Chiruran, the popular historical manga about the legendary Shinsengumi, may be about to receive new material. At the beginning of 2026, artist Eiji Hashimoto, responsible for the artwork, stirred up fans with a teaser on social media. On the last day of the year, he posted an image of a work in progress, suggesting a new chapter or one-shot story for the series Chiruran: Shinsengumi Requiem. The post, which also contained sketches from his other manga, served as a “plea” that he was working non-stop during the year-end holidays.
The revelation comes at a crucial time, as a live-action adaptation of the work is confirmed to premiere in the Japanese spring, scheduled to air on TBS and later be available on the streaming service U-NEXT. Therefore, the possibility of new original content heightens the anticipation surrounding the franchise. Meanwhile, for Western fans, the Mangamo platform continues to offer the manga digitally in English under the title The Shinsen-gumi, telling the dramatic story of Hijikata Toshizo and the famous 19th-century Japanese police force.
A Work with a Long History and Adaptations
With a script by Shinya Umemura and art by Eiji Hashimoto, Chiruran was first serialized in 2010 in the magazine Monthly Comic Zenon. The main series, which entered its final arc in January 2022 and concluded in April 2023, has already secured its place with 32 volumes. Additionally, the universe has spawned a comedy spin-off, Chiruran Nibun no Ichi, which even received an adaptation into a series of short anime episodes in 2017, distributed by Crunchyroll. Thus, the franchise proves its vitality even after the end of the main story.
Now, with the tease of new material and the imminent live-action series, 2026 is shaping up to be a year of return and celebration for fans. It is still unclear whether the work in progress is a standalone chapter or the beginning of something bigger, but the creator’s activity keeps the flame alive. Therefore, enthusiasts of Japanese culture and historical manga have plenty of reasons to keep an eye on the news coming in the next few months.
