of the story finished earlier this year, and part two is now underway. The manga has completed three arcs, with the Sword Bearer Assassination arc being the longest so far.
Anime Adaptation Is Coming in 2027
Even with this small delay, big things are coming for the franchise. An anime adaptation was officially announced in April 2026. It will come out in April 2027 as part of the spring anime season. Tetsuya Takeuchi will direct the show, with Shochiku and CyberAgent producing it.
This is great news for international fans who have been reading online. The anime will likely bring even more readers to the manga, similar to what happened with other Jump hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer. The series already has a strong foundation, and the anime will only build on that success.
Fans had a scare earlier in 2026 when a fake social media account made people think an anime announcement was coming early. The account was quickly taken down, and it turned out to have no connection to any official production. But the real confirmation arrived in April, so everyone can now relax and look forward to 2027.
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What This Means for the Release Schedule
For readers tracking the schedule, here is what to expect. The current break means chapter 122 moves from May 17 to May 25 in Japan. For MANGA Plus users in the Americas, that means Sunday, May 24.
The previous schedule had looked like this:
- May 3: Break
- May 10: Chapter 121
- May 17: Chapter 122 (now delayed)
- May 24: Chapter 123 (will also shift by one week)
The rest of the schedule will likely move forward by one week from here. The editorial team has not announced any further changes beyond this single-issue break.
Health problems in the manga industry are nothing new. Famous creators like Yoshihiro Togashi (Hunter x Hunter) have struggled with severe back pain for years. Other artists have talked about sleeping only a few hours per night to meet weekly deadlines. The conversation about better working conditions has been going on for a long time, and Hokazono’s situation reminds everyone that the issue is still very real.
For now, the best thing fans can do is wait patiently. The break is short, and Hokazono will be back to drawing soon. The 26th issue of Weekly Shonen Jump will arrive on May 25, and chapter 122 will be there for everyone to read.
Also Read: Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint Anime Rumor Points to 2027 Release After Leak, Fans React
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