Murakami published a new one-shot for his kendo manga Musashi no Ken in May 2026, his first new story for the series in over 40 years.
Motoka Murakami is the creator of the kendo sports manga Musashi no Ken, which ran from 1981 to 1985 and inspired a 72-episode TV anime. In May 2026, Murakami published a new one-shot for the series on Shogakukan's Sunday Webry service, marking his first new story for the property in over 40 years. The one-shot was announced and released on May 20.
Beyond this return to his classic work, coverage of Murakami is limited. An Anime Feminist round-up from late May 2026 mentions a profile of actress Meiko Kaji, but does not connect Murakami to that profile or to any other current projects. No other recent stories address Murakami's activities, upcoming work, or statements.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.
Bandai is releasing a new gashapon set called 'MLB TM Capsule Torso Players Edition' featuring Japanese players active in MLB, including Shohei Ohtani, Munetaka Murakami, Kodai Senga, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Seiya Suzuki, and Lars Nootbaar. The six-figure lineup will be available in the third week of July 2026 at 500 yen each.
Billboard JAPAN's JAPAN Book Hot 100 chart for June 29-July 5 put HUNTER×HUNTER Volume 39 at number one, ahead of One Piece Volume 115 and Haruki Murakami's new novel KAHO -The Tale of KAHO-. The chart, launched in November 2025, aggregates physical sales, e-book downloads, library lending, and other data. Volume 39, released July 3, includes chapters 401-410 and features Hisoka on the cover alone for the first time.
Honoka Murakami, who played Setsu Uozumi (Yūnagi) in the NHK morning drama 'Kaze, Kaoru,' posted a close-up photo on Instagram on June 30. The photo was taken by video director Tomokazu Saito, leading fans to speculate she may be appearing in a new project by Saito. Murakami has not confirmed wrapping filming for the drama, and viewers hope for Setsu's return.
Anime Feminist's weekly round-up for March 25-31, 2026, features a review of the new manga *Wicked Spot*, a profile of actress Meiko Kaji, and a primer on *Witch Hat Atelier*. The *Wicked Spot* review, from Gizmodo's Isaiah Colbert, describes the series by mangaka Sal Jiang as a sapphic rom-com that blends witchy elements with influencer culture, comparing it favorably to *The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't A Guy At All* and Kamome Shirahama's *Eniale & Dewiela*. The profile of Kaji, published by Aftermath, covers her 60-year career, including her iconic role in *Lady Snowblood* and her reflections on the grind of early acting. The round-up also includes a video primer on *Witch Hat Atelier* featuring Alex Henderson, plus links to articles on the Tokyo Pokémon Center stalking murder, Japan's citizenship law changes, and a survey of foreign residents in Saitama. Other items cover a worker fired after disclosing autism, former Nippon Ichi Software president's comments on game industry creativity, and a call for concrete woke action.
Motoka Murakami announced a new one-shot for his kendo sports manga Musashi no Ken, over 40 years after the series ended in 1985. The one-shot will debut on Shogakukan's Sunday Webry service on May 20. The original manga ran from 1981 to 1985 and inspired a 72-episode TV anime.