Creator Afro is stepping back from their two active manga series after health concerns mounted from the pressure of running both at the same time. Houbunsha’s Manga Time Kirara magazine and the Comic Fuz website announced on 28 July 2026 that both Laid-Back Camp and mono are going on indefinite hiatus.
Two Manga, One Creator — The Toll of Dual Serialisation
Afro has been running two manga simultaneously: Laid-Back Camp (ゆるキャン△) in Manga Time Kirara, and mono in the same publisher’s Manga Time Kirara Carat and on the Comic Fuz platform. According to both publishers, the creator’s health is “worsening from the stress associated with serialising the two manga at the same time.”
No specific diagnosis has been disclosed, and no return date has been provided. Both editors confirmed the manga “will return at a later date,” with further details to be announced separately when Afro is ready.
What Is mono — Afro’s Second Series?
Many fans outside Japan may only know Afro for Laid-Back Camp, but mono is the creator’s follow-up work: a slice-of-life comedy set in a high school where the Photography Club and Cinema Club have merged to form the Cinephoto Club. Members Satsuki, An, and Sakurako agree to star as models for a manga artist, heading out across Japan to capture the country’s beauty through action cameras and gadgets. The series earned a TV anime adaptation that premiered in April 2025, giving it a wider international following.
For Laid-Back Camp fans who haven’t checked out mono yet, it carries the same warm, exploratory spirit and makes for ideal reading while waiting for both series to return.
Laid-Back Camp: A Decade of Camping and Cosy Storytelling
Laid-Back Camp launched in Manga Time Kirara in 2015 and has since become one of the most beloved slice-of-life franchises in modern manga. The story of introverted solo camper Rin Shima, her enthusiastic new friend Nadeshiko Kagamihara, and their school’s Outdoor Activities Club struck a chord with readers seeking quieter, gentler storytelling set against Japan’s real camping locations and mountain scenery.
The anime adaptations — Seasons 1 and 2 from C-Station, Season 3 from 8-bit, and a feature film — have all found audiences across the region, with the series available on streaming platforms in Singapore. English print volumes are published by Yen Press.
Season 4 Anime Still On Track for 2027
The reassuring note amid all this: the Laid-Back Camp Season 4 anime is proceeding as planned and is unaffected by the manga hiatus. The new season will be animated by FuRyu Pictures (succeeding 8-bit from Season 3), with director Shin Tosaka and series composer Pierre Sugiura returning. New character designer Ryūta Ura brings a fresh visual style, and the core voice cast is back. Artists Asaka and Eri Sasaki will handle the opening and ending themes respectively.
A teaser trailer dropped in March 2026, offering the first look at returning characters alongside new additions to the Outdoor Activities Club. Browse more anime news on GameTrader while you wait.
When Will the Manga Return?
There is no timeline yet. Both editors stated only that both series will return “at a later date,” with announcements to follow from each. Responses across social media and fan communities have been unanimously supportive — readers have urged Afro to rest for as long as needed and made clear that their health comes before any publication schedule.
For Singapore readers following Laid-Back Camp through Yen Press’s English editions, existing volumes are unaffected. New Japanese chapters are paused, which will eventually slow future English releases — but there’s time before that gap is felt. The main thing to hold onto: Season 4 is still coming, and Afro intends to return to both manga once they’re well.