The gritty historical drama Manchuria Opium Squad is officially slated for an anime adaptation. The announcement arrived in the 45th issue of Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine, confirming that the series—created by writer Tsukasa Monma and the late artist Shikako—will make the transition from the page to the screen.
Alongside the anime news, the manga has resumed serialization in Weekly Young Magazine with a new artist, Tsurushima, taking over the illustration duties. Tsurushima, who previously served as an assistant on Yasuhisa Hara’s Kingdom, stepped in to continue the story following the passing of Shikako in November 2025. The series returned this week with two chapters, marking a new chapter for the production.
Set in 1937, the narrative follows Isamu Higata, a soldier stationed in the Japanese-controlled puppet state of Manchukuo. After suffering a debilitating injury and facing systemic abuse, Higata discovers a hidden field of poppies, leading him to produce opium to save his ailing mother. This desperate decision pulls him into a dangerous underworld that threatens to reshape the region.
While the anime production details remain under wraps, the manga continues to be available to English readers through Kodansha’s K MANGA service. With the series reaching its 22nd compiled volume as of late 2025, the transition to a new artist ensures that Monma’s original vision will reach its conclusion as Shikako had intended.
