Love Haikyu? This Shonen Jump Series Is a Worthy Successor

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Even though Haikyu!! finished its run in Weekly Shonen Jump some time ago, a new series is emerging that captures the same energy and excitement. With the Haikyu!! anime nearing its conclusion with an upcoming movie, it remains one of the greatest sports series ever published in Shonen Jump. While it’s been difficult to find another sports series as compelling, a promising new contender has arrived.

Even though Togo Goto and Kento Matsuura’s Harukaze Mound is a relatively new manga with fewer than 20 chapters (and might be cancelled soon), it’s already capturing the same thrilling spirit that Haikyu!! had at its best. With a cast of engaging characters, stunning artwork, and a promising storyline, Harukaze Mound has the potential to become a major hit in the sports manga world.

What Is Harukaze Mound?

Harukaze Mound started appearing in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump this summer and has proven more popular than most of the new series launched at the same time. The creators, Togo Goto and Kento Matsuura, previously had a series called Phantom Seer cancelled by the magazine, but Harukaze Mound is a completely different kind of story. It focuses on twin brothers who both dream of winning the high school baseball championship. However, one brother is a naturally gifted pitcher, while the other struggles to keep up, leading to a rivalry and their decision to attend different schools in pursuit of their goals.

I’m really enjoying how this series is setting up the dynamic between the two brothers. The younger one, Aokaze, is going to a top-tier school, while his older brother, Nagiharu, isn’t getting the same opportunities. It reminds me a lot of what made Haikyu!! so compelling – that feeling of rooting for the underdog. This difference is clearly pushing both of them to work incredibly hard and try to get better, and we’ve already seen some of that effort pay off in a couple of really intense practice matches shown in the recent chapters.

What truly made Haikyu!! special was watching each character develop on their individual path. They all had distinct personalities and focused on different skills, which made every training storyline feel unique. Harukaze Mound is following a similar pattern – it features a team of underdogs who need to learn to cooperate, and each player has a personal challenge to overcome.

Harukaze Mound Can Only Grow From Here

This series has a lot of potential, and so far, the story is unfolding at a great pace. Other baseball manga in Shonen Jump haven’t quite captured the rhythm of the sport. Baseball can be thrilling, but it also has quiet moments and strategic battles. Harukaze Mound seems to understand that exciting plays aren’t constant—sometimes it’s about the subtle fight for control, and it’s doing a good job of portraying that.

The recent practice game smartly jumped ahead to the most important parts, focusing on the critical moments – and that’s what makes this baseball experience feel authentic for fans. The stunning artwork in Harukaze Mound takes even minor plays and makes them feel epic. If the series is successful, we can expect to see a lot more content, including new rival teams and the long-awaited showdown between the brothers, with plenty of other exciting possibilities down the line.

Shonen Jump could really use another popular sports manga, and Harukaze Mound has the potential to be the next Haikyu!!. If you’re interested, you can read the latest chapters on Viz Media’s digital Shonen Jump or Shueisha’s MangaPlus. What are your thoughts? Share them in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-10-23 01:12