Why Is the ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ Manga on Hiatus?
Anime is a staple in Japan, but it is also extremely popular in places like the United States. Most of the time, an anime series is based on a manga of the same name. Jujutsu Kaisen is one example of a manga that transitioned to the world of anime. The series has been out for a while, but it has not finished yet. And the author recently went on hiatus.
‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ was a manga before becoming an anime
Jujutsu Kaisen is a 2018 Japanese manga written and illustrated by Gege Akutami. The dark fantasy manga centers on a high school student named Yuji Itadori. He becomes the host of a powerful Curse called Ryomen Sukuna and joins the Jujutsu Sorcerers to kill it.
Similar to other widely popular works, Jujutsu Kaisen got adapted to an anime in 2020. The Jujutsu Kaisen anime ran for 24 episodes before concluding in 2021. For the most part, the adaptation follows the premise of the source material.
Of course, there are several differences between the Jujutsu Kaisen anime and manga stories. The show makes Yuji out to be a better fighter, but the manga reinstated the character’s death sentence. Some of the inconsistencies that readers may have noticed might have been necessary for the adaptation.
The number of copies in circulation for the manga was in the thousands upon release. The numbers gradually increased until the anime impacted its visibility. Anime News Network reported that the number in circulation jumped by 350% within the first four months of the Jujutsu Kaisen anime premiere.
‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ will be on hiatus indefinitely
Recently, fans of Jujutsu Kaisen heard some disappointing news from Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump. According to ComicBook, the manga is on an indefinite hiatus. It is hard to predict how long the series will get put on hold, but some people estimate the hiatus to last around a month.
There are multiple reasons why a creator would halt production. For Akutami, his health began to decline. As a result, he is going on a break to manage his well-being before creating any new chapters. The official statement read:
“Akutami wanted to continue writing, but after several discussions with the editorial department, it has been decided that it’s better for Akutami to take a break for a certain period of time. We determined it was the best decision for the mangaka to recover their physical condition.”
While fans desire to know what is in store for Yuji, they want the creator to focus on himself first. Many people have shown their support online.
Manga authors experience difficult weekly schedules
Often, aspiring authors struggle to get their work out there. Once they have a job, they face long hours and little breaks. Manga creators follow a rigid weekly production schedule to meet demands. The demands can cause stress for many people like Akutami.
Stress leads to negative effects, and authors usually have little time to take care of themselves. An increased reputation for a manga series might make the harsh weekly demands more prominent. The difficult schedule is one reason for a hiatus.
It is hard to know when a hiatus may end. Some shows have been on hold for over two years, and other works did not wait as long. Jujutsu Kaisen is not the only popular manga to have gone on a break. Hunter X Hunter has had multiple hiatus streaks, and it is on another one currently.
Berserk is another beloved series that has gone on a long hiatus. Unfortunately, the author died this year.
