Shin Takahashi’s Ekiden Danshi Project (Men’s Long-Distance Relay Race Project) manga is going on a break until winter, as announced in this year’s 43rd issue of Shogakukan’s Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine on Monday. This marks another temporary halt for the series, which has experienced several hiatuses since its debut.
Latest Hiatus Details
The current announcement confirms that the manga will resume serialization sometime in the winter season. This is not the first time the series has paused its run. The manga previously went on hiatus in January 2024 and resumed in June 2024. Prior to that, it also took a break in July 2023, returning in the fall of that year.
About Ekiden Danshi Project
Shin Takahashi launched the Ekiden Danshi Project manga in Shogakukan’s Weekly Big Comic Spirits in May 2022. Shogakukan released the manga’s fourth compiled book volume in September 2024.
The Story of Hayata and the Ekiden Race
The narrative centers on a track-and-field athlete named Hayata, whose final high school race ended in disappointment. Despite initially planning to find a job in his hometown after graduation, Hayata discovers an opportunity to join a private university’s long-distance relay team. This university, recently acquired by a major IT company, has established an ekiden team with the ambitious goal of competing in the prestigious Hakone Ekiden.
The team conducts large-scale auditions across the country to recruit scholarship students. Adding an intriguing twist, the team’s coach is a popular idol, making for a unique blend of sports, drama, and school life themes. The story delves into Hayata’s journey and the challenges faced by athletes aiming to form a united team from diverse backgrounds.
Author’s Previous Works and Passion for Ekiden
Shin Takahashi is known for other works, including Saikano, which was released in North America by Viz Media and inspired a television anime, an original video anime, and a live-action film. Takahashi’s connection to the ekiden race runs deep; he himself had stated in 2018 that he intended to launch a manga about the university ekiden race in 2019, having run the 10th section of the Hakone Ekiden. This personal experience likely informs the authentic portrayal of the sport in Ekiden Danshi Project.
