The New Prince of Tennis, the famous manga sequel by Takeshi Konomi, entered an unexpected hiatus at the beginning of January 2026. This happened due to a serious management issue by the responsible editor, which impacted a parallel illustration project by the author. Because of this failure, Konomi was unable to finalize the artwork for the February issue of Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine, forcing a pause in publication. This is relevant news because the series is approaching its climax, with the end of serialization planned for later this year, leaving Brazilian fans in anticipation.
The manga team explained the situation through a statement on social media, revealing that the problems with the parallel project made its exhibition impossible and, as a result, delayed the manuscript for the current issue. However, a solution is already underway. The author, Takeshi Konomi, has already resumed work on the chapter to be published in the March issue, scheduled for release on February 4th. Therefore, the pause should be short, but it exposes production challenges behind the scenes.
The Legacy of a Phenomenon and What’s Next
The The Prince of Tennis franchise is a true phenomenon, creating a legion of fans in Brazil and worldwide since the original manga’s release between 1999 and 2008. The sequel, The New Prince of Tennis, began in 2009 and has already accumulated 46 physical volumes, with the latest released in January 2026. Beyond the manga, the work has inspired anime, films, and even live-action dramas, solidifying its place in pop culture. While readers await the return of the chapters, the franchise remains active on other fronts.
To the delight of fans, the anime universe of the series continues to expand. The next animated stage, titled The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Kesshō Member Ketteisen, is scheduled to premiere this fall (in the Northern Hemisphere). This sequel will depict the decisive battle to choose who will represent Japan in the final against Spain in the world tournament. Thus, even with the setback in the manga, 2026 promises to be a busy year for followers of Ryōma Echizen and his crew, with new animations to follow.
