Written by Tsukasa Monma and originally illustrated by Shikako, the manga Manchuria Opium Squad went on indefinite hiatus in late 2025 following Shikako’s death from illness, leaving fans devastated. In late September, it was announced that manga artist Tsurushima, a senior colleague from Shikako’s time working as an assistant on Kingdom, would take over the artwork. Serialization officially resumed in Weekly Young Magazine on October 5.
Alongside the manga’s return, the official team shared messages from Monma, Tsurushima and Shikako’s family. It also announced that Manchuria Opium Squad is officially getting an anime adaptation. Further details, including the animation studio, production staff and voice cast, will be revealed through the official website and other channels at a later date.
Manchuria Opium Squad is a crime thriller set in Manchuria in 1937. The story follows Isamu Higata, a soldier in the Kwantung Army who loses sight in his right eye on the battlefield. Desperate to save his seriously ill mother, he secretly begins producing opium—a decision that sends both his life and the fate of Manchuria down a radically different path.
The series began serialization on Kodansha’s Comic DAYS in April 2020 before moving to Weekly Young Magazine in September 2021. Its collected volumes have now surpassed 3.5 million copies in circulation.
The anime announcement arrived alongside the manga’s long-awaited comeback. It may still be some time before a premiere window is confirmed, but seeing the series make the jump to animation will undoubtedly come as a welcome surprise to many fans.
Given the story’s historical setting and challenging subject matter, adapting it will be no simple task. Now that the project is official, here’s hoping the anime can fully capture the manga’s richly constructed world.
To celebrate both the anime announcement and the manga’s return, Yanmaga Web and Comic DAYS made all 217 chapters available to read for free through October 11.
Tsurushima, who worked alongside Shikako as an assistant on Kingdom, has now taken over the manga’s artwork. Reflecting on their history together, Tsurushima said, “Shikako joined the studio as my junior assistant. Since both of us lived far from the studio, we would often stay there overnight while working as assistants.” Outside work, they played video games and watched television together, spending even more time with each other than with their own families. “To me, Shikako was like a younger brother who grew up beside me under the guidance of a great father.”
When the editorial department approached him about taking over Manchuria Opium Squad, Tsurushima was initially at a loss. “His death was almost more than I could bear. Continuing the manga as his successor would mean confronting those emotions head-on every day, and I knew that would be incredibly painful.”
He also wrestled with another concern: “Manchuria Opium Squad is a work that so many people poured their efforts into creating. How could I casually leave my own mark on it?” But after the editorial team told him that he did not need to answer immediately and could take time to think, he began considering whether there might be some way for him to help Shikako accomplish what he had hoped to do.
In the end, he reached a decision: even if his abilities fell short, accepting the role of successor might be the one thing he could do. And so, he picked up his pen. “Even if I use every ounce of strength I have, it still will not feel like enough. That is what Manchuria Opium Squad means to me.”
He also expressed his gratitude to Monma, the editorial department, everyone who helped build Manchuria Opium Squad, and Shikako’s family and friends. Finally, he made a promise to readers: “Above all, to every reader: I will put my heart into every line I draw. I hope you will stay with this story until the very end. Thank you for your continued support.”
Original writer Tsukasa Monma also recalled his final meeting with Shikako. At the time, Shikako told him that if anything ever happened, he wanted the series to continue. “Honestly, at first I thought it would be impossible.”
Monma wondered whether anyone could recreate the world Shikako had built—and whether anyone would be willing to shoulder such an enormous responsibility. He believed restarting serialization would be extraordinarily difficult. But when he saw Tsurushima’s work on Manchuria Opium Squad, he was deeply moved: “I still vividly remember thinking, ‘The story really is continuing.’”
Monma said he was deeply grateful that Shikako’s wishes had been carried forward and that the series could continue. “To honor Shikako, who passed the baton to us, and Tsurushima, who accepted it and everything that comes with it, I will also give everything I have to creating Manchuria Opium Squad.”
He closed by asking readers to continue supporting the series.
Shikako’s family also released a statement, explaining that he had always regarded being a manga artist as his true calling. They expressed their gratitude at seeing the work he treasured and devoted himself to return to serialization.
“Shikako worried about the future of Manchuria Opium Squad just as deeply as he worried about the future of his own family.” They offered their heartfelt thanks to Monma for respecting Shikako’s wishes, to the editorial department for working to restart the series, and to Tsurushima for accepting the immense responsibility of continuing the manga despite his own emotional struggles.
Knowing that Tsurushima, who had spent so much time with Shikako while they worked as assistants under Yasuhisa Hara, would carry the story forward left the family reflecting: “We wonder how Shikako would feel as he watches all of this now.” They admitted that they still could not fully come to terms with his death. Even so, they found comfort in knowing that proof of the life he lived would be passed on in this way, allowing the story to continue into the future.
Finally, the family thanked every reader who has supported Manchuria Opium Squad. “We hope even more people will discover this work in the future. As fans ourselves, our family will also be looking forward to seeing where the story goes next.”
For fans of Manchuria Opium Squad, the fact that the story can continue at all is already remarkable. With an anime adaptation now officially announced, the editorial team clearly intends to carry the series and Shikako’s legacy forward. For now, fans can look ahead to further anime updates while following the manga’s new chapters under Tsurushima.
via： X@【公式】『満州アヘンスクワッド』