The return to the world of Rokudenashi Blues has hit a production shift. Shueisha’s Grand Jump magazine revealed in its 18th issue that the spin-off series, Rokudenashi Blues Gaiden: Onikazura, will miss its original summer debut, with the launch now rescheduled for this coming winter.
Alongside the delay, the production has undergone a notable creative change. Yuki Yoshimoto has been tapped to provide the artwork for the project, taking over the role previously assigned to Boichi. Yoshimoto is recognized for their collaborative work on Ghost in the Shell: The Human Algorithm, which concluded on the Comic Days app in April 2025.
Original creator Masanori Morita has clarified that this project is not a direct sequel to the iconic 1988–1997 boxing series. Instead, it serves as a side story set in the early 1990s, specifically detailing the previously unseen conflict between the characters Onizuka and Kasai. These two figures were among the formidable "four heavenly kings" that defined the high-stakes atmosphere of Teiken High School in the original 42-volume run.
