Takeshi Konomi’s “The New Prince of Tennis” manga is taking a one-issue break. The announcement came via the official X (formerly Twitter) account for Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine, stating that the manga will not be published in the March issue, which is scheduled to be released on February 4, 2025.
A Legacy on the Courts
Takeshi Konomi launched the original “Prince of Tennis” manga in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine back in 1999, where it ran until 2008. This initial series introduced readers to Ryoma Echizen, a middle school tennis prodigy battling his way through rivals to reach the national tournament. The manga quickly gained popularity, leading to a multimedia franchise that includes:
- A television anime series (2001-2005)
- Two anime feature films
- A theatrical short
- Various video anime projects
- A live-action film
- A live-action television series in China
- A popular stage musical series
Konomi’s own high school tennis club experience fueled the creation of a series that sparked renewed interest in tennis among Japanese fans.
The New Prince Steps onto the Court
In 2009, Konomi continued the saga with “The New Prince of Tennis” in Shueisha’s Jump SQ. magazine. This sequel picks up after the national tournament, with Ryoma joining a select group of middle school players at Japan’s elite training camp for under-17 players. This continuation has also seen its own adaptations, including:
- A 2012 television anime series, “The Prince of Tennis II”
- The “Prince of Tennis II OVA vs. Genius 10” series (2014-2015)
- “The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup”, which premiered in July 2022 and was streamed by Crunchyroll with an English dub. The U-17 World Cup arc takes the stage to new heights, moving from the Kanto Tournament to the Nationals and finally the World Championships, where fierce matches against teams from all over the globe take place.
- “The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Semifinal”, which began airing in October 2024, focusing on the Japan vs. Germany semifinal match.
- The “Tennis no Ōjisama BEST GAMES!!” original video anime (OVA) project, which retells the franchise’s most iconic matches.
As of November 1, 2024, forty-three volumes of “The New Prince of Tennis” have been released.
Konomi’s Creative Journey
Born on June 26, 1970, Takeshi Konomi debuted as a manga artist with “Tetsujin Sekai Ichi Katai Otoko” in 1993. He followed this with “Cool Rental Bodyguard” in 1997, before achieving widespread success with “Prince of Tennis” in 1999.
Konomi is also active as a singer, and owns a cat named Kahluamilk who he uses to assist him in drawing "Karupin", a character in his "The Prince of Tennis". He has said bathing is when he get ideas for his manga.
What’s Next for Ryoma and the Gang?
While the reason for the one-issue break hasn’t been explicitly stated, these pauses are common in the manga industry for various reasons, such as allowing the creator time to:
- Work on future plot developments.
- Address health concerns.
- Take a break from the demanding serialization schedule.
Whatever the reason, fans are eagerly awaiting the return of “The New Prince of Tennis” to see what new challenges and matches await Ryoma and his teammates. The series remains a significant force in sports manga, with its continued anime adaptations and dedicated fanbase.
