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Manga Anime

Horikoshi’s Horror One-Shot Hits Shonen Jump on 10 August — Read It Free in Singapore

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Two years after wrapping up one of Shonen Jump’s most celebrated runs, Kohei Horikoshi is heading back to the manga page. His new work, Warawanaideyo Shijima-san (Don’t Laugh, Shijima-san), is a 61-page horror one-shot landing in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #37/38 on 10 August 2026 — and it is already one of the most anticipated manga releases of the year.

Warawanaideyo Shijima-san horror composite showing the eerie horror face and the two protagonists
Image courtesy of Kohei Horikoshi / Shueisha

What Is Warawanaideyo Shijima-san?

Officially described by Shonen Jump News as a “boy-meets-girl horror” story, the one-shot centres on two high-school-age characters: a sharp-eyed blonde boy and a smiling black-haired girl who share a battered scooter. The official key visual pairs their deceptively ordinary school-uniform design with a horror close-up that makes clear this is no feel-good romance. Spanning 61 pages with a centre colour spread, the story runs roughly the length of three standard manga chapters — enough room for a complete self-contained narrative.

The title is a play on words: warawanaideyo (笑わないでよ) translates loosely as “don’t laugh” or “don’t smile,” while Shijima could be read as a character name meaning something like “silence” or “stillness.” The tension between the instruction not to laugh and the girl’s unsettling grin in the key visual says plenty about the tone Horikoshi is going for.

Horikoshi’s First New WSJ Manga Since MHA Concluded

My Hero Academia finished its multi-year Weekly Shonen Jump run in 2024, leaving a genuinely enormous gap in the magazine’s lineup. Horikoshi had spoken in interviews about his longstanding interest in horror — a genre that surfaced throughout MHA’s darker arcs — and Warawanaideyo Shijima-san represents that ambition finally reaching the page.

Kohei Horikoshi holding a Deku sketch alongside the Warawanaideyo Shijima-san promotional art
Image courtesy of Kohei Horikoshi / Shueisha

The one-shot arrives while the My Hero Academia 10th anniversary celebrations are still in full swing — a special popup shop opens in Japan on 28 August — making it a memorable return moment for fans who have been waiting to see what Horikoshi does next. Whether Warawanaideyo Shijima-san is a standalone exercise or a proof-of-concept for a longer horror series remains to be seen.

How Singapore Fans Can Read It

Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #37/38 goes on sale in Japan on 10 August 2026. Singapore readers’ best bet is Manga Plus by Shueisha, Shueisha’s free global platform, which has published major WSJ one-shots and new chapters simultaneously with Japan at no cost. Check Manga Plus on 10 August for the one-shot’s availability — no subscription is required to read chapters when they go live.

For collectors who want a physical copy, Japanese import editions of Weekly Shonen Jump typically arrive at local hobby and game retailers in Singapore within a few weeks of the Japan release date, though no confirmed SG distribution has been announced. Keep an eye on our manga coverage for any local retail news as August 10 approaches.

Manga Anime

One Piece Chapter 1189 — Scopper Gaban Saves Luffy as Imu Wields the Weapons of the 19 Kings

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Spoilers ahead for One Piece Chapter 1189. The chapter, titled King of the World, is out now on MangaPlus and Viz Manga — free to read for Singapore fans on MangaPlus with a catch-up from last week’s chapter 1188. And it delivers one of the biggest moments the Elbaf arc has built towards.

Imu Escalates — The Ancient Weapons of 800 Years Ago

Picking up mid-battle, Imu presses the offensive against a helpless Luffy. The World Government’s shadowy ruler is not fighting with ordinary strength — each weapon deployed belongs to one of the 19 Kings who founded the World Government 800 years ago, relics of the Void Century now wielded in person. Chapter 1189 names three of them: the Spear of Holy Command (Longinus), the Sword of Wrath (Gram), and the Sea God Sword (Fragarach). Imu uses these to literally pin Luffy to a tree, the blades draining life energy as they hold him in place.

To twist the knife further, Imu mocks Luffy by name-dropping his fallen brothers Ace and Sabo — a deliberate psychological blow at the Straw Hat captain who has already lost so much. A flashback to Shanks warning Loki that the "King of the World" possesses undefeatable power underlines just how outmatched Luffy currently appears.

Luffy alone in the snowy Elbaf landscape — One Piece official teaser art
Image courtesy of Toei Animation / Shueisha

Scopper Gaban Arrives — Still Bandaged, Axes in Hand

With Imu raising the Xingtian Axe for the killing blow, the chapter’s final pages deliver the moment fans have been waiting for: Scopper Gaban steps in front of Luffy and blocks the attack. He is still wrapped in bandages from injuries suffered earlier in the arc, but both axes are drawn and his expression is calm. One Piece goes on break next week — so this is the cliffhanger we sit with for two weeks.

Gaban, one of Gold Roger’s original crewmates and among the most anticipated characters to see in action in the modern era, has been circling the margins of the Elbaf arc since his reintroduction. The anime already gave Singapore viewers a first taste of the character in Episode 1169. Now the manga is delivering the real showdown.

ONE PIECE | Elbaph Arc Official Trailer — via Toei Animation on YouTube

The Rest of the Chapter

Chapter 1189 checks in on several other threads. Zoro and Sanji remain overpowered by the enhanced Holy Knights, with no clear path to victory shown yet. Usopp gets a moment of sharp instinct — he senses that something has gone terribly wrong for Luffy, even from a distance. And Gunko remains unconscious, the melted ice around her buying some time but no resolution.

The cover story is a lighter touch: Nami is lecturing a trio of monkey-transformed crewmates — Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji — which is exactly the kind of absurd One Piece side-story energy the main chapters often pair with the heaviest plot beats.

Imu faces Luffy in the One Piece Elbaf arc — official Elbaph arc trailer still
Image courtesy of Toei Animation / Shueisha

One Week Break — and Where to Read in Singapore

One Piece will be on break for one week following this chapter, returning in the week after next. Chapter 1190 is not yet confirmed but should arrive roughly two weeks from today.

Singapore fans can read Chapter 1189 right now on MangaPlus by Shueisha — it is completely free, same-day as Japan, and does not require a subscription. Viz Manga subscribers can also read it via the Viz website or app. For more manga coverage, check our ongoing One Piece archive.

Manga Anime

Blue Box Manga Ends After Five Years — Chapter 250 Is the Final Chapter

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Five years, 250 chapters, and ten million copies later, Kouji Miura’s Blue Box (Ao no Hako) has reached its final page. Chapter 250 landed in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #33 on July 13, 2026, concluding one of the most quietly beloved manga serializations in recent Jump history. If you have been reading, today is that bittersweet last chapter. If you have been waiting, the complete story is now there for you.

Five Years, Ten Million Copies, One Final Chapter

Blue Box manga final chapter — Ao no Hako ends in Weekly Shonen Jump
Image courtesy of Shueisha

Blue Box kicked off in April 2021 with a deceptively simple premise: Taiki, a first-year high school student training hard as a badminton player, develops feelings for Chinatsu, a basketball prodigy who happens to move in under the same roof. Kouji Miura built something genuinely warm from there — sports discipline, teenage awkwardness, and slow-burn romance woven tightly together across the Jump pages for over five years.

The series hit 10 million copies in circulation, a milestone that puts it comfortably in the higher tier of Jump’s modern roster. It never traded in the flashy power-scaling that dominates the magazine, and that restraint was exactly what made it resonate with its audience. Singapore and SEA fans who have been following along on Manga Plus can read the final chapter there now, free of charge — Shueisha makes the latest chapters available globally through the platform.

Blue Box by Kouji Miura concludes its Weekly Shonen Jump serialization
Image courtesy of Shueisha

Anime Season 2 Arrives on Netflix This October

Blue Box Season 2 | Official Teaser | Netflix — via Netflix Anime on YouTube

The manga ending does not slow the anime train. Blue Box Season 2 premieres on Netflix on October 4, 2026, announced at AnimeJapan 2026 back in March. Production has shifted to studio Electric Circus under new director Daisuke Sako, taking over from Season 1’s team at Telecom Animation Film. Series composition writer Yuko Kakihara and character designer Miho Tanino are back, so the visual and storytelling feel should stay consistent with what Season 1 established.

Blue Box Season 2 key visual — Chinatsu
Image courtesy of Shueisha / Blue Box Anime Production Committee

Where to Read and Watch Blue Box Now

Blue Box Season 2 promotional visual for Netflix 2026
Image courtesy of Shueisha / Blue Box Anime Production Committee

With the source material now complete, Season 2 will be adapting manga chapters that have a known, finished ending — which is actually a good position for an anime to be in. The production team knows exactly where the story goes.

If you want to read ahead of the anime, the full run is on Manga Plus (Japanese; free globally) and the Viz/Shonen Jump app (English). Season 1 is already on Netflix, and Season 2 follows on October 4. For those new to the series, you have got roughly three months to catch up — which, at 25 episodes, is genuinely manageable. For everyone who has been here since 2021: it has been a good five years. Check out our manga and anime coverage for more on what is airing this season.

Manga Anime

Hunter x Hunter Is Back: Chapter 411 Out Now After 567 Days

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After one of manga’s most agonising waits, Chapter 411 of Yoshihiro Togashi’s HUNTER×HUNTER is finally here — available to read right now on Manga Plus and Viz Media’s Shonen Jump, completely free. The chapter lands in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 31 (dated June 29, 2026), ending a 567-day hiatus that kicked off when Chapter 410 was serialised in December 2024. For Singapore fans who grew up with Gon and Killua, this return feels like more than just a new chapter — it’s a small miracle.

Hunter x Hunter 2011 anime key visual featuring Gon, Killua, and the main cast
Image courtesy of Yoshihiro Togashi / Shueisha

The Long Wait Ends — What to Expect from Chapter 411

Chapter 411 resumes the Succession Contest Arc, the manga’s most complex and politically layered storyline yet. The action is set entirely aboard the Black Whale, a colossal ship where Kakin’s royal princes — each backed by Nen-powered bodyguards and hidden agendas — are fighting a secret war for the empire’s throne. Kurapika is deep undercover, attempting to protect a royal infant while managing his own deteriorating Nen condition. The Phantom Troupe lurks somewhere on the vessel, and Hisoka — who adorns the cover of the upcoming Volume 39 — has his own blood-soaked plans in motion.

The chapter ships with colour pages, a rare treat in Weekly Shonen Jump typically reserved for a series’ most significant moments. That alone signals just how much Shueisha wants this return to land right.

Togashi Has a Buffer — And It’s Real This Time

For the many fans who feared this would be another single-chapter cameo before another disappearance, there’s genuine cause for optimism. Togashi has confirmed via his X account that he has completed inking through Chapter 421, meaning at least 11 unpublished chapters are already sitting in the vault. Shueisha has been clear, however, that HUNTER×HUNTER will not return to a traditional weekly schedule — the cadence stays flexible to protect the author’s health. Togashi has battled chronic back ailments since the 1990s, and the irregular release pattern is the price of keeping one of manga’s most ambitious series alive at all.

One of the most enduring facts in the manga world: his wife is Naoko Takeuchi, creator of Sailor Moon, who has been a key support through every hiatus. Two icons of the artform, propping each other up.

Hisoka close-up from Hunter x Hunter Volume 39 promotional visual
Image courtesy of Yoshihiro Togashi / Shueisha

Volume 39 “Negotiation” Arrives July 3

If you’ve been holding off to read the Succession Contest Arc in collected form, the timing is perfect. Volume 39, titled “Negotiation,” goes on sale in Japan on July 3, 2026 — just four days away. It collects Chapters 401 through 410 (208 pages, ¥572 including tax) and puts Hisoka front and centre on the cover. An English edition through Viz Media is expected to follow at the standard rolling release window. Check with your local bookshop stocking Japanese import manga or hobby stores for availability; for the English tankobon, online pre-orders through major book retailers are your best bet.

How Singapore Fans Can Read Chapter 411 for Free

You don’t need to pay anything to read Chapter 411 right now. Manga Plus by Shueisha provides free global access to the first and latest chapters of all their titles — no account required. A paid Manga Plus subscription unlocks the full archive if you want to binge the previous 410 chapters. Viz Media’s Shonen Jump subscription is the other official route. Both are available to Singapore readers with no geo-restriction.

For a manga that has tested its fanbase’s patience like no other, Chapter 411 arriving with 11 chapters already banked, colour pages, and Volume 39 just days away is about as good a return as anyone had a right to expect. The hunt is back on.

Find more manga and anime coverage on GameTrader.SG.

Manga Anime

Hunter x Hunter Is Back — Chapter 411 Arrives 29 June on Manga Plus

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After one of manga’s most famous hiatuses, Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter is officially returning this Sunday. Chapter 411 arrives in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #31 on 29 June, with simultaneous free access on Manga Plus for Singapore and international readers. The Succession War is about to get a lot more complicated.

Hunter x Hunter manga promotional artwork
Image courtesy of Yoshihiro Togashi / Shueisha

Where the Story Left Off

The Succession War has been unravelling in spectacular fashion aboard the Black Whale cruise ship. Prince Benjamin is desperately fighting to survive after being poisoned, while the declaration of martial law on Tier 1 has completely changed the power dynamics among the royal families. In the lower tiers of the ship, the Phantom Troupe is hunting Hisoka, while the growing influence of Morena and the Heil-Ly Family has introduced one of the arc’s most unpredictable factions. Borksen’s shocking decision to join the Heil-Ly as a double agent only added another layer of tension to an already chaotic situation.

With so many plot threads running at once, Screen Rant’s coverage of the return puts it well: this comeback could not be arriving at a better time.

Why This Hiatus Return Feels Different

Togashi’s hiatuses are legendary — his chronic back problems have disrupted Hunter x Hunter’s publication more times than most fans care to count. But this time around, there is genuine reason for optimism. Over the past several months, Togashi has been sharing regular progress updates, and according to those posts, he has already finished inking through Chapter 431 — giving the series a healthy buffer of 20-plus completed chapters before serialisation even resumes. That kind of stockpile is unprecedented for this series.

His health also appears to be improving. A recent Instagram post featuring him alongside his wife, manga legend Naoko Takeuchi (creator of Sailor Moon), showed Togashi looking well and relaxed. Combined with the growing backlog of finished chapters, this comeback feels more structurally stable than anything Hunter x Hunter fans have seen in years.

Volume 39: Negotiation — Out 3 July

Alongside the serialisation return, Shueisha is releasing Volume 39, collecting Chapters 401 to 410 under the title Negotiation. It arrives in Japan on 3 July 2026 — the first new physical volume of Hunter x Hunter in 22 months. International readers who prefer print editions will need to wait for their regional releases, but it is a significant milestone regardless.

How to Read in Singapore This Sunday

Singapore fans have a clean, legal, free option right at their fingertips. Manga Plus by Shueisha makes the three most recent chapters of Hunter x Hunter available at no charge, with a premium subscription option for the full archive. Chapter 411 will appear on Manga Plus the moment it goes live on 29 June. The app is available on iOS and Android, or via browser — no VPN required.

If you want to catch up first, Chapters 409 and 410 are already sitting there waiting for you on the platform right now.

Last Words

For Singapore manga readers, the message is simple: bookmark Manga Plus, catch up on the last two chapters before Sunday, and settle in for what could finally be a sustained run of new Hunter x Hunter. The Succession War has been building towards something monumental, and with a 20-chapter buffer already in the bank, there’s reason to believe Togashi is going to see it through. We’ll be watching closely — check our manga and anime coverage for updates as the arc develops.