Sports anime such as Haikyu and Blue Lock have been on the rise in recent years, but several classics came before them to pave the path for the genre’s success. Fans often love the underdog trope in sports series where the protagonist, who everyone underestimates, gets to shine due to his grit and dedication. One such manga is the classic boxing series, Hajime no Ippo, written and illustrated by George Morikawa. The manga began serialization in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine in 1989. The series has won several awards over the decades, including the 15th Kodansha Manga Award in the Shounen category in 1991. Not only that, but this beloved manga made history in 2023 when it crossed the 100 million milestone.
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Only 24 manga in history have achieved this level of popularity, which makes Hajime no Ippo all the more special. However, despite its historic success, the manga was never officially released in the U.S. 37 years after its debut, the official website of Kodansha confirmed that the manga will get its English print starting next year. The announcement was shared during Kodansha’s Anime NYC panel on August 21st, 2026. While the English adaptation of the manga has officially been confirmed for Fall 2027, the exact release date will be announced at a later date.
Hajime no Ippo Continues Its Indefinite Hiatus
The manga went on an indefinite hiatus in December last year due to the creator’s poor health. Morikawa underwent abdominal surgery last year, which is why he plans to take a long break before returning with the weekly series. Even though several months have passed since the manga went on a break, there are currently no plans for it to resume serialization.
Hajime no Ippo has been ongoing for several decades, and it might end not long after its return. The creator already confirmed in 2023 that he has planned the series’ ending, but didn’t reveal when he plans to conclude it. While fans await updates on the manga’s return, the anime’s future looks even more bleak.
Will Hajime no Ippo Return With a New Anime Season?
More than a decade after the manga began serialization, Madhouse adapted this epic story in 2000. Since then, the anime has released several seasons and OVA episodes, some of which were released under the banner of both Madhouse and Studio MAPPA. However, the anime hasn’t returned since 2014, and the animation studio has no plans on prioritizing this legendary series. Even with the hiatus, the manga has more than enough material left to adapt at least a few seasons, but due to the change in trends in the industry, studios often prefer shorter series instead of long-running stories that have been ongoing for decades.
Madhouse is one of the oldest studios in the country, but it has recently focused on global hits such as Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, which is currently the highest-rated fantasy series. While Hajime no Ippo still maintains a dedicated fanbase, the anime may not be the best medium to enjoy the story to the fullest. This is why the latest update from Kodansha is a major win for fans outside of Japan.
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