Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Manga goes on indefinite hiatus

Frieren: Beyond Journey
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Image credit: Madhouse Studio)

It has come to attention that the popular Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Manga will now be going on an indefinite hiatus. This is a sad day for fans of this series, not because their beloved manga has been put on hold for a while, but because the creator has had to take a break due to health issues.

The manga fan community has noted that this has become a recurring issue, where creators of popular series are put under a lot of pressure and work without a healthy amount of breaks, which leads to severe health problems. This news of going on a hiatus is the second one for this creator.

Although this is definitely sad news, there is a bittersweet ending to this. According to the official statement, Weekly Shonen Sunday will review and adjust the publication pace and format before continuing serialization. This decision means that once the creators recover, the manga may return with a more sustainable release schedule.

It could not be what a few die-hard readers of Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Manga want, but keeping the creator's well-being in mind, it could be what they need. Fans have written sympathetic messages echoing a growing awareness about the harsh working conditions in Japan’s manga industry.

Others have used this moment to call for industry reform, pointing out that overwork has long been a problem among mangaka. Many also referenced the tragic passing of Berserk creator Kentaro Miura, emphasizing that creators must never feel pressured to prioritize deadlines over their lives.


The manga industry’s burnout crisis

Still from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End anime (Image credit: Madhouse Studio)
Still from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End anime (Image credit: Madhouse Studio)

The Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Manga reignites a recurring debate: Is the weekly manga model sustainable anymore? Even highly successful mangaka like Eiichiro Oda (One Piece) and Gege Akutami (Jujutsu Kaisen) have taken extended breaks due to exhaustion or medical issues.

With both Frieren: Beyond Journey's End creators unwell, fans are urging publishers to adopt a monthly release model, which could alleviate stress and prevent burnout. In the words of fans, they feel like the manga industry should just shift to monthly releases.

As they never hear about those creators killing themselves through overwork. It’s a sentiment echoed by many who feel that Japan’s traditional “work until you collapse” mentality needs to change, not just for manga artists, but across all industries.


Fan support messages on the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Manga hiatus news

Still from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End  anime (Image credit: Studio Madhouse)
Still from Frieren: Beyond Journey's End anime (Image credit: Studio Madhouse)

Since the Frieren: Beyond Journey's End Manga news has come to light, we can see the shift in the fandom. The manga community is stepping up and has a strong opinion on making sure to voice their feelings.

While there was a chance for them to be impatient, most of them are supportive of letting the creator first rest and then continue with their work when they are fully recovered. Some of the common responses include:

"Terrible news. The market over there needs to put some laws in place to cap working hours or something, slower release schedules, something… scary how common this is. I get it’s a mix of high competition and Japan’s work culture, but a lot of these guys get sick or drop dead." Said one fan.
"Aw again:/ take all the time you need and just get better. No need rushing back and re aggravating whatever the ailment is. We can wait, your health can’t." said another fan.
"You know it's bad when it's both authors with health problems," stated by another fan.

It is in recent years that the animanga community has openly expressed support in ensuring that the creators get sufficient rest. This is a positive change as now even the creators have backup and would not be working constantly.

Changes like this take time, and it is sad to witness that the publication companies don't offer proper breaks in the first place, which could, in turn, avoid health issues in creators. Maybe now that news like this is coming to life, we can expect some measures to be taken that could prevent things like this from happening.


Final thoughts

There’s a poetic irony in this situation: Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End Manga is a story about taking one’s time, learning the value of patience, and cherishing every fleeting moment. In many ways, this hiatus feels like a reflection of the manga’s own message, that life isn’t a race, and that it’s okay to rest before continuing the journey.

Edited by Nisarga Kakade