Yoshihiro Togashi has officially completed the inking for Hunter x Hunter Chapter 425, giving the manga’s dedicated fanbase a rare piece of good news about the series’ production. The creator shared the update on his official X account (formerly Twitter), confirming that another step forward has been taken for the long-stalled series. However, what should have been a moment of excitement quickly turned into a wave of concern as followers noticed something alarming in the image attached to the post.
The beloved manga series has been on an indefinite hiatus since December 2024, when Chapter 410 was published. Since then, fans have been waiting for any sign that the Succession War arc would continue. While Togashi finishing Chapter 425 means progress is happening, the circumstances surrounding the update have many people worried about the creator’s well-being rather than celebrating the manga’s future.
Togashi Confirms Chapter 425 Inking Complete on Social Media
The Hunter x Hunter creator posted on his official X account that the character inking for Chapter 425 is now finished. This follows his previous updates about completing storyboards and background specifications for various chapters. According to multiple social media posts from @Un4v5s8bgsVk9Xp, Togashi has been steadily working on the manga despite his ongoing health battles .
The confirmation means that the chapter is one step closer to being ready for publication, though no official release date has been announced yet. Shueisha, the publisher behind Weekly Shonen Jump, has not confirmed when or how Chapter 425 will be released. The manga remains in what sources describe as a “planned-pause position” rather than being fully cancelled, but readers should not expect a regular weekly or monthly schedule anytime soon .
This update continues a pattern of slow but steady progress from Togashi. Earlier reports indicated that he had completed specifics and dialogue for Chapters 411 through 420, meaning roughly ten chapters are in various stages of preparation . The completion of inking for Chapter 425 suggests the production pipeline is moving forward, even if the pace remains extremely slow by industry standards.
Fans Express Alarm Over Creator’s Shaky Handwriting in Latest Post
The excitement about Chapter 425’s progress was quickly overshadowed by what fans saw in the image Togashi shared. The page numbering and handwritten notes in the photo appeared visibly shaky, with uneven strokes that immediately raised red flags among followers who know about the creator’s long history of health issues .
Social media platforms lit up with concerned messages. On Reddit, threads discussing Togashi’s condition gained traction as fans analyzed the handwriting. One user on Instagram noted that the “handwriting looking very shaky” was the main topic of discussion across anime communities . Spanish-language Facebook pages also picked up on the concern, with fans expressing worry about the mangaka’s physical state .
“Preocupación entre los fans de Hunter x Hunter por la salud de Yoshihiro Togashi,” read one Facebook post, highlighting how international the concern has become .
This is not the first time fans have worried about Togashi. Back in 2022, he revealed that his chronic back pain had worsened to the point where even normal daily activities had become difficult. The physical demands of drawing manga, especially detailed work like Hunter x Hunter is known for, take a serious toll on his body . Seeing visible evidence of shaky hands in his latest work update has many people hoping he prioritizes his health over deadlines.
What Chapter 425 Completion Means for Hunter x Hunter’s Return
So where does the manga actually stand right now? The completion of Chapter 425 is undoubtedly progress, but it does not mean the series is back. Hunter x Hunter has been on hiatus since December 8, 2024, when Chapter 410 was published . The series has a long history of irregular serialization stretching back to its 1998 debut, with breaks often lasting months or even years.
The current status is that the manuscript for Chapter 425 exists in completed form, but several questions remain unanswered . Will it be published in Weekly Shonen Jump, or will it appear in a different magazine or special release? Will there be a batch of chapters released together, or will fans get one chapter at a time with unpredictable gaps? Shueisha has not made any official announcements about the publication format or schedule .
For context, the last officially released chapter was 410 in December 2024 . Since then, Togashi has been posting updates about his work on various chapters. He confirmed completing storyboards and backgrounds for Chapter 420 back in October 2025 . The fact that he is now finishing inking for Chapter 425 suggests he is working ahead, but the timeline for when these chapters will actually reach readers remains unclear.
The Succession War arc, which is the current story line, is expected to continue whenever the manga does return. Chapter 425 would presumably advance this complex narrative, though no plot details have been revealed .
Looking at Hunter x Hunter’s Long History of Hiatuses
To understand why this update matters, it helps to know the series’ track record. Hunter x Hunter debuted in 1998 and has been published in Weekly Shonen Jump ever since, but “weekly” has never really applied to this particular manga. Togashi’s health issues, primarily related to chronic back pain, have forced the series into repeated and extended breaks.
Back in 2014, the manga went on what became a year-and-a-half-long hiatus, which was actually just one of many throughout its run . At the time, Togashi had taken a two-week break due to back pain, but that break stretched into something much longer. Fans have grown used to the unpredictable schedule, but it never gets easier waiting for the next installment.
Despite the irregular releases, the series has sold over 70 million copies in Japan alone and spawned two anime adaptations, multiple OVAs, and video games . The demand for new content remains incredibly high, which is why any update from Togashi generates significant attention.
What makes the current situation different is Togashi’s transparency. Since creating his X account, he has been sharing behind-the-scenes progress photos and updates directly with fans. This direct communication was not available during earlier hiatuses, and it has helped fans understand exactly how much work goes into each chapter.
Global Fan Reactions Show Support and Concern
Across social media platforms, the response to Togashi’s Chapter 425 update has been mixed between excitement and worry. On Threads, The Anime Caliber account noted that while Togashi confirmed completing background detailing for Chapter 425, the return date has still not been revealed . This lack of concrete release information leaves fans in a familiar state of uncertainty.
Facebook communities dedicated to anime news have been sharing the update alongside messages of support. One post read, “Hunter × Hunter creator Yoshihiro Togashi has confirmed that he has officially finished inking Chapter 425. The update has reignited excitement among fans eagerly awaiting the manga’s continuation” . But that same post generated comments focused more on Togashi’s health than on the chapter itself.
The concern is understandable given what fans know about his physical condition. Chronic back pain severe enough to make normal activities difficult does not go away, and the demanding nature of manga creation only makes things worse. Many fans have expressed that they would rather wait longer for chapters than see Togashi push himself to the point of serious harm.
Some discussions have focused on the possibility of the series continuing with a different format or with assistance, similar to how other manga creators have managed their workloads. However, no official changes to the production process have been announced.
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What Comes Next for the Manga Series
For now, Hunter x Hunter remains in a state of production without a confirmed return date. The completion of Chapter 425 is a positive sign that work is continuing, but it is not the same as the series resuming serialization. Fans will need to wait for official word from Shueisha or Weekly Shonen Jump about when and how new chapters will be released .
The publisher has not committed to any particular schedule for future chapters. Given the history of the series, it is unlikely that Hunter x Hunter will ever return to a regular weekly format. More probable is a continuation of the current pattern: occasional batches of chapters released when Togashi is able to complete them, with potentially long gaps in between.
International fans across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and India who follow the series through unofficial translations or official Shueisha platforms will all be watching for the same announcement. When Chapter 425 does eventually release, it will likely be available through the same channels as previous chapters, including digital platforms that serve global audiences.
The most important factor in all of this remains Togashi’s health. Every update he shares brings both hope for the story’s continuation and anxiety about the physical toll it takes on him. For a series that has spanned nearly three decades, the priority for most fans is simply that its creator stays well enough to keep working at whatever pace he can manage.
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