Manchuria Opium Squad, the gritty crime series written by Tsukasa Monma, is set to return to the pages of Kodansha's Weekly Young Magazine on October 5. The series had been on hiatus following the death of artist Shikako in November 2025. In a statement, the editorial department confirmed that the manga will continue under the direction of new artist Tsurushima, honoring Shikako’s final wish that a colleague from the Kingdom production team take over the project.
The transition begins with the release of chapter 216, which incorporates the final 11 pages completed by Shikako before their passing, supplemented by additional production work from the series' long-standing assistant team. Starting with chapter 217, Tsurushima will assume full artistic duties. Tsurushima brings significant experience to the role, having previously collaborated on titles like Shikyuuji: Kōkō Kyūji ni Asu wanai and the recently concluded Gokuaku Tensei.
Since its debut in 2020, the series has maintained a steady presence in the industry, moving from the Comic Days digital platform to Weekly Young Magazine in 2021. As of late 2025, the series had reached its 22nd compiled volume. Readers looking to catch up on the story can access the series in English through the K MANGA app, which hosts the title as part of its ongoing digital catalog.
