Kaiju No. 8 Concludes After 5 Years of Serialization — Final Volume 16 Out in September Alongside Episode Popularity Poll

The manga Kaiju No. 8, created by Naoya Matsumoto, released its final chapter today, July 18, on the Shonen Jump+ app, bringing its five-year serialization to a close since its debut in July 2020. The 16th and final volume of the series is set to go on sale on September 4. To commemorate the conclusion, a newly drawn illustration expressing the author’s gratitude was also unveiled.

To celebrate the end of the series, an Episode Popularity Poll is being held. Fans can vote once per day through a special website (polling ends at 11:59 PM on August 31 JST). A giveaway campaign will also be held, where lucky participants can win acrylic boards featuring the top-ranked episodes.

Serialized on the manga app Shonen Jump+ starting July 3, 2020, Kaiju No. 8 is set in a world where natural disasters—represented by kaiju—mercilessly invade everyday life. The story unfolds in Japan, one of the world's most kaiju-prone countries. The protagonist, Kafka Hibino, a 32-year-old man working in kaiju corpse cleanup for the Defense Force, dreams of becoming a defense officer himself. One day, a mysterious creature transforms his body into a kaiju, and he becomes known as "Kaiju No. 8" by the Japan Defense Force.

The series garnered immense attention from its very first chapter, receiving over 3,200 comments in a single day with praise such as “too thrilling to stop reading,” and quickly trending on X (formerly Twitter). Each time a new volume was released, it broke records on Shonen Jump+ for both speed of publication and readership. It eventually grew into a flagship title with more than 2 million views per chapter, indicating a massive dedicated readership.

In 2021, the manga won first place in the "Web Manga Category" of the Next Manga Awards 2021. It also topped the “First Volume Sales Ranking” by the web media Hon no Hikidashi from Nippon Shuppan Hanbai Inc. It placed 6th in the Manga Taisho 2021 and 2nd in the 5th TSUTAYA Comic Awards, earning acclaim across numerous award platforms.

The manga’s total circulation has surpassed 18 million copies. Its first anime season aired from April to June 2024, and the highly anticipated second season is currently on air.

Source : ORICON NEWS