Manchuria Opium Squad Gets Anime Adaptation As Manga Resumes Serialization Following Artist’s Passing

Tsukasa Monma’s historical crime manga series Manchuria Opium Squad has officially resumed serialization in the 45th issue of Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine under new illustrator Tsurushima, fulfilling the dying wish of original artist Shikako, who passed away in November 2025 at age 37.

Alongside the series’ return to print, Pony Canyon announced on Oct. 5 that an anime adaptation of the manga has been greenlit and is currently in production.

The double announcement coincided with the franchise surpassing 3.5 million copies in circulation across both print and digital editions in Japan.

Manchuria Opium Squad Manga Resumes With Chapter 216-217

The manga resumed serialization with a simultaneous two-chapter release within the Tsitsihar Arc, which the editorial department confirmed is approaching its climax.

The issue featured Chapter 216 of the Tsitsihar Arc, which spans 12 pages and includes the final 11 pages drawn by Shikako before their passing, accompanied by a silent 12th page arranged by Monma with background illustrations completed by studio assistants.

“We hope that readers will look at each panel of the 11 pages Kanoko-sensei drew with her final strength and burn them into their memories,” the editorial department stated.

Original illustrator Shikako passed away on Nov. 8, 2025, following a battle with choroidal melanoma, a rare form of cancer diagnosed in summer 2023 that metastasized to other organs in late 2024.

Chapter 217 of the Tsitsihar Arc marks the official debut of Tsurushima as the primary illustrator, establishing the series’ updated credit billing: Original Story by Tsukasa Monma, Manga by Tsurushima, and Original Art Concepts by Shikako.

Both Shikako and Tsurushima worked together as assistant colleagues under Kingdom creator Yasuhisa Hara prior to launching their own serialized works.

Hara stated on X that Shikako had expressed a wish prior to their death that an artist from the studio circle take over the artwork to ensure the series could reach its intended ending, praising Tsurushima’s resolve in accepting the responsibility.

In statements published in the magazine, Tsurushima explained that he initially experienced deep hesitation due to the pain of facing Shikako’s absence and the weight of continuing a series supported by many people, but he decided to take up the pen to assist what Shikako sought to achieve, pledging to dedicate himself to every brushstroke until the story concludes.

Monma stated that seeing Tsurushima’s finished manuscripts moved him to tears, adding that Shikako’s will has been carried forward.

The bereaved family of Shikako also expressed gratitude to Tsurushima and the editorial department for honoring Shikako’s wishes, while the editorial department thanked Tsurushima for his dedication in continuing the visual world created by Shikako.

“Taking over the world Kanoko-sensei built and inheriting her brush is by no means an easy task. Nevertheless, we are deeply grateful to Tsurushima-sensei for taking on The Manchurian Opium Squad with unwavering skill and passion,” the editorial department said.

Manchuria Anime Squad Anime Reveals Teaser Visual:

Concurrently with the manga’s return, Pony Canyon and the production committee unveiled the first official teaser visual for the anime adaptation, accompanied by the promotional tagline, “This is the story of a man who crafts the ‘Devil’s Medicine’.”

Further details, including the animation studio, staff, voice cast, format, and release date, have not yet been announced.

The production committee stated that the anime’s details will be released through the newly launched official website and social media accounts.

Set in 1937 within the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo during the Second Sino-Japanese War, Manchuria Opium Squad portrays a setting where human life is treated as an expendable commodity.

The narrative follows Isamu Higata, an 18-year-old soldier in the Kwantung Army who is blinded in his right eye during combat and relegated to an agricultural volunteer unit. When his mother contracts the plague, Isamu discovers an opium poppy crop and uses his botanical and chemical knowledge to synthesize high-purity opium to fund her medical treatment. His narcotics operation draws him into partnerships with underworld figures, including Li Hua of Shanghai’s Green Gang, pulling him into violent conflicts with rival syndicates and military authorities.

Manchuria Opium Squad originally debuted on Kodansha’s digital platform Comic DAYS on April 9, 2020, before moving to Weekly Young Magazine on Sept. 18, 2021.

Kodansha published the 22nd compiled book volume in Japan on Nov. 6, 2025.

Kodansha USA distributes the manga digitally in English through the K MANGA service.

To commemorate the resumption and the anime greenlight, Kodansha made the complete manga available to read for free on YanMaga Web and Comic DAYS until Oct. 11, 2026.

Source: Oricon, X