The February 2026 issue of Kodansha's Monthly Shonen Sirius magazine revealed on December 25 that Akimine Kamijyō (Samurai Deeper Kyo, Code:Breaker) will launch a short manga spinoff of Midori Yūma's The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride (Kizumono no Hanayome) novels titled Sumekuni no Sōheki Kizumono no Hanayome Gaiden (The Imperial Nation's Peerless Pair The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride Side Story). Akimine Kamijyō manga spinoff announcement confirms the acclaimed creator's return to Monthly Shonen Sirius with a new project, bringing her distinctive art style and storytelling expertise to The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride universe through a prequel narrative set 15 years before the main story.
The four-chapter spinoff will launch in the magazine's next issue on January 26. The spinoff will tell a story 15 years before the main story. Yūma is supervising the manga. Akimine Kamijyō manga spinoff format provides a focused narrative experience, with the four-chapter structure allowing for a complete story arc while maintaining the connection to the original series through Midori Yūma's supervision.
Kodansha published the original novels' first volume in October 2023, and the second volume in August 2024. Mamenosuke Fujimaru launched a manga adaptation on Kodansha's Palcy app in 2023. The series moved its serialization to Kodansha's ARTEMIS by sirius, a digital manga magazine aimed at women readers, when it launched on May 29. Kodansha USA Publishing and Kodansha's K MANGA service publish the manga in English. The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride franchise demonstrates the series' popularity, with the original novels, main manga adaptation, and now the spinoff providing multiple entry points for fans interested in the supernatural romance narrative.
Kamijyō ended the Code:Breaker manga in July 2013. Del Rey Manga published two volumes of the manga in North America in 2012 (before Kodansha USA took over Del Rey's manga titles). An anime adaptation of the manga aired in 2012, and Funimation streamed the anime as it aired in Japan, and later released the series on home video. Akimine Kamijyō creator history showcases the artist's successful career, with Code:Breaker receiving both manga and anime adaptations, demonstrating her ability to create compelling narratives that resonate across multiple media formats.
Tokyopop published the first part of the Samurai Deeper Kyo manga in North America, and Del Rey published the final volumes. Samurai Deeper Kyo also inspired a television anime that Media Blasters released in North America. Akimine Kamijyō's most famous work, Samurai Deeper Kyo, demonstrates the creator's impact on the manga industry, with the series receiving both English publication and anime adaptation, establishing Kamijyō as a prominent figure in historical fantasy manga.
Kamijyō launched the five-volume Tansansuibu manga in Kodansha's Evening magazine in 2014, and ended the series in January 2016. Akimine Kamijyō's diverse portfolio includes multiple successful series, with Tansansuibu showcasing the creator's versatility in different genres and publication formats.
Kamijyō ended the KATANA Beast (Jūshin no Katana) manga in September 2024. The manga launched simultaneously in Kodansha's Weekly Shōnen Magazine in Japan, and on Kodansha's K MANGA service in the United States on November 1, 2023. Akimine Kamijyō's recent work, KATANA Beast, demonstrates the creator's continued activity in the manga industry, with the series receiving simultaneous digital publication in both Japan and the United States, showcasing the evolving landscape of manga distribution.
Akimine Kamijyō manga spinoff announcement represents a significant collaboration between the acclaimed creator and The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride franchise, bringing Kamijyō's distinctive art style and storytelling expertise to Midori Yūma's supernatural romance universe. The January 26, 2026 launch date positions the spinoff as an exciting addition to Monthly Shonen Sirius' lineup, providing fans with a prequel narrative that expands the world and characters established in the original novels and main manga adaptation.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Akimine Kamijyō's The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride spinoff manga launch?
The spinoff launches on January 26, 2026, in the February 2026 issue of the magazine.
What is the spinoff manga about?
Titled Sumekuni no Sōheki Kizumono no Hanayome Gaiden, the story serves as a prequel set 15 years before the events of the main series.
Who is Akimine Kamijyō?
Akimine Kamijyō is a renowned manga artist best known for creating the hit series Samurai Deeper Kyo and Code:Breaker.
How many chapters will the spinoff have?
The spinoff is a short serialization consisting of four chapters.
What is The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride about?
Based on novels by Midori Yūma, it follows Nanao, a girl scarred by an ayakashi (spirit) who enters a contract marriage with a powerful demon hunter named Yako Benitsubaki.
Is there a main manga adaptation of The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride?
Yes, a main manga adaptation illustrated by Mamenosuke Fujimaru launched in 2023 and is currently serialized in ARTEMIS by sirius.
Where can I read The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride manga in English?
You can read the main manga in English through Kodansha USA Publishing and the K MANGA service.
What other works has Akimine Kamijyō created?
In addition to Samurai Deeper Kyo and Code:Breaker, Kamijyō has created Tansansuibu and the recently completed KATANA Beast (Jūshin no Katana).
What magazine will publish the spinoff?
The spinoff will be published in Kodansha's Monthly Shonen Sirius magazine.
How many volumes of The Ayakashi Hunter's Tainted Bride novels have been published?
As of late 2025, Kodansha has published two volumes of the original novels (Volume 1 in October 2023 and Volume 2 in August 2024).