Kumiko Saiki’s Kageki Shojo!! manga series is taking a brief break. The announcement, made in the April issue of Hakusensha’s Melody magazine, cites the author’s circumstances as the reason for the hiatus. Fans can anticipate the manga’s return in the next issue, scheduled for release on March 28, 2025.
Manga to Return in March
- Brief Hiatus: Kageki Shojo!! manga will be on a one-issue break.
- Reason: Attributed to the author’s circumstances.
- Return Date: The manga is slated to resume in the next issue of Melody magazine, which comes out on March 28, 2025.
Kageki Shojo!!: A Synopsis
Kageki Shojo!! follows Sarasa Watanabe, a girl who dreams of playing Oscar in the Kouka Acting Troupe, an all-female acting troupe similar to the Takarazuka Revue. To achieve her goal, she must attend the Kouka School of Musical and Theatrical Arts for two years. There, she befriends Ai Narata, a former J-idol. The story explores their journey as they practice singing, dancing, and acting while navigating friendships and rivalries. Seven Seas Entertainment, which releases the manga in English, describes the story as one where Sarasa’s outspoken nature and grand ambitions lead to both friendships and enemies.
Kageki Shojo!!: A History
- Original Series: Kumiko Saiki originally serialized the manga under the title Kageki Shoujo! (with one exclamation mark) in Shueisha’s Jump Kai magazine from 2012 to 2014.
- Magazine Closure: The original serialization ended after Jump Kai magazine ceased publication in October 2014.
- Sequel Series: Saiki launched the ongoing sequel manga, Kageki Shojo!! (with two exclamation marks), in Hakusensha’s Melody magazine in 2015.
- Award Nomination: The manga was nominated for Best Shōjo Manga in Kodansha’s 44th annual Manga Awards in 2020.
- Rerelease: Shueisha re-released the original manga in one compiled volume in March 2019 with the title Kageki Shoujo!! Season Zero.
- English Release: Seven Seas Entertainment released the manga in one omnibus volume in English under the title Kageki Shojo!! The Curtain Rises.
Adaptation and Stage Play
- Anime Adaptation: The manga inspired a television anime adaptation that premiered in July 2021, which Funimation streamed.
- Stage Play: The stage play adaptation of Kageki Shojo!! is getting a sequel in December, running at the Mitsukoshi Theater in Tokyo from December 12-18. Nene Shida will reprise her role as Sarasa Watanabe.
Previous Hiatus
In October 2022, the manga took a break due to Kumiko Saiki’s personal circumstances. The December issue of Hakusensha’s Melody magazine revealed that the manga did not appear in the issue due to Saiki’s circumstances. Saiki explained on Twitter that her cat and father passed away, making it impossible to finish the chapter.
