Morihiro Hayashi’s musical manga series, Star of Beethoven, has officially concluded its serialization. The final chapter, Chapter 20, was published in this year’s 31st issue of Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine on Monday, June 30, 2025. The manga wraps up after a five-year run, bringing its dramatic narrative to an emotional close.
The series, which launched in Weekly Shonen Jump in February 2020, captivated readers with its blend of classical music, psychological tension, and human drama. Star of Beethoven centers on Ren Arisugawa, a gifted teenage piano prodigy burdened by the expectations of greatness and the legacy of his prodigious father. Some sources also refer to the protagonist as Ichiro Yaso, a piano prodigy who had given up playing after an incident at a competition but finds a path to redemption with a mentor claiming to be Beethoven.
In its final installment, the manga sees its protagonist confront his inner demons during a pivotal piano competition that pays homage to Beethoven’s legacy. The conclusion depicts the protagonist playing not for victory, but for redemption, ultimately stepping out of his father’s shadow in an artistic and emotional crescendo.
Star of Beethoven has been available digitally in English through Viz Media and Shueisha’s MANGA Plus service, where it is now listed as a completed title. While no sequel has been announced, fans speculate that a collected volume might include a bonus epilogue. The second and third compiled volumes of the manga are slated for release on August 4, 2025.
