Haruichi Furudate’s Haikyuu is widely celebrated as the premier sports manga in its genre. The series has captured the core of volleyball, intertwining themes of teamwork, loyalty, hard work, and confidence.
Although the anime adaptation is ongoing, the manga ended with its final chapter in July 2020, culminating in a climactic volleyball match between the stars, Hinata Shoyo and Kageyama Tobio.
However, despite the fanfare surrounding its ending, Furudate revealed that the finale was more of a nightmare than a celebration for him and his editors.
In an interview from the final guidebook released in November 2020, translated by u/carmadillobears on Reddit, Furudate admitted that drawing the last two chapters of Haikyuu wasn’t enjoyable.
While Furudate had meticulously planned and visualized the series’ ending, the demanding workload of the final chapters, which included more pages and color illustrations, sapped away the joy from what should have been a triumphant moment.
Initially, Furudate had planned a big celebration after completing the series, intending to thank his staff for their contributions.
However, the arduous process of finishing the last chapters kept everyone working late into the night, prompting Furudate to prioritize his team’s well-being and allow them to rest after completing the series’ most critical moment.
Despite the challenges faced in its final chapters, Haikyuu remains a testament to Furudate’s dedication and the impact the series has had on its fans.
