The Bocchi the Rock! manga is back in serialization after a health-related hiatus, with the full first eight volumes temporarily free on COMIC FUZ. Merchandise continues to expand across figures, plastic models, and a lottery line, and a second anime season was announced in February 2025.
Bocchi the Rock! spent much of 2025 and 2026 navigating a slow period in its source material. The manga went on hiatus in December 2024, and creator Aki Hamaji later said she had been in poor physical health for months and needed time to recover. Serialization resumed in the August issue of Manga Time Kirara MAX, released June 18, 2026. To mark the return, all chapters from volumes 1 through 8 were free to read on COMIC FUZ until June 20.
The series has kept its presence up through licensed merchandise and adaptations. Bandai Spirits completed the Kessoku Band lineup in its 30MP plastic model series with a Nijika Ijichi kit, and announced a fifth Ichiban Kuji lottery volume for January 2027. Furyu opened pre-orders for a 1/7 scale live-stage figure of Hitori Goto, and DIG announced a Nijika maid figure for December 2026. The live stage adaptation, LIVE STAGE Bocchi the Rock! 2026 RE:boot, ran in Shinjuku through February 23, 2026, with a Blu-ray and DVD release scheduled for August 26, 2026.
The franchise has also expanded its crossover and retail footprint. A collaboration event in the smartphone RPG Legend of Staff and Sword ran from August 16 to September 5, 2026. Crunchyroll Manga added the Bocchi the Rock! manga to its catalog in August 2026. Hamaji has been personally involved in related projects: she drew a 35th anniversary visual for Shimokitazawa Shelter, the real live house that inspired the anime's venue, and she has said she chose Hitori's black Les Paul Custom through an image search, having known little about guitars or bands when the manga began.
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D.I.G. has opened pre-orders for a DIGSTA PVC statue of Ikuyo Kita from Bocchi the Rock!, showing her in the maid outfit she wore at the school festival. The figure stands about 185mm tall including the base, carries a reference price of 12,100 yen, and sells for 10,640 yen at AmiAmi. Release is set for February 2027.
ASCII.jp reports that Bocchi the Rock! creator Aki Hamaji knew almost nothing about guitars or bands when the manga began, and chose Hitori's black Les Paul Custom by searching for "black" and "guitar" after setting the character design. She had never visited Shimokitazawa or a live house before drawing the manga, and learned the culture as she went.
Boltray Games began the 'Bocchi the Adventure!' collaboration event in the smartphone RPG Legend of Staff and Sword on August 16, 2026, running until September 5. Kessoku Band members Hitori Gotoh, Nijika Ijichi, Ryo Yamada, and Ikuyo Kita appear in Kanstin. The event includes an original story, mini-games, a login bonus, and a gacha with up to 60 pulls.
A new PVC statue of Nijika Ijichi in a maid outfit from the Bocchi the Rock! anime is set for release in December 2026. The figure, part of the DIGSTA series, costs 12,100 yen including tax. Purchases from the DIG official online store include a bonus interchangeable face part.
Crunchyroll began streaming the English dub of The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten season 2 last Thursday, with a full cast led by Ryan Negron and Jill Harris. The same day, Crunchyroll Manga added 16 titles including Bocchi the Rock!, Smoking Behind the Supermarket with You, Tougen Anki, and Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun.
Bandai Spirits will release Ichiban Kuji Anime Bocchi the Rock! Volume 5 from January 8, 2027. The lottery-style prize lineup features figures of Gotoh Hitori, Ijichi Nijika, Yamada Ryo, and Kita Ikuyo in jersey maid outfits under the Gracemaster name, with a Last One prize of Hiroi Kikuri.
DIG has announced two new entries in its DIGSTA PVC statue series. From the anime Bocchi the Rock!, Nijika Ijichi appears in a maid outfit based on her appearance during the Shuka Festival cultural festival episode. The figure stands approximately 175mm tall including the base, is priced at 12,100 yen including tax, and is scheduled for release in December 2026. A purchase bonus exclusive to the DIG official online store includes a replacement face part with an intimidating expression. Separately, Goro Majima from the game Like a Dragon 8 Gaiden: Pirates in Hawaii joins the series in pirate costume. That figure stands approximately 180mm tall including the base, is priced at 15,400 yen including tax, and also ships in December 2026. The DIG online store exclusive bonus for Majima is a Goro (Monochrome) Figure that can be swapped between two styles. Both statues are painted PVC, ABS, and acrylic resin finished products. DIG uses digital modeling to reproduce costume textures and details. Photos shown are of prototypes and may differ from the final product.
Furyu has opened pre-orders for a 1/7 scale figure of Hitori Goto from Bocchi the Rock! in a live-stage pose. The figure stands approximately 24cm tall on a base with amp, speakers, and truss details. Pre-orders run from July 6, 2026, with a March 2027 release date and a price of 24,970 yen.
Bandai Spirits announced a 30MP plastic model of Bocchi the Rock! drummer Nijika Ijichi, including a large drum set and multiple face parts. The kit releases June 26, 2026, for 5,940 yen. With this release, all four Kessoku Band members are now available in the 30MP series.
Aki Hamaji's Bocchi the Rock! manga has resumed serialization in the August issue of Manga Time Kirara MAX, released June 18. The series had been on hiatus since the March issue in January. To mark the return, all chapters from volumes 1 through 8 are free to read on COMIC FUZ until June 20.
The stage adaptation LIVE STAGE "Bocchi the Rock!" 2026 RE:boot is currently being performed at THEATER MILANO-Za in Shinjuku through February 23, 2026. The production consists of two types of performances: a stage play and a separate live event concert. This "reboot" version reworks the story from the two previous stage productions into a single streamlined narrative, with new scenes added. The cast performs the band's music live on stage, including full-length songs from Kessoku Band and SICK HACK. Live streaming and delay streaming are available for select performances, with ticket prices starting at 690 yen for a limited introductory ticket. A Blu-ray and DVD release is scheduled for August 26, 2026. The cast includes Mamoru Morino as Hitori Gotoh, Miki Ootake as Nijika Ijichi, Karin Osanai as Ryo Yamada, and Mii Omori as Ikuyo Kita. The script and direction are by Akira Yamazaki.
CloverWorks announced a regional tour of its POP UP SHOP 2026 event, starting January 16 in Ebetsu, Hokkaido, followed by Nagoya in February and Kochi in March. The pop-up shops will sell merchandise for series including My Dress-Up Darling, Wind Breaker, Bocchi the Rock!, Spy × Family, Frieren: Beyond Journey's End, and others. Limited quantities of past release goods and books will also be available. Each venue will display reproduction artwork and production materials, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the studio's animation process. The tour begins at Ebetsu Tsutaya Books (January 16 to February 4), moves to TSUTAYA BOOKSTORE Noritake in Nagoya (February 13 to March 2), and ends at Kochi Tsutaya Books (March 27 to April 13). Stock and exhibits may vary by location. The announcement was made on January 9, 2026.
Aki Hamaji, creator of Bocchi the Rock!, produced a key visual for the 35th anniversary of Shimokitazawa Shelter, the live house that inspired the venue in the anime. The visual shows Bocchi and the band on stage against a photo of the real Shelter stage. A limited-edition T-shirt with the art is available for order starting May 15.
The Bocchi the Rock manga will resume in the next issue of Manga Time Kirara Max, ending a hiatus that began in December 2024. Creator Aki Hamaji stated she had been in poor physical health for several months and needed time to recuperate. The magazine had planned a return this month before the delay.