Hunter x Hunter creator Yoshihiro Togashi has announced that he will stop accepting future external projects that come with deadlines, citing physical and mental health issues. The decision will allow the manga creator to concentrate on his own manuscripts once he completes the commitments he has already accepted.
Togashi shared the announcement on his official X account on October 5, 2026. He explained that the change applies to future requests that require him to work toward a specific deadline, while existing obligations will still be completed. His statement makes clear that his priority going forward will be his own manga work.
“Due to a combination of physical and mental health issues, I’ve decided that after completing the work I’m currently committed to, I will turn down all future requests that come with deadlines and prioritize working on my own manuscripts.”
The update comes after years of health-related difficulties that have affected Togashi’s ability to work consistently on Hunter x Hunter.
Togashi Prioritizes Hunter x Hunter Work
Togashi has previously spoken about the physical difficulties involved in drawing the manga. His health problems have contributed to lengthy publication gaps, eventually leading Shueisha to move Hunter x Hunter away from its traditional weekly serialization format.
The manga returned in June 2026 after an extended break, with Chapter 411 appearing in Weekly Shonen Jump. It then published 10 consecutive chapters through Chapter 420, which was released on September 7. VIZ Media’s official chapter listing confirms that Chapter 420 is the latest published installment, while the next chapter does not currently have a confirmed publication date.
Togashi has continued sharing progress updates on his manuscripts through social media. However, completing manuscripts does not necessarily mean the chapters will immediately enter serialization, as Shueisha determines the publication schedule.
Hunter x Hunter Reaches Major Milestone
Despite its irregular release schedule, Hunter x Hunter reached a major commercial milestone in 2026. Shueisha confirmed that the manga surpassed 100 million copies in circulation worldwide, including digital editions, with the release of Volume 39 in July.
The series began serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump in March 1998 and follows Gon Freecss as he pursues his goal of becoming a Hunter while searching for his father, Ging. The current story is focused on the Succession Contest aboard the Black Whale, where Kurapika and the Kakin royal family remain at the center of the conflict.
Togashi’s latest announcement does not indicate that Hunter x Hunter is ending. Instead, it signals a change in how he intends to manage outside work, allowing him to devote more time to his own manuscripts while reducing commitments that carry external deadlines.
