The Captain Tsubasa franchise announced Monday that the Captain Tsubasa: Rising Sun Finals manga will pause following its 100th chapter. The series will return at an unspecified date, according to the official X account.

This hiatus marks another chapter in the wind-down of Takahashi's historic soccer series. The creator announced his retirement from serialization last year, ending nearly five decades of Captain Tsubasa content. The final issue of Captain Tsubasa Magazine shipped in April 2024, bringing the Rolling Sun saga and related spin-offs to a close.

The Rising Sun Finals arc began in April 2023 as the "final saga" of the overall Captain Tsubasa series. It followed the manga's move from Weekly Shonen Jump and Grand Jump to the dedicated Captain Tsubasa Magazine, where it had been published since 2020. The series itself launched in December 2013, following Olympic hopeful Tsubasa Ōzora's continued soccer journey.

For those unfamiliar with the franchise: the original Captain Tsubasa manga ran in Weekly Shonen Jump from 1981 to 1988 and became a cultural phenomenon worldwide. The 37-volume series has spawned four anime adaptations, multiple anime films, OVAs, and even a stage play. It's available in roughly 20 countries and remains foundational to shonen sports manga.

Takahashi's decision to step back from serialization came after more than 40 years building the franchise. The Rising Sun arc itself represented his attempt to continue Tsubasa's story into adulthood, with the character aiming for Olympic glory as Japan's representative.

The official announcement didn't provide specifics on the hiatus length or whether the 100th chapter represents a natural stopping point or mid-arc pause. Given Takahashi's retirement from regular serialization, fans should adjust expectations—this may be a lengthy break rather than a brief intermission.

The manga previously launched on the New Captain Tsubasa World website as storyboards in July 2024 before shifting to serialization. Whether the series will return to that platform or print remains unclear.