Hiroshi Motomiya’s manga, Enma, is going on hiatus. This news, announced in the 17th issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump magazine on March 27, 2025, has left fans wondering when they’ll see Ken Ōshima, the debt-collecting protagonist, again. The reason given for the hiatus is for “long-term material gathering,” with the manga expected to return in the magazine’s 24th issue in May.
Who is Hiroshi Motomiya?
Hiroshi Motomiya is a well-known and prolific manga artist with a career spanning several decades. He debuted in 1965 and is known for creating manga with strong male characters and themes ranging from politics and economics to yakuza gangs and the education system. Several of his works have been adapted into live-action films and anime. Some of his most famous works include Otoko Ippiki Gaki Daisho, Ore no Sora, and Otokogi. His Salaryman Kintaro series has also seen much success and has inspired several live-action films.
Born on June 25, 1947, in Chiba, Japan, Motomiya made his mark in the manga world with “Otoko Ippiki Gakidaisho” in 1968. This series, about Mankichi Togawa, a gang leader, became a hit. In 1973, he debuted in young men’s magazines with “Shunrai” in Weekly Playboy.
Motomiya’s stories often feature men with strong individual traits and philosophies, exploring themes from politics and economics to yakuza gangs, education, and religion. His dynamic style uncovers the basic nature of man and society.
What is Enma About?
Enma centers around Ken Ōshima, a kind-hearted individual who works as a debt collector. He takes on cases involving a diverse range of characters, from gangsters to politicians, in an effort to collect a total of five billion yen in loans. The manga launched in Weekly Young Jump on January 9, 2025, and quickly gained a following.
Hiatus for Material Gathering
The announcement of the hiatus cited “long-term material gathering” as the reason. This suggests that Motomiya intends to conduct in-depth research to ensure the manga’s quality and authenticity. This could involve researching debt collection practices, the world of organized crime, or political maneuvering. Taking breaks for research and gathering materials is a common practice among manga artists who want to create compelling and believable stories.
Motomiya’s Other Works
In addition to Enma, Motomiya has been involved in several other projects. He launched Jinsei Iroiro (The Variety of Life) in Shueisha’s Grand Jump magazine in June 2024. He also concluded his Takeki Ōgon no Kuni : Takahashi Korekiyo in April 2023. This manga was part of his Takeki Ōgon no Kuni series, which focuses on real-life Japanese historical figures.
The Takeki Ōgon no Kuni series, serialized in Shueisha’s Business Jump magazine from 1990 to 1992, has featured stories about figures such as Yatarō Iwasaki, Dōsan, Munenori Yagyū, Tadataka Inō, Sontoku Ninomiya, and Kimimasa Yuri.
Other Hiatuses in Manga
Manga series going on hiatus is not uncommon. Sometimes, hiatuses are due to the author’s health, as was the case with Jun Mochizuki, the author of “Vanitas no Carte”. Other times, hiatuses are due to the author needing time to plan out future storylines, or for personal reasons. Yoshihiro Togashi, the creator of Hunter x Hunter, famously took a two-year hiatus.
Adaptations of Motomiya’s Work
Many of Motomiya’s manga have been adapted into other media, including live-action films, TV dramas, and anime series. For example, Salaryman Kintaro has been adapted into multiple live-action films and television series.
What to Expect When Enma Returns
When Enma returns in May, fans can likely expect a continuation of Ken Ōshima’s adventures in the world of debt collection. The hiatus for material gathering suggests that Motomiya may introduce new characters, explore different facets of the debt collection process, or delve deeper into the political and criminal elements that Ōshima encounters.
