18 Years Later, Acclaimed Seinen Series Surprises Fans With Finale Announcement

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Chica Umino’s popular March Comes in Like a Lion series first appeared in 2007 and quickly gained a large international fanbase. It received several prestigious awards, including the Manga Taisho 2011, the 35th Kodansha Manga Award in 2011, and the Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize Manga Grand Prize in 2014. The story will conclude with Volume 19 of the manga. Volume 18 is scheduled for release on September 29th, 2025, and will continue the narrative from Chapter 195. While the exact date hasn’t been announced, based on the typical release pattern, we anticipate Volume 19 will be available in approximately two years. So far, the manga has 216 chapters, all of which will be included in the final volume. This information comes from @MangaMoguraRE on X, a reliable source for the latest manga news.

Despite not following typical Seinen story patterns – leaning more towards a realistic slice-of-life approach – the series has gained a loyal following thanks to its compelling narratives. The unexpected announcement caught fans off guard, leading to worries about how the story will end and hopes for a third season. The manga has experienced inconsistent release schedules in the past, which explains the suddenness of the news. Furthermore, there’s been no confirmation of a third anime season, causing concern for the future of the franchise. Even the spin-off, March Comes In Like a Lion – The Untold Showa-Era Tale: Scorching Times, by Hideaki Nishikawa, hasn’t received an anime adaptation despite being completed five years ago.

What Is the Plot of March Comes in Like a Lion?

The story centers around Rei Kiriyama, a 17-year-old high school student who became a professional shogi player while still in middle school, quickly rising to the top of the competitive world. Despite his incredible skill, Rei battles with feelings of loneliness and deep emotional pain stemming from a devastating family tragedy. He was raised by another shogi family, and as he grew, his naturally introverted nature and the intense pressure of being a professional led him to withdraw from others.

While adjusting to life in Tokyo and struggling with his own insecurities, Rei meets the Kawamoto sisters – Akari, Hinata, and Momo. They live with their grandfather, who runs a shop selling traditional Japanese sweets called wagashi. The sisters are healing from difficult past experiences, and they develop a close, family-like relationship with Rei, who hasn’t felt the comfort of a family for much of his life. It’s a connection that helps them all cope.

The warm and welcoming family takes him in, and through their generosity, Rei slowly starts to become more open, deal with his emotional wounds, and start over. March Comes in Like a Lion is a touching story about bouncing back, the power of friendship, and finding the strength to persevere through difficult times, as the characters bravely and kindly navigate their struggles.

I’ve been watching the anime, and it’s available on Crunchyroll right now. It covers the manga up to chapter 88, which means if you’re enjoying it, you can pick up the manga and start reading from chapter 89. It’s a great way to continue the story!

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2025-09-29 22:10