Yona of the Dawn Creator Reflects on the Series’ 16-Year Legacy

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On August 5th, 2009, I came across Kusanagi Mizuho’s “Yona of the Dawn” in Hana to Yume magazine. This series revolves around its protagonist, Yona, the solitary princess of the Kouka Kingdom. Tragically, her 16th birthday turned into a living nightmare as she witnessed her father’s murder at the hands of her own cousin. In an effort to escape certain death, Yona was assisted by her loyal bodyguard and childhood friend, Hak. With no understanding of her kingdom’s workings, Yona now embarks on a perilous journey. Guided by Hak, she seeks out new allies as foretold in a prophecy that speaks of the emergence of legendary dragon warriors and Yona’s crucial role in overthrowing the kingdom.

The manga is nearing its end and is about to mark its 16th anniversary. In 2014, Studio Pierrot produced an anime adaptation consisting of 24 episodes. Following the Season 1 finale, they also released a brief OVA series with three episodes. Despite this, fans have yet to see a Season 2 release even after ten years. The manga is published monthly and has thus far produced 271 chapters and 46 volumes. As of now, Volumes 45 and 46 are still awaiting an English publication date, although they have already been released in Japan. Currently, the series is taking a break and will resume on October 3rd, 2025, to wrap up the storyline.

Kusanagi Mizuho Shared How She Felt Before Yona of the Dawn’s Debut

Mizuho posted on her official account, “Wow! Yona’s first chapter began in 2009 – I was apprehensive because it was a more specialized release. A big thank you to the Hana to Yume editorial team for allowing me to illustrate it and to the readers who persisted in reading.

She added, “If I were to re-illustrate it now, I believe the outcome would be different. The story has grown so extensive over time.

In 2003, I found myself making my debut as a manga artist, and ever since then, my longest work has been “Yona of the Dawn.” Throughout these years, I’ve dabbled in several one-shots and various manga series with just a handful of chapters. Notably, “Yona of the Dawn” is among the most acclaimed Shojo manga, boasting over 15 million copies in circulation worldwide.

Yona of the Dawn Is Approaching Its Manga Finale

Yona’s great adventure is nearing its conclusion as she goes back to the Kouka Kingdom in the final storyline. This part of the story reveals Zeno’s hardships following centuries of being haunted by the weight of eternal life. He aims to disrupt the cycle of the Dragon Warriors’ rebirth before ending his own existence. In an effort to achieve this, Zeno locks himself and the other Dragon Warriors within the Chalice of the Four Dragons’ Blood. However, Yona steps in with a desire to rescue everyone.

Observing the situation, it’s clear that Yona is facing a tough decision to resolve her conflict with the dragon deities. The manga could potentially bring forth the prophecy foretold by the seer Ik-Soo now. This prophecy, hinted at in the early stages of the story, speaks of a “sword and shield” that will safeguard the king. Although we’re still clueless about these enigmatic artifacts, many theories abound regarding their identities. It won’t be long before they manifest, perhaps very soon after the four dragons have been assembled. With this, the Red Dragon will usher in a new dawn, marking the end of Yona’s journey.

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2025-08-01 23:45