Time Matters - Did Matsumoto rush the Kaiju No. 8 manga ending?

Kaiju No. 8, by Naoya Matsumoto, ended on July 18, 2025, concluding its serialization of just over 5 years on Shonen Jump+. Chapter 139 aimed to tie up all the loose ends in the story, providing closure to the journeys of the characters and answering some key questions fans had.

Unfortunately, the ending of the Kaiju No. 8 manga felt immensely rushed, preventing it from reaching the potential it initially showed and leaving behind only the reputation of being a fun but ultimately basic shonen manga.

Kaiju No. 8’s ending saw the Defense Force valiantly work together to defeat the dangerous Meireki Era Mega Monster. Though Kafka was prepared to sacrifice his life to protect the world, he survived and retained his Kaiju transformation powers thanks to Isao Shinomiya.

The rest of the cast got commendations of their own, with most of them becoming platoon leaders and Kikoru getting chosen as the new vice commander of the first unit. Hence, the story ended on an optimistic note.

Though there is very little to be criticized about a happy ending, Matsumoto’s execution of it left a bad taste. For a series that was once believed to be among the best of new-gen shonen manga, Kaiju No. 8’s conclusion has failed to leave behind a legacy that most were expecting it to have.

The main reason for this is a trap that most manga have fallen into - pacing. Though Matsumoto helped create an intriguing and thrilling world, he failed to evolve it to the next level, making it a fun but run-of-the-mill experience.

The Kaiju No. 8 manga’s rushed ending ultimately let it down

Kaiju No. 8 started as a touching story of a middle-aged man named Kafka Hibino who gained the power to transform into a Kaiju, allowing him to finally live out his dream of becoming a member of the Defense Force. Though the action was intense, the story’s main focus lay on drama, comedy, and a relatable tale of chasing one’s passion.

However, with the introduction of Kaiju No. 9 and other dangerous antagonists, the series shifted more towards being fighting-oriented. While it strayed further from its roots, it remained wildly entertaining, as Kafka used his powers and unyielding spirit for the sake of humanity.

The clash between the Defense Force and the mysterious Kaiju No. 9 kept fans hooked throughout, and the shocking reveal that the Meireki Era Mega Monster was the true villain only ramped up the excitement.

Unfortunately, from that point, it was clear that Naoya Tatsumoto wished to rush the story to an end despite having introduced several potential elements that could have enriched the narrative. The Meireki Era Mega Monster was defeated immediately after its introduction, with the main cast surpassing their limits and emerging with no long-lasting injuries.

Though glimpses were given into the history of the Kaiju, dating back 400 years, it was never expanded upon and only used as a narrative tool to strengthen Kafka. Additionally, Kaiju No. 8 never left the boundaries of Japan, confining the conflict to a limited area and failing to move past the borders of its own nation.

Apart from the potential choices that Matsumoto could have taken to elevate the story, he also failed to create an impactful finale by rushing it. Despite being set in a dangerous world where monsters kept going on a rampage, Kaiju No. 8 never felt like it was a series with high stakes.

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Even after the defeat of the Meireki Era Mega Monster, Isao Shinomiya was the only notable loss, while the death of civilians was mentioned in passing as a statistic. Mina and Kafka never received a proper ending, while the development of important characters like Reno and Soshiro came to a standstill.

While the author has yet to officially reveal whether he was forced to end Kaiju No. 8 due to external reasons or if he had simply finished telling his story, the rushed ending of the series undeniably prevented it from becoming one of the all-time great battle shonen manga.

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