New Manga "Higan no Hotaru" Launches in Jump Square: A Story of Goodbyes

Higan no Hotaru, a brand-new manga by Mochizuki Maicha, began serialization in the July issue of Shueisha's Jump Square magazine on June 4, 2025. With the magazine's official announcement, the series was described as 'a funeral human drama about various farewells.'

True to its name meaning 'passing to the other side,' the manga explores people's final moments, what they leave behind, and the ways they say goodbye. Mochizuki Maicha is a writer previously known for short stories, particularly noted for emotional depth and simple storytelling. Higan no Hotaru marks her first long-running series in Jump Square. While this magazine has hosted major hits like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, Higan no Hotaru progresses at a calmer, more melancholic tempo, appealing to a different readership.

In the first chapter, the story opens with the main character, a funeral director, witnessing the final moments of different lives. Each installment will present a new 'farewell' story. The atmospheric illustrations and pastel tones used in the preview emphasize the series' emotional intensity. Mochizuki Maicha summarized the series' philosophy in a statement to the publisher: 'I wanted to highlight the warm memories of life, not the cold face of death.'

While long-running series like World Trigger and Kuroshitsuji continue in Jump Square, this new 'funeral drama' genre brings a different breath to the magazine. Especially in recent years, the global success of mangas dealing with death and memories, such as Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, shows that this genre resonates with readers. Higan no Hotaru, as part of this wave, is poised to attract interest from both Japanese and international readers.

The first chapter of the series was published in the July issue of Jump Square and has already started receiving positive comments on digital platforms. The series is expected to reach a wider readership in the coming months. If you are looking for a poignant, human-relationship-focused, and slow-paced manga, it's worth adding Higan no Hotaru to your follow list.