HUNTER × HUNTER Returns With a New Chapter After 18 Months, Volume 39 Set for July 3 Release

HUNTER × HUNTER will publish its latest chapter in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 31, scheduled for release on June 29, Shueisha announced on June 22. This marks the series' first new chapter in approximately 18 months since Chapter 410, which was published on December 9, 2024.

The announcement appeared in the preview section of Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 30, released on June 22. The magazine promoted the return with the message: “The Succession Contest grows even more intense. New chapter publication and a center color page celebrating the release of the latest volume.” It also teased the story by asking, “As the Succession Contest escalates, what lies ahead for Kurapika and the others?”

The latest collected volume, Volume 39, will be released on July 3. It will be the first new volume in the series in two years.

Notably, Shueisha did not describe the event as a “serialization restart.” As previously announced by the Weekly Shonen Jump editorial department, HUNTER × HUNTER is no longer published under a traditional weekly serialization schedule. The official announcement simply referred to the chapter as being “published,” and the magazine no longer labels the series as being on hiatus in its table of contents.

The official Weekly Shonen Jump X account also confirmed the news, stating:
“A new chapter of HUNTER × HUNTER will be published in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 31, released on June 29. The latest collected volume, Volume 39, will be released on July 3.”

Yoshihiro Togashi Previously Discussed Health Challenges

The irregular publication schedule has largely been attributed to the health condition of creator Yoshihiro Togashi. During his 2022 exhibition, Togashi explained that severe back pain had prevented him from drawing for an extended period.

He revealed that he had been unable to sit in a chair for nearly two years, forcing him to abandon his traditional drawing methods before eventually resuming work. Togashi also emphasized the seriousness of his condition, describing how everyday activities had become extremely difficult due to chronic back problems.

In December 2022, the Weekly Shonen Jump editorial department officially announced that the series would move away from weekly serialization. The statement explained that, after discussions with Togashi and considering his physical condition, future chapters would be released in a different publication format.

The Ongoing Succession Contest Arc

Originally launched in 1998, HUNTER × HUNTER follows the adventures of Gon Freecss, who sets out on a journey alongside friends such as Killua Zoldyck. The long running fantasy adventure series has become one of Shueisha's most successful manga franchises, with more than 84 million copies in circulation worldwide, including digital editions.

The current storyline takes place aboard a vessel bound for the unexplored Dark Continent, where the ambitions of Kurapika, the Phantom Troupe, and numerous royal heirs collide during the intense Succession Contest Arc.

The weekly serialization ended after Chapter 400, published on December 26, 2022. Later, Chapters 401 onward were published weekly beginning October 7, 2024. However, following the release of Weekly Shonen Jump New Year Issue No. 3 on December 16, 2024, the series once again entered a period without new chapter publications until the latest announcement.

Source : ORICON NEWS