Kagurabachi is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Takeru Hokazono, serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump since September 2023. The series follows Chihiro Rokuhira, a young swordsman wielding enchanted blades on a quest for vengeance. Chapter 118, released on April 12, 2026, marks a pivotal escalation in the Seitei War Arc, the first arc of Part 2, and a testament to how far this series and its creator have come in under three years.

Who Is Takeru Hokazono, Creator of Kagurabachi?

Takeru Hokazono, born September 6, 2000, in Osaka Prefecture, grew up reading Weekly Shōnen Jump and was inspired by Naruto to become a manga artist. He started making manga during the COVID-19 pandemic while still in college. His first published work was the one-shot Enten, which won the 100th Tezuka Award in 2020 and was subsequently published in Jump Giga Spring 2021. Kagurabachi is his very first full-length serialization. Everything before it was a one-shot.

In a September 2025 interview with Anime News Network, Hokazono stated: “Growing up, I was a very big fan of Naruto. My whole family actually enjoyed it.” He also shared that a big inspiration for Kagurabachi was the concept of a Hollywood-inflected Japan, which he found inherently cool. He is a fan of Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and David Fincher , and those cinematic sensibilities bleed through every panel. I’d argue you can feel the John Wick DNA in every fight sequence Hokazono choreographs, that same economy of motion married to sudden, startling brutality.

Hokazono stated that it had taken him about six months to complete the first chapter of Kagurabachi , a level of care that, in my view, set the visual standard the series has maintained week after week. At Anime NYC 2025, he appeared alongside his editor, Takurō Imamura , and drew the character Samura live on his iPad .

Kagurabachi Chapter 118 Breaks Open the Seitei War Arc

Chapter 118 continues the Irishima Talks, picking up with the delegate replying to Shiba that he will leave after their business is finished, while Shiba snidely replies that business probably doesn’t involve dialogue. The chapter escalates into a moment of sudden violence that sent shockwaves through online discussion threads. It feels like one of the most decisive acts of violence in the series to date.

Shiba has been hyped for a long time, but fans still have not seen him go all out. At Anime NYC, Hokazono acknowledged that Shiba is a character he hasn’t been able to fully showcase yet. Chapter 118 reads like the beginning of Hokazono making good on that promise. The fallout from the Irishima Talks fuels speculation about just how badly things escalate from here.

The Mikaboshi lore reveal across Chapters 117 and 118 is, to me, the most ambitious worldbuilding Hokazono has attempted. The Mikaboshi, the original ruling sorcerers, were chased out by the Soga Clan’s ancestors and hid in the shadows for a millennia, now seeking to reclaim their former lands. This is the kind of deep mythological scaffolding that separates a good shonen from a great one.

Kagurabachi’s Sales Trajectory and Industry Milestones

The numbers tell a story of acceleration. By October 2025, the manga had surpassed 3 million copies in circulation with the release of volume 9 , according to Oricon. That figure climbed from 350,000 in July 2024 to 600,000 in August, past 1 million in October 2024, to 1.3 million by December, to 2.2 million by May 2025. For a manga with no anime adaptation, that growth rate is staggering.

Upon release, Kagurabachi surpassed Spy × Family, Dragon Ball Super, and Boruto on Manga Plus’s popularity ranking. Its first chapter was the world’s most viewed in its first week on Manga Plus, receiving over 99 million page views by April 2024. The manga won the 10th Next Manga Award in the print category in 2024 and was nominated for the 70th Shogakukan Manga Award. In 2025, it earned a nomination for the 49th Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category and for the Eisner Awards’ Best U.S. Edition.

In North America, the series has ranked on Circana BookScan’s monthly top 20 adult graphic novels list since November 2024, and on The New York Times’ Graphic Books and Manga bestseller list since December 2024. Viz Media announced the English print release in March 2024; the first volume was released November 5, 2024.

Kohei Horikoshi on Kagurabachi’s “Genius Level” Composition

When the creator of My Hero Academia calls your work genius, people listen. In a joint interview published in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #45 (October 6, 2025), as covered by CBR and Oricon, Kohei Horikoshi stated: “His camera work and use of black shading are outstanding.” He singled out the scene where Samura appears sensing the unsheathing of the enchanted blade, with Chihiro’s hand in the foreground and Samura in the back, but Chihiro’s face not shown.

Horikoshi called the composition “genius level,” comparing it to a religious painting that conveys mythology through imagery alone. That’s not faint praise from a peer. That’s canonization.

But Horikoshi also offered constructive critique. He cited Hokazono’s tendency to “reset” cliffhangers at the start of a new chapter, cutting off narrative momentum. “I think this is both Kagurabachi’s strength and weakness,” he stated. I’d argue this is the kind of honest feedback that only strengthens the craft. The fact that Hokazono and Horikoshi share a friendship predating the series debut makes the exchange feel less like industry posturing and more like genuine mentorship.

From Meme to Phenomenon and the Anime Question

Kagurabachi’s origin story as a cultural object is almost as entertaining as the manga itself. On September 10, 2023, a color preview panel of Chihiro unsheathing a katana was revealed. On September 13, an X user made a “Greater Than” post placing Kagurabachi above Boruto , and the “Kagurabachi Glazing” meme was born. What started as ironic overhyping — users declaring the unreleased manga one of the greatest of all time — quickly turned into sincere appreciation as people fell in love with its gorgeous artwork and engaging storytelling.

On the anime front, Japanese business publication Toyo Keizai reported that CygamesPictures would be animating the adaptation in a CyberAgent and Shochiku co-production. CyberAgent acquired all shares of CygamesPictures on February 27, 2026, and the studio was renamed to Cypic Co., Ltd. on April 6, 2026. The Toyo Keizai report framed the partnership as a potential “third force” in an anime industry currently dominated by Sony and Toho. The announcement has not been officially confirmed by CyberAgent or Shochiku , but the studio infrastructure is clearly in place.

In my view, the studio selection logic makes sense. Toyo Keizai noted the intent to decentralize studios, arguing that entrusting multiple major works to one studio risks production line collapse, rather than relying on studios already handling major titles like MAPPA with Jujutsu Kaisen or WIT STUDIO with Spy × Family.

What Part 2 Means for Kagurabachi’s Future

Part 1 wrapped with Chapter 112 on February 15, 2026. After a brief Chapter 112.5 bridge, Part 2’s Seitei War Arc launched with Chapter 113 on March 1, 2026. The arc is a flashback revealing the war that led to Chihiro’s father crafting the Enchanted Blades, and it feels like the series laying its deepest foundation yet.

Online fan communities are debating how long the series will run. Whether it follows the tighter modern shonen model of Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer or stretches longer, I’d argue Hokazono has earned the trust to decide that pacing himself. The man spent six months on a single first chapter. He’s not in a rush.

When asked about overseas popularity, Hokazono stated at Anime NYC: “Overall, popularity overseas hasn’t really changed things for me, and it’s not making me any more nervous. But on the other hand, since there are even more readers because of the foreign audience as well, I want to work on making it even greater because of that.” That quiet confidence, that refusal to let hype distort the work, is exactly why Kagurabachi keeps getting better.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kagurabachi Chapter 118

Where can I read Kagurabachi Chapter 118 officially?

Chapter 118 is available on Viz Media’s Shonen Jump and on MANGA Plus by Shueisha. Both platforms offer the latest chapters for free.

What arc does Kagurabachi Chapter 118 belong to?

Chapter 118 falls within the Seitei War Arc, the first arc of Part 2, which launched with Chapter 113 on March 1, 2026, after Part 1 concluded with Chapter 112 on February 15, 2026. The arc explores the historical conflict that led to the creation of the Enchanted Blades.

How many copies has Kagurabachi sold?

As of October 2025, Kagurabachi had surpassed 3 million copies in circulation. That figure covers both print and digital editions across 10 tankōbon volumes.

Is there a Kagurabachi anime adaptation?

Toyo Keizai reported that CygamesPictures (now Cypic under CyberAgent) would animate the series in a co-production with Shochiku. The announcement has not been officially confirmed by CyberAgent or Shochiku. Reports suggest a potential release in late 2026 or 2027.

Who is Takeru Hokazono?

Takeru Hokazono was born September 6, 2000, in Osaka Prefecture. He won the 100th Tezuka Award for his one-shot Enten in 2020. Kagurabachi is his first serialized manga, and he has cited Naruto, Quentin Tarantino films, and John Wick as key influences on his work.

What is the “Kagurabachi Glazing” meme?

The trend began in September 2023 before the first chapter was released, with users ironically overhyping the manga as one of the greatest of all time. What started as ironic praise quickly became sincere as readers fell in love with the artwork and storytelling.