The mono manga is on hiatus with no return date, as creator Afro cited physical limits from serializing it alongside Laid-Back Camp. The series has five volumes released as of June 2025 and an anime adaptation.
Afro's four-panel manga mono has been put on hiatus. Houbunsha's editorial departments announced that Afro consulted them about physical limits while serializing mono and Laid-Back Camp in parallel. The hiatus affects both series, with mono pausing for an extended period and no return date announced, while Laid-Back Camp resumes after a short rest. Afro's official X account clarified that Laid-Back Camp will take a short break starting after chapter 110 part 2, while mono will be on hiatus for an extended period.
The mono manga began in Manga Time Kirara Miracle! in May 2017 before moving to Manga Time Kirara Carat later that year. Five volumes had been released by June 2025. The series has an anime adaptation, though the stories do not specify its format or airing details.
The hiatus stems from Afro's health issues caused by the stress of serializing two manga at once. The editorial department apologized to fans awaiting new chapters. Return dates for both series will be announced later by their respective editors.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/mono.
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Kemono Friends and NHK nature documentary Darwin Comes! announced a collaboration, the first since 2019. Original goods, including acrylic keychains featuring a Friends-ified Higejii, will sell early from September 12, 2026 at the Ikimono Super World Exhibition in Tokyo.
Shochiku Games announced on September 8, 2026 that MONOPHOBIA, the 2.5D urban legend adventure it publishes, will be playable at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe. The exhibition marks the first public showing of the game's story demo. The game follows two contrasting high school girls, the always mysterious Kirihara Konoka and the gal classmate Nakano Shino, who form a buddy pair to investigate eerie supernatural phenomena in a modern city rendered in nostalgic 2.5D pixel art inspired by 32-bit era adventure games. Light novel author Mikami Teren wrote the scenario, and illustrator Wata handled character design and the main visual. Developer Dendrobium, an indie team established in 2022, calls MONOPHOBIA its first independent development project. Japanese voice support is planned. The game is slated for PC via Steam with the price undecided.
Dandelion Developers released Nothing Strange Here on Steam on September 8. Players take the role of an investigative journalist in the town of Larsenest Gap, photographing scenes, writing articles, and handling resident requests. Completing quests lets players pick one of three article styles, and the published article's nature changes the town's look, mood, and responses. The game supports Japanese and costs 1700 yen, with a 10 percent launch discount to 1530 yen until September 15.
Momonosuke, a voice actress and gravure idol who made her voice acting debut in 2025 as Ichinohashi Miyu in the D4DJ project's EGOEGG unit, will release her first photobook "Ichitoushi" on October 20, 2026. Published by Wani Books, the 96-page A4 softcover was shot in Okinawa and includes her most revealing shots to date. A handover event is set for October 18 in Tokyo.
The web version of Japari Talk Zoo Mode, the Kemono Friends official AI chat service, launched September 1 at Morioka City Zoological Park ZOOMO. Trippy handles production, migration, and operation in partnership with Hakuhodo. The chat is free with no registration, accessed by scanning QR codes posted in the park. A 300 yen Adventure Pass unlocks a stamp rally and card collection. Trippy plans nationwide expansion to zoos and aquariums.
Pluto TV will add two anime channels in September: It's Anime, for English-dubbed content, and Big A Anime, a curated lineup. The service is adding Vampire Knight, Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress, Terror in Resonance, Mononoke, and Hikaru no Go with dubs and subtitles, expanding dub access to Naruto, Sailor Moon, InuYasha, Zom 100, and Captain Tsubasa, and adding English-dubbed and subbed versions of Inuyashiki Last Hero, One-Punch Man, and KenIchi the Mightiest Disciple.
Happinet announced its Tokyo Game Show 2026 lineup, featuring six titles at the main booth, including the released Brigandine Abyss and Beast of Reincarnation, the unreleased Tokyo Stories and Mononoke no Kuni, plus two unannounced titles to be revealed in September. The indie corner adds playable stations for Artis Impact and Stray, among others.
Good Smile Company opens reservations for a 1/7 scale figure of Oshino Shinobu based on the cover illustration of Owarimonogatari. The figure, priced at 25,998 yen including tax, is available at Rakuten Books and features a vignette base with mannequins, rock surfaces, and flowing water.
At the 25th International Model Train Convention (JAM2026) in Tokyo, Tomytec's Geocolle booth displayed a wrapped Yamanashi Kotsu bus tied to the TV anime 'mono', shown at the venue for the first time. The booth also presented prototypes including the painted Towada Kanko Railway 7200 series and Tetsu Collection Pocket Vol. 4 with Hokkaido railcars.
KUROGO Co., Ltd. released the opening 'Monologue' for 'Heroic Mistake,' the second work of the SYNXRO PROJECT, on August 26, 2026. The project creates new IPs from fictional anime openings, with original creation support from Kodansha Creators' Lab. The song features music by Namiguru, vocals by Muo, and animation by Onoko.
Shō Aimoto announced on X/Twitter that her Kemono Jihen manga is going on hiatus after her brother died peacefully on August 15. The manga will not appear in the October issue of Shueisha's Jump SQ. magazine on September 4, but is scheduled to return in the November issue on October 2. The 25th compiled volume, shipped August 4, revealed the series will end in the next volume.
Shiro Yoshida launched the manga Kemonogari (Hunting Animals) on DeNA's Manga Box app on Sunday. The horror story, set in a village with a strange custom, follows Akira Sasaki, who plans to leave with his crush while his brother becomes village chief. A strange creature appears during the ceremony.
Gakken Plus is running a 99 yen campaign on Amazon Kindle for a selection of its books, with the promotion active until September 3. Among the discounted titles is the educational manga series Manga Science, where 11 of its 14 volumes are available at the reduced price. Volumes 5, 8, and 11 are excluded from the offer. The sale spans a broad catalog beyond Manga Science, including the Girls & Panzer Storyboard Collection, Venus Wars, and Kilarity. Gakken's historical manga line is also included, with titles such as World History, History of Japan, Three Kingdoms, NEW Biographies of Japan, and NEW World Biographies, though the Japanese Historical Figures volume covering Takasugi Shinsaku is not part of the discount. The campaign extends to nonfiction and practical guides as well, including Japan's Poisonous Plants, Moving Creature Picture Book, Fun Muscle Training: Muscles Rejoice! Shortest Path to a Cool Body, and Table Manners and Tips: A Picture Book of Daily Life. The full list of eligible titles is presented in the announcement, and the campaign is limited to the Kindle storefront.
Good Smile Racing is bringing back the "POP UP PARADE Racing Miku 2023 Ver." figure, scheduled for release in February 2027. The figure recreates the 2023 edition design of Racing Miku from the "Hatsune Miku GT Project," dressed in a race queen outfit with wide-open sides. Illustrator Toridamono, known for the "Atelier Ryza" series, designed the character, and the figure emphasizes plump thighs, a feature described as fresh for a Hatsune Miku figure. The product is part of the POP UP PARADE line, which targets collectors with an affordable price and an easy-to-display size of roughly 17 to 18 cm in total height. Pre-orders open August 25 at 12:00 PM at the official Good Smile Company shop and run through September 23. The figure is priced at 6,500 yen including tax. The prototype was handled by CKB, with coloring by namoji. A dedicated base is included. The re-release responds to the figure's popularity, according to the announcement.
Mebius announced that the Switch package "Monochrome Echoes White & Black W Pack," bundling both White Edition and Black Edition, launches January 21, 2027. The regular edition costs 5,500 yen, the limited edition 11,000 yen, with pre-orders open at game shops, mass retailers, and EC sites. A limited edition bundles the Monochrome Echoes TRPG rulebook.
The Madoka Magica and Monogatari Series franchises have revealed a 12-episode crossover short project, Mahou Doujo Yotsugi Peace. Monogatari creator NisiOisin wrote the shorts, which stream in batches from August 20 to 23. The project celebrates the Madoka Magica film Puella Magi Madoka Magica The Movie: Walpurgisnacht: Rising, which opens August 28. The first three episodes are already streaming on the Aniplex YouTube channel.
Good Smile Company's G.S.Collection brand announced a 1/7 scale figure of Shinobu Oshino from Nisio Isin's Monogatari Series, based on VOFAN's cover illustration for Shinobu Story. The figure is scheduled for release in October 2027 at 26,000 yen.
The anime film Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3, The Serpent God, which opened in Japanese theaters in May 2026, will be exclusively streamed worldwide on Netflix starting Tuesday, September 29. This installment is the concluding chapter of a new theatrical trilogy based on the 2007 TV anime Mononoke, which itself originated from the Bakeneko arc of Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales. The trilogy is set in the Ooku, the inner chambers of the shogun's palace, and follows the Medicine Seller, voiced by Hiroshi Kamiya, as he exorcises vengeful spirits. Each chapter shifts perspective to a woman of higher status: a new maid in Chapter 1, The Phantom Rain; an elite senior maid in Chapter 2, The Fire Rat; and the Midaidokoro, the highest-ranking woman, in Chapter 3. The third film centers on Sachiko, voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki, whose newborn son dies, triggering a conspiracy tied to the Ooku's founding 150 years earlier. The theme song is No Epilogue by Aina The End. Chapters 1 and 2 are already streaming on Netflix, so the full trilogy will be available at once.
Netflix confirmed on Wednesday that it will stream Mononoke The Movie: Chapter III - The Curse of the Serpent, the third installment in the Mononoke franchise's film trilogy, on September 29. The film opened in Japan on May 29. The first film, Mononoke The Movie: Phantom in the Rain, premiered in Japan in July 2024, and the second, Mononoke the Movie Trilogy: Chapter 2: The Ashes of Rage, opened in March 2025. Netflix is already streaming the first two films. The trilogy follows the Medicine Seller, a wandering exorcist who confronts supernatural entities born from human emotions. The final chapter centers on Yukiko, the emperor's lawful wife, as her grief over her newborn son's death draws her into a conspiracy involving a massive serpent Mononoke. The film is directed by Tomoaki Koshida with Kenji Nakamura as chief director, and the screenplay is by Yasumi Atarashi. Studio Kafka and EOTA handled animation production, while Twin Engine produced and distributed the film. Before its Netflix premiere, the film will compete at the 50th Ottawa International Animation Festival, one of seven titles selected for the feature competition.
Phoenixx announced on August 13, 2026 that MONOWAVE, a 2D puzzle action game developed by South Korea's Studio BBB, will launch for PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch on September 17, 2026. The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are scheduled to follow within 2026. The game casts players as Mono, a guardian spirit of four emotions: happiness, sadness, anger, and anxiety. Mono uses these emotions as abilities to navigate stages, such as jumping high with happiness, shrinking to pass narrow paths with sadness, performing wall kicks with anger, and avoiding traps with anxiety. Mono's song spreads emotions to companions, who then assist with unique traits like melting ice with fire or tossing Mono into the air. A free demo on Steam lets players experience up to the boss of Stage 1. A new trailer featuring the latest gameplay footage was released alongside the announcement.
The Blu-ray and DVD of Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God will release on October 21, 2026. The home video includes revival screenings of Karasu Tengu and Hi no Nezumi, a special Snake God screening, stage greetings, and a promotional video collection. Enclosed bonuses feature a booklet with three newly written epilogues by screenwriter Shinpachi, a washi-style tack sticker, and a visual card by Yuichi Takahashi. A first-come art board is also planned.
VISION's trading figure brand CHILLfigg announced Bakemonogatari as its 6th entry. The lineup includes six characters: Koyomi Araragi, Hitagi Senjougahara, Tsubasa Hanekawa, Shinobu Oshino, Nadeko Sengoku, and Mayoi Hachikuji. Figures are blind-box individual sales at 3,000 yen each, with a complete BOX at 18,000 yen guaranteeing all six. Reservations open August 7, 2026, with release scheduled for January 2027.
KMNZ announced the performers for KMNPARTY vol.8, a club event at WOMB in Shibuya on September 13. The lineup includes KMNZ, Rim, Getty, P*Light, DJ Noriken, NUROJUNK, DJ TAKUYA the bringer, Capchii, Synthion, Ren, Nemonoika, and LAKU. Tickets go on sale August 8 at noon.
Manga artist Afro is putting his simultaneously serialized works 'mono' and 'Laid-Back Camp' on hiatus. Houbunsha's editorial departments announced that Afro consulted them about physical limits while serializing both works in parallel. 'mono' will pause for the time being, while 'Laid-Back Camp' resumes after a short rest.
The 25th volume of Shō Aimoto's Kemono Jihen manga announced on Tuesday that the series will end in the next volume. Aimoto launched the manga in Jump SQ. in December 2016, and Shueisha published the 25th compiled book volume on Tuesday. Seven Seas Entertainment publishes the manga in English.
The Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki. TV anime revealed its October 4 premiere date, a key visual, and three new cast members on Friday. Takuya Eguchi, Yūki Kaji, and Ayumu Murase join the series, which stars Kazuyuki Okitsu as Mitsutaka Oji and Miyu Tomita as Pugtaro.
Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara magazine and Comic Fuz website announced on Monday that creator Afro will pause both Laid-Back Camp and mono due to health issues from the stress of serializing two manga at once. The hiatus affects both series, with return dates to be announced later by their respective editors. Afro's official X account clarified that Laid-Back Camp will take a short break starting after chapter 110 part 2, which is set to be added next week on Comic Fuz, while mono will be on hiatus for an extended period. The editorial department apologized to fans awaiting new chapters. Afro launched Laid-Back Camp in Manga Time Kirara Forward in 2015, moving it to Comic Fuz in 2019, with 18 volumes published as of November 2025. The mono four-panel manga began in Manga Time Kirara Miracle! in May 2017 before moving to Manga Time Kirara Carat later that year, with five volumes released by June 2025. Both series have anime adaptations, with Laid-Back Camp's fourth season slated for 2027.
The anime Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba and the theatrical film Witch on the Holy Night will participate in the 2026 Awa Odori festival in Tokushima Prefecture, running from August 11 to 15. Animation studio ufotable, which produces both works, released newly drawn commemorative posters for the event. During the festival, a stamp rally will feature illustrations from ufotable's past collaborations with TYPE-MOON, including The Garden of Sinners, alongside Demon Slayer art. Collectors who gather all stamps will receive a card with the 2026 illustration. On August 14, the Demon Slayer Corps dance performance returns for a second year. Voice actors Hiro Shimono, who voices Zenitsu Agatsuma, and Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, who voices Inosuke Hashibira, will join mini corps members in the dance at the Kon'ya-cho stage. The festival also includes sales of themed drinks with novelties and goods featuring the new illustrations. Witch on the Holy Night, based on TYPE-MOON's 2012 visual novel, is scheduled for theatrical release on November 20. Demon Slayer is currently rebroadcasting its TV series, and the Blu-ray and DVD for Infinity Castle Arc Chapter 1: Akaza's Return releases on July 29.
TeraDox, the operator of the 3D Japanese clothing brand Kimonowa, published a report on its VRChat event "Yukata de Nouryoukai" held on July 11, 2026. The event, produced by V Inc., commemorated the release of the new yukata sets "MyYukata 2026" and "MyYukata 2026 for Men." Seventeen events and communities collaborated to open approximately 30 instances across the platform. The three official Kimonowa instances had a total waiting queue of about 100 people. Peak concurrent connections reached 942, and total visitors surpassed 5,000. Participants wore yukata or other Japanese clothing while touring instances, taking photos, and interacting with cast members. The event aimed to lower the barriers to enjoying Japanese clothing in virtual space, where dressing and moving are easier than in real life. Following this success, Kimonowa announced a follow-up VRChat event, "Yukata de Hanabi Taikai," scheduled for August 2, 2026, starting at 22:00. That event will feature virtual fireworks viewing and interaction across instances hosted by 16 sponsoring organizations. Participation does not require wearing Kimonowa products.
The So What's Wrong with Getting Reborn as a Goblin? anime announced three new cast members and theme song artists. Natsuki Hanae, Hiro Shimono, and Yukari Tamura join the cast. Sou performs the opening theme, and AHUB performs the ending theme. The anime premieres in October.
ABEMA will air all 12 episodes of Kemono Friends and all 12 episodes of Kemono Friends 2 for free starting July 21, 2026. Season 1 begins at 1:15 PM and 1:15 AM on July 21, while Season 2 starts at 7:15 PM that day, with additional slots on July 22. Archives remain available for one week after broadcast.
The We Are Aliens anime film will screen at the Ottawa International Film Festival, Melbourne International Film Festival, and New Zealand International Film Festival in 2026. The festivals also announced screenings for Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 and the live-action film The Samurai and the Prisoner.
Keiichi Sigsawa, known for Kino's Journey and Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online, has written his first original manga. Titled Kemono-tachi no Peregrinatio, it is drawn by Hayato Asaki and launched on Shogakukan's Weekly CoroCoro Comic online magazine. The story follows a young man and a beast tamer traveling on a giant wolf in a world where giant beasts wiped out most of humanity.
F-toys will release a 1/12 scale drum set for its ROCKMONO miniature instrument candy toy line on September 7, 2026. The drum set consists of two separate sets, A and B, each in five colors, with a total of 10 blind-box types. Complete sets combine A and B parts including a bass drum, snare, cymbals, and stool. A 10-pack box guarantees all variants. Each single item costs 825 yen.
Mebius released the 2D dungeon exploration RPG Monochrome Echoes - Black - on Steam on July 16, 2026. The sequel to Monochrome Echoes - white - adds character creation, random dungeons, and new classes while retaining the battle system. The game is priced at 1,980 yen.
Independent developer MONO ENTERTAINMENT announced on July 16 that AI Dot E Battle, a drawing battle game where players create dot-pixel monsters and AI judges the outcome, will release on August 21 for PC via Steam. A demo is available. The game includes Normal Battle, Retroactive Battle, Team Battle, and a Monsterpedia. The developer previously released The Fable Manga Build Roguelike.
Fashion brand MAYLA has released a skirt inspired by 'Mononoke the Movie: Chapter 3 - Snake God,' available in Medicine Seller and Shingi models. Each features custom textiles and an obi-like ribbon. Reservations are open until July 16, 2026 at 17:00, priced at 28,600 yen each.
The color contact lens brand Urumia has announced a collaboration with manga artist Ai Yazawa, releasing a line of five daily disposable lenses inspired by heroines from four of her classic manga series. The Urumia x Ai Yazawa Heroine Collection draws from NANA, Gokinjo Monogatari, Tenshi Nanka ja Nai, and Paradise Kiss. Each lens design corresponds to a specific character: Nana Osaki (Veil Black), Nana Komatsu (Drop Pink), Mikako Kouda (Dolly Brown), Midori Sajima (Glow Olive), and Yukari Hayasaka (Muse Blue). The lenses are priced at 1,870 yen per box of 10 and will be available for reservation on the Urumia official online shop starting July 29, 2026 at 20:00 JST, with shipping beginning in late August. Pop-up stores will be held at Laforet Harajuku in Tokyo from August 19 to 31 and at Shinsaibashi PARCO in Osaka from September 5 to 13. Purchase bonuses include a membership card with any purchase, a compact mirror for five boxes, and a jewelry bag for ten boxes.
MARGINE has begun sales of 'The Story That Begins at the Akizuki Teahouse,' a historical town exploration mystery ARG set in the real Edo-period castle town of Akizuki in Fukuoka Prefecture. The work contains no negative elements and is described as a 'light ARG.' Players solve story-driven puzzles tracing over 400 years of history, feelings, and memories. A VTuber guide, Akizuki Miihi (CV: Mashima Hiyori), accompanies the experience. The ARG is recommended by the current head of the Akizuki domain and supported by local tourism associations. It is priced at 2,500 yen.
Netflix has announced a reality competition show based on the board game Monopoly, with a $2 million prize for the winner. The show, produced by Studio Lambert of 'Squid Game: The Challenge' fame, will feature 12 players in a life-sized city setting. Players who go bankrupt are eliminated, and the last one standing wins. The series is set to stream in fall 2027, and applications are now open for US residents.
Good Smile Company has opened pre-orders on Amazon Japan for two hologram acrylic stands featuring characters from SSSS.GRIDMAN and Gridman Universe. One stand shows Rikka Takarada and Akane Shinjo by illustrator Tridamono, the other depicts Akane Shinjo Chaos New Order by saitom. Both are based on illustrations from the COVERS collaboration project, priced at 2,520 yen, and scheduled for release on October 31, 2026.
Sega has started a collaboration event between its online mahjong game SegaNET Mahjong MJ and the mobile puzzle game Sumasuro Bakemonogatari. The Sumasuro Bakemonogatari CUP national tournament runs from July 13 to August 2, 2026, across app and arcade versions, with collaboration items including characters, backgrounds, and win animations as rewards.
Happinet will exhibit three titles for trial play at the indie game exhibition Tokyo Game Dungeon 13 on August 8, 2026. The adventure game 'Tokyo Stories', developed by Dricom, uses pixel art and 3D visuals and is set in a deserted Tokyo. Also playable are the RPG 'Artis Impact' and the action ADV 'Mononoke no Kuni'. 'Artis Impact' launches on Switch on September 17, 2026, while 'Mononoke no Kuni' is planned for Steam in 2027.
Twin Engine announced a new Mononoke project on July 5, revealing the third Medicine Seller Ken no Tsurugi, voiced by Hironori Araki, in a new PV. Three new novels featuring each of the three Medicine Sellers-Ri no Tsurugi, Kon no Tsurugi, and Ken no Tsurugi-will be published by Kadokawa Bunko.
Aniplex revealed a new visual and announced that the 'Wazamonogatari: Karen Ogre' episode of the MONOGATARI Series: OFF & MONSTER Season anime will debut in winter 2026. Akiyuki Simbo returns as chief director, Midori Yoshizawa directs at SHAFT. The episode continues the franchise's Off & Monster Season, which began streaming in July 2024 on ABEMA and Crunchyroll.
Akihiro Miwa, the singer, actor, and voice actor known for roles as the Witch of the Waste in Howl's Moving Castle and Moro in Princess Mononoke, died on June 20 of old age. He was 91. His agency announced his passing on Sunday, stating he had been convalescing at home after his health declined three months ago.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles runs at 4K resolution in TV mode, full HD in handheld mode, and 60 frames per second with smoother cutscenes. The review calls the original game a labor of love from Monolith Soft and says the graphical improvements remove the performance barriers that filtered potential players on the original hardware.
AmiAmi is selling an exclusive 1/7 scale figure of Hanekawa Tsubasa from the Bakemonogatari manga. The figure, from the Ques Q brand, depicts her standing in a bone-strewn wasteland holding a mourning lantern with a built-in LED unit. It costs 43,780 yen and ships in June 2027.
Good Smile Company began accepting pre-orders for two reproduction prints featuring Rikka Takarada and Akane Shinjo from SSSS.Gridman and Gridman Universe. The prints are based on illustrations created for the COVERS project and include a bonus sticker. Pre-orders run until July 15, with shipping scheduled for October 2026.
The television anime adaptation of Tsutomu's manga Ojisan wa Kawaii Mono ga Osuki. has revealed its cast, staff, and October premiere date in a new promotional video. Kazuyuki Okitsu leads the cast as Mitsutaka Oji, with Tomoe Makino directing at LIDEN FILMS.