Takeru Hokazono's popular sword-fighting manga Kagurabachi is taking an extended hiatus to give the creator time to recover. The official announcement came via the series' social media, stating that new chapters will stop appearing in Weekly Shonen Jump starting with the June 29 issue.

According to the statement, Hokazono expressed his desire to keep working, but after discussions with his team, everyone agreed that a proper rest period was necessary for him to maintain stable creative output going forward. The manga is expected to return in August.

This isn't Hokazono's first break on the series. The manga previously paused for one issue in May due to sudden illness and has had other unplanned breaks scattered throughout its run. Despite these interruptions, Kagurabachi has built significant momentum since its September 2023 debut in Weekly Shonen Jump.

The series has become a genuine success story. It topped the print category at the Next Manga Awards 2024 and earned nominations for multiple prestigious awards, including the Shogakukan Manga Awards and Kodansha Manga Awards. As of April 2026, the manga has 4 million copies in circulation, a notable achievement for a relatively young series. Viz Media is releasing the manga in English through both their Shonen Jump service and Shueisha's MANGA Plus platform, with print volumes also available.

The story follows Chihiro, a young swordsmith's apprentice training under his famous father. When tragedy strikes, Chihiro transforms his grief into a quest for revenge, setting up the epic sword-based action that's drawn readers to the series.

The hiatus comes at an interesting time for the franchise. A television anime adaptation is currently in production and set to debut in April 2027, meaning the manga break likely won't impact the anime's development schedule. Fans will need to wait until August for new chapters, but the anime premiere should arrive well after Hokazono returns to the page.