Atsu Benino Launches New Manga Hōkago Voca-Ken de! in January

The combined fourth and fifth issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine announced on December 25, 2025, that Atsu Benino will launch a new manga titled Hōkago Voca-Ken de! (Afterschool at the Vocaloid Research Club), which will launch in the magazine's sixth issue on January 7, 2026. The Hōkago Voca-Ken de! manga launch announcement marks Benino's latest work following the completion of the manga adaptation for A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans, bringing a new Vocaloid-themed series to Weekly Shonen Sunday readers. The series follows first-year high schooler Mira Sasaki, who knows nothing about the singing voice synthesizer Vocaloid. Somehow, she winds up joining the Vocaloid research club with her Vocaloid-loving upperclassmen. The Hōkago Voca-Ken de! plot summary suggests a school club comedy narrative, featuring a protagonist discovering the world of Vocaloid through her interactions with passionate upperclassmen, creating an appealing story for readers interested in music technology and school life themes. Benino ended the manga adaptation of VTuber Natsume Kurusu's A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans light novel series on July 27, 2025, completing the adaptation after launching it in Kadokawa's Shōnen Ace magazine in 2022. The A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans manga adaptation demonstrated Benino's ability to bring light novel stories to visual form, with Yen Press shipping the second volume on December 16, 2025, making the series accessible to English-speaking audiences. Kadokawa shipped the fourth novel with illustrations by Sai Izumi on February 25, 2025, continuing the source material's publication. Yen Press publishes the novels in English, and shipped the second novel on March 19, 2025, with the third volume scheduled to ship on April 14, 2026, ensuring ongoing availability for international readers. The A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans light novel series maintains its popularity, with the English release schedule keeping pace with the Japanese publication. The novels are inspiring a television anime that will debut on January 10, 2026. The A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans anime adaptation is being produced by Studio asread, with Akira Iwanaga (The Morose Mononokean) directing and Katsuhiko Takayama (Baka & Test) overseeing series composition. The anime features a cast including Toshiki Masuda as Rei Hitoma, Sora Amamiya as Kyōka Minazuki, and Saori Ōnishi as Isaki Ōgami, bringing the characters to life with experienced voice actors. The series will be available globally on Crunchyroll (excluding Japan and China), ensuring wide international distribution. The Hōkago Voca-Ken de! January 2026 launch represents Benino's return to original manga creation following the completion of the A Misanthrope Teaches a Class for Demi-Humans adaptation. The combination of a Vocaloid-themed story, school club setting, and Benino's proven artistic abilities creates an appealing package for readers seeking comedy and music technology narratives. The series' debut in the magazine's sixth issue on January 7, 2026, provides fans with a specific timeline to look forward to, while the creator's track record suggests a high-quality visual and narrative experience. As the January 2026 launch approaches, anticipation continues to build among fans of Benino's previous work and readers interested in discovering new Vocaloid-themed series. The combination of a relatable protagonist discovering Vocaloid culture, school club dynamics, and the creator's proven storytelling abilities creates an appealing package for readers seeking comedy and music technology stories. The Hōkago Voca-Ken de! January 2026 release will join other anticipated manga launches in what promises to be an exciting period for Weekly Shonen Sunday readers.