Manga artist Takako Shimura’s series, Hatsukoi no Tsugi (My First Love and Next), is officially set to conclude its serialization on December 25th. The announcement was made in the January 2026 issue of Kodansha’s Kiss magazine, revealing that the final chapter will appear in the magazine’s upcoming issue.
The Conclusion of Hatsukoi no Tsugi
Hatsukoi no Tsugi, which translates to “My First Love and Next,” first launched in Kiss magazine in April 2024. The romantic drama centers on the lives of Akai and Chika, a married couple who were childhood sweethearts. Despite their deepening bond, their relationship faces challenges from the lingering shadow of Akai’s first love. Kodansha released the manga’s first compiled book volume in December 2024, followed by the second volume on June 13th.
Takako Shimura’s Acclaimed Career and Influential Works
Takako Shimura is a highly respected Japanese manga artist, widely recognized for her sensitive storytelling and nuanced exploration of LGBT topics within her works. Her distinctive style has garnered her a dedicated fanbase and critical acclaim.
Among her most celebrated series are Wandering Son (Hōrō Musuko) and Sweet Blue Flowers (Aoi Hana). Both manga have significantly impacted the industry and have inspired successful television anime adaptations. Sweet Blue Flowers received an anime series in 2009, while Wandering Son was adapted into an anime in 2011. Fantagraphics Books has released Wandering Son in North America, and Viz Media publishes Sweet Blue Flowers. Shimura also contributed original character designs for anime such as Aldnoah.Zero, Battery the Animation, and Overtake!.
Other notable works include Even Though We’re Adults (Otona ni Nattemo), which is being released digitally and in print by Seven Seas and inspired a live-action series in April, and Happy-Go-Lucky Days (Dōnika Naru Hibi), which received an anime film adaptation in October 2020.
A Prolific Creator with Diverse Projects
Shimura remains a prolific artist, consistently engaging in new projects. Her recent work includes Only Talk, a collaboration with Michi Ichiho, which recently concluded on February 25th after launching in OnBLUE boys-love magazine in April 2024. She also launched Sōiu Ie no Ko no Hanashi (A Story of the Children of That House) in Weekly Big Comic Spirits in May 2024, a story about childhood friends confronting adulthood challenges. Additionally, her previously published one-shot manga, Futari de Hitorigurashi (Living Alone Together), is being developed into a regular series.
