Volume 1 of 'The Training Ground's Sandbag Grandpa' Manga Series Released
“The Training Ground’s Sandbag Grandpa, Actually the Strongest” (Japanese: 訓練所のサンドバッグおじさん、実は最強でした) — the long-awaited first volume of the manga was released in Japan on June 26, 2024. The story is written by Nagase Takahiro, with illustrations by renowned artist vi Sakurata. The series follows an old man who is constantly beaten by students at a training ground, only to discover that he is actually the world’s strongest warrior.
In the opening chapter, our grandpa, treated like an ordinary “sandbag,” is unjustly expelled from the school one day. At that moment, former students whom he trained years ago and who have now achieved great success across the country come after him. These students begin searching for the grandpa, both to show their gratitude for the past and to uncover his true power. Thus, the curtains rise on an unexpected adventure and a hidden past.
The series successfully combines the popular themes of “hidden power revealed later” and “old but deadly.” vi Sakurata’s dynamic art style adds extra vitality to the fight scenes, while Nagase’s narrative balances both comedy and emotional moments. The manga was previously released chapter by chapter on digital platforms and quickly gained a large fan base. The first volume collects the initial 5-6 chapters that lay the foundation of the story.
Published in Japan under the Kadokawa label, this volume is currently only available in Japanese. However, given the series’ popularity and international fan base, translations into English and other languages are expected in the near future. In Turkey, no official publisher has announced the manga yet, but many translation groups are following the series. If you enjoy stories like “reverse isekai” and “power fantasy,” “The Training Ground’s Sandbag Grandpa” should definitely be on your radar. As for the second volume, no date has been announced yet, but we should note that the author and artist team are releasing chapters regularly.
