Square Enix’s G Fantasy editorial team announced the heartbreaking news that Toilet Bound Hanako-kun will be taking another hiatus. The manga will not be receiving a new chapter in next month’s December issue, scheduled for release on November 18.
Another Hiatus Amid Author’s Health Issues
The news was revealed on October 18, alongside with the release of Chapter 130. The author Iro Aida is reportedly facing health issues that will halt production of the manga series. It’s unclear how long the hiatus will go on this time, but they’ve only confirmed that it will affect the December issue released next month.
To help readers cope with the hiatus, G Fantasy will be reprinting past chapters of the manga during the hiatus period. Once Aida returns to work, updates on the continuation will be announced in G Fantasy as well.
This isn’t the first time the manga has paused due to Aida’s health concerns. Earlier this year, the series went on hiatus in July but returned in August. These recurring breaks do raise concerns about Aida’s condition.
Publishing a monthly manga is a demanding job to say the least, and despite the interruptions, Hanako-kun’s fanbase has stayed consistent in supporting the creator’s work.
About Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun
The Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun manga first debuted in Monthly G Fantasy Magazine in 2014. The story focuses on Nene Yashiro, a young student fascinated by the occult and romance. When she decides to look into the legend of Hanako-san of the bathroom, one of the Seven Mysteries at Kamome Academy, she finds out he is actually a ghost boy. From that point on, Nene becomes Hanako’s friend and helps to maintain the balance between the human and supernatural worlds.
The manga is published monthly in G Fantasy and is published in English volumes by Yen Press. The series remains a favorite among other supernatural anime like Jujutsu Kaisen and Dandadan, but the art style makes for a contrast to many others in the category. The manga currently has 24 volumes out now, with Volume 25 set to release soon on October 27.
Studio Lerche Brings Aida’s Art to the Screen
The success of the manga resulted in a 2020 anime adaptation by Studio Lerche, which did a great job bringing Aida’s art to life. The uses of the bold linework and watercolor palette make for an almost-dreamlike art style while still keeping the supernatural aspects there.
The first season ran for 12 episodes, and received an English dub via Funimation before its merger with Crunchyroll. The second season came out in January 2024, and part two of Season 2 has been airing since July. Aida also came out with a spin-off to the original series, After-School Hanako-kun, that ran from 2018 to 2021. The spin-off also received its own anime adaptation on Crunchyroll in 2023, which is still available for anyone who wants to see it.
As the manga goes on hiatus again, it’s another reminder of how hard these manga authors work to publish their work regularly. They often push through serious health issues to stay true to their art style and previous success. For now, fans will have to be patient until further news is announced, but you can watch the Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun anime on Crunchyroll now.
Sources: Anime News Network, Comic Natalie
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