Summary
With the end ofMy Hero Academiaand the upcoming conclusion ofJujutsu Kaisen, the curtain is falling ib an age ofShonen Jumpmanga, and the publisher is scrambling to find their next big hit to usher in a new age. The magazine is known for its exciting battle shonen series that dominate the industry, but for the first time in a long time, the future isn’t quite as bright as it once was.
In a live stream on the official Shonen Jump YouTube channel, exciting news such asthe return ofHunter X Hunterand the ending ofJujutsu Kaisenwere announced, but the publisher’s efforts in looking for the next big thing were also revealed.
It was announced that a one-time contest to find the next promising battle manga would be held and judged by Tite Kubo (Bleach), Kohei Horikoshi (My Hero Academia), Gege Akutami (Jujutsu Kaisen) and Yuki Tabata (Black Clover). It’s clear thatShonen Jump is hastily looking for its next big hit, and judging from the names involved, the magazine knows what it’s looking for.
Jujutsu Kaisen Confirms Ending and Final Chapter Release Date
Gege Akutami’s hit shonen manga Jujutsu Kaisen will be ending soon within a span of only five chapters, bringing an end to the six-year-long series.
The Best of the Best Will Select the Next Star
Shonen Jump Puts Its Future in the Hands of Its Most Successful Authors
This contest, which brings on the creators of some ofShonen Jump’s biggest manga, aims to find a new series that will be published in Shueisha’s many magazines.The winner will have their series published in the physicalWeekly Shonen Jumpand receive a recommendation from one of the judges. Other winning entries will be serialized inShonen Jump+, the digital publication that is home to hits likeChainsaw Man,Kaiju No. 8, andSpy X Family. Semi-finalists will be published in one of the special magazines such asJump GIGA, whereJujutsu Kaisen’s first entry was published.
There is also a cash prize, with the winner receiving 1 million Yen ($6800), the second place will receive 500K Yen ($3400), the third place winning 300K Yen ($2000), and finalists each receiving 50K Yen ($350). The deadline for the contest is July 12, 2025, andthe results will be revealed at the end of March.
Shonen Jump Still Has Excellent Titles
Hidden Gems Are Lurking in the Magazine
Shueisha is going all out by giving chances to many series and seeing which one is a hit. Although there is a lot of effort in finding a series to fill the hole left by its predecessors, the publisher still has some series that will lead the next generation.Kagurabachiby Takeru Hokazono is the future ofShonen Jump, as the publisher said, and evenMasashi Kishimoto, creator ofNaruto, approved of this revenge story.Astro Royaleby Ken Wakui is also shaping up to be a hit with how well it’s been doing so far.
It will be interesting to see what comes out of this contest that Shueisha is investing a lot in, and who these four creators will choose. It’s clear that by selecting such a high-profile jury, Shueisha is counting on the experience and artistic genius of the authors who dominated the manga world, tasking them with finding their successor, rather than leaving the job to the editors, as was the norm.
It’s an interesting approach, and one that surely speaks of the urgency felt by Shueisha to revitalize its flagshipShonen Jumpseries. Until the results are revealed next year, fans should check the offerings of the magazine and even other publishers like Kodansha and Shogakukan.
