Cartoonist Shun Saeki, best known as the artist behind "Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma" and for his earlier adult manga work under the name Tosh, announced on November 1 that his exclusive contract with Shueisha has officially expired. He is now accepting commercial commissions for manga art, illustrations, character design, and other projects.
The announcement quickly caught fans’ attention, with many wondering what Saeki will tackle next and where his creative career is headed.
Saeki began his career creating adult manga under the name Tosh, including "Harem Time" and "Menkui!" After publishing the one-shot "Kimi to Watashi no Renai Soudan" in Jump NEXT! in 2011, he joined "Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma" as its artist when the series began running in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2012.
His later credits include "Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Sanji" and "Tenmaku Cinema," adding to an already impressive résumé. His distinctive approach to character art has earned him a devoted following. Although he has not had a serialized series in recent years, he regularly shares illustrations of characters from other franchises on X.
▼ Frieren, drawn by Shun Saeki in February 2026
In a post on his personal X account, Saeki shared an illustration from his signature work, "Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma," alongside the following statement:
"Update and Announcement: The exclusive contract between Shun Saeki and Shueisha, which had been in place for many years, recently reached the end of its term."
He continued:
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has supported and assisted me throughout the years. With the contract now concluded, I have begun accepting new work inquiries. For the time being, I am not considering projects that require a long-term commitment. Available services include manga art, illustrations, character design, and more. I hope this opens the door to many wonderful collaborations, and I look forward to working with you."
Given Saeki’s unmistakable art style and extensive résumé, finding new work probably will not be much of a challenge. Still, fans are eager to see what comes next. Animation character design and manga art would be obvious possibilities—but could the legendary Tosh also be preparing to make a comeback?