The Chained Soldier manga is taking a temporary break as artist Yōhei Takemura focuses on recovery from a persistent wrist injury. According to a statement released by Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ editorial department, Takemura has been managing a fibrocartilage injury since June. Despite attempting to continue work while wearing a brace, the physical strain of drawing has hindered the healing process, necessitating a complete pause on production to ensure a full recovery.
While the editorial team has penciled in a return date of November 14, they emphasized that Takemura’s health remains the primary concern. The long-term schedule for the series will be re-evaluated in the coming weeks based on medical guidance and discussions between Takemura and writer Takahiro.
This hiatus arrives as the franchise continues to expand its footprint in the anime space. Following the January 2024 debut of the first season and the subsequent second season that premiered earlier this year, a third season is already confirmed to be in production. With the manga currently available in English via Yen Press and the anime streaming on HIDIVE, the series maintains a steady presence across both mediums. Given the physical demands of the medium, how do you think the shift toward a more flexible, health-conscious release schedule might impact the series' long-term production cycle?
