Kemono Jihen Manga Goes on Hiatus Due to Creator's Sibling's Death
The Kemono Jihen manga has gone on an indefinite hiatus due to a family loss suffered by its creator, Sho Aimoto. According to an official statement from Shueisha's Jump Square magazine, Aimoto's brother passed away peacefully on August 15. The news was shared with the public on August 28 via the magazine's official channels and Anime News Network. The magazine's editors stated that the decision to put the series on hiatus was made so that Aimoto could mourn during this difficult time, and they asked for readers' understanding.
No clear date has been given yet for when the manga will return. The Jump Square editorial team conveyed that Aimoto has expressed thanks for the condolences and has accepted his brother's death with composure. The statement said that updates regarding the series' future will be announced through the magazine's official website and social media accounts. This will be the series' first extended hiatus in recent years.
This sad news is a development that has upset fans of the long-running series. Written and illustrated by Sho Aimoto, Kemono Jihen has been serialized in Shueisha's monthly Jump Square magazine since December 2016. Blending supernatural and mystery genres, the series follows the story of half-human, half-monster "Kemono" and the detectives who investigate them, Kabane Kusaka and Kohachi Inugami. The series has amassed a body of work exceeding 20 volumes to date and has sold more than 3 million copies in Japan.
The series also received a 12-episode anime adaptation by studio Ajia-do Animation Works in 2021, and gained a wide fan base, especially for its dark atmosphere and folkloric elements. The anime reached international audiences via Crunchyroll. After the anime, the manga maintained its popularity and became one of Jump Square's most stable series.
Such hiatuses in Jump Square are a rare occurrence that creators resort to for health or family reasons, and the magazine generally prioritizes the well-being of its creators. As fans flooded social media with condolence messages for Aimoto, they expressed that they would wait patiently for the series' return. Although it remains unclear when the manga will return, it appears that the editorial team will allow Aimoto to come back at his own pace. We will closely follow developments and share them with you when a return date is announced.
