Karakarakemuri, Haruki Hajime to Launch New Soccer Manga in February

The combined fourth and fifth issue of Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine announced on December 25, 2025, that Karakarakemuri and Haruki Hajime will launch a new soccer manga for the new era in the 13th issue, which should ship on February 25, 2026. The Karakarakemuri Haruki Hajime new soccer manga announcement marks a significant collaboration between the acclaimed creator of Laughing Under the Clouds and Haruki Hajime, bringing a fresh take on sports manga to Weekly Shonen Sunday readers. The series is being marketed as a "soccer manga for the new era," suggesting a modern approach to the sports genre that will appeal to contemporary readers. The Karakarakemuri Haruki Hajime soccer manga launch represents a new direction for both creators, combining Karakarakemuri's proven storytelling abilities with a collaborative effort that promises to deliver an engaging sports narrative. Karakarakemuri launched the Sōen no Scavenger (Scavenger of the Blue Flame) manga on Shogakukan's Sunday Webry website in December 2023, and ended the manga in the fourth volume on April 17, 2025, completing the series after a successful run. The Sōen no Scavenger manga demonstrated Karakarakemuri's versatility in working with different genres and digital platforms, showcasing the creator's ability to adapt to evolving manga publication formats. Karakarakemuri launched the manga adaptation of Bun-Ō Fujisawa's MARS RED dramatic stage reading series in Mag Garden's Monthly Comic Garden magazine in January 2020. Karakarakemuri ended the manga with the third compiled book volume in July 2021, completing the adaptation. Funimation premiered the anime with both English subtitles and the English dub in March 2021, bringing the story to international audiences. The MARS RED manga adaptation showcased Karakarakemuri's ability to bring dramatic stage readings to visual form, creating an engaging narrative experience. Karakarakemuri published the Laughing Under the Clouds (Donten ni Warau) manga in Mag Garden's Monthly Comic Avarus magazine from 2011-2013, establishing the creator as a respected figure in the manga industry. Karakarakemuri launched the Donten ni Warau Gaiden manga on Mag Garden's "Beat's" manga site in 2014, and ended the series in February 2017, expanding the franchise's narrative scope. The original manga inspired a 12-episode anime in 2014 and a live-action film that opened in March 2018, demonstrating the story's broad appeal across different media formats. A live-action spinoff prequel work streamed online in January 2018, further expanding the franchise's reach. The Donten ni Warau Gaiden manga inspired a trilogy anime film adaptation. Donten ni Warau Gaiden: Ketsubetsu, Yamainu no Chikai (Parting, The Oath of the Yamainu) — the first film — opened in Japan in December 2017. Donten ni Warau Gaiden: Shukumei, Sōtō no Fūma (Fate, The Double-Headed Fūma) — the second film — opened in Japan in June 2018. Eleven Arts screened both films in the United States in August 2018, bringing the trilogy to international audiences. The third film — Donten ni Warau Gaiden: Ōka, Tenbō no Kakehashi (Cherry Blossoms, the Bridge to Heavenly Wishes) — opened in Japan in September 2018 and screened for two weeks. Eleven Arts screened the film in the United States in 2019, completing the trilogy's international release. The Donten ni Warau Gaiden trilogy demonstrated the franchise's enduring popularity and Karakarakemuri's ability to create stories that resonate across different media formats. Karakarakemuri launched the Utakata ni Warau manga in November 2018, and ended it in May 2019. The manga is a prequel to his Laughing Under the Clouds manga, further expanding the narrative universe and providing additional context for the original story. The Utakata ni Warau manga showcased Karakarakemuri's continued creative exploration of the franchise's world and characters. The Karakarakemuri Haruki Hajime soccer manga February 2026 launch represents a new chapter in both creators' careers, bringing together their expertise to create a modern sports narrative. The combination of Karakarakemuri's proven track record with successful manga series and adaptations, Haruki Hajime's collaborative input, and the "soccer manga for the new era" concept creates an appealing package for readers seeking fresh takes on sports manga. The series' debut in the magazine's 13th issue on February 25, 2026, provides fans with a specific timeline to look forward to, while the creators' track records suggest a high-quality visual and narrative experience. As the February 2026 launch approaches, anticipation continues to build among fans of Karakarakemuri's previous work and readers interested in discovering new sports manga series. The combination of a modern soccer narrative, experienced creators, and the strategic debut positioning creates an appealing package for readers seeking sports and adventure stories. The Karakarakemuri Haruki Hajime soccer manga February 2026 release will join other anticipated manga launches in what promises to be an exciting period for Weekly Shonen Sunday readers.