New One-Shot Manga from My Hero Academia Creator Kōhei Horikoshi: 'Warawanaide yo, Shijima-san'

My Hero Academia creator Kōhei Horikoshi surprised fans with a new one-shot manga to be released on August 10, 2026. Titled "Warawanaide yo, Shijima-san" (meaning "Don't Laugh, Shijima-san"), this work marks Horikoshi's first major manga project since his long-running superhero series ended in 2024.

According to the official announcement, the one-shot manga will be released in Japan on the Shonen Jump+ platform and also in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine (issue No. 38). Horikoshi has previously written short series such as "Ōmagadoki Dōbutsuen" and "Barrage" in addition to My Hero Academia. However, this new one-shot holds special significance as his first independent step after becoming a major industry figure.

One-shots allow mangaka to experiment with different genres. Horikoshi's previous one-shot works include "Tenchu" and "My Hero", which can be considered a prototype for My Hero Academia. As the name suggests, "Warawanaide yo, Shijima-san" hints at a comedic tone. Although no details about the plot have been revealed yet, the word "Shijima" in the title evokes "silence," and it may reflect Horikoshi's humorous storytelling style.

This news is an exciting development for My Hero Academia fans. The series ran for a full 10 years from 2014 to 2024, reaching millions of readers worldwide with over 430 chapters. Horikoshi's return with a new project shows that the mangaka is still active and open to new ideas. Whether the one-shot will later become a series is unknown for now, but in the past, Horikoshi's short works (such as My Hero) later turned into a major series.

So what can we expect next? The one-shot manga, to be released on August 10, will likely be available in English and other languages on digital platforms the same day. It is a matter of curiosity whether Horikoshi is working on a new long-running series. But for now, just watching one of the most beloved writers in the manga world tell a new story is an exciting prospect in itself.