Kagurabachi Author Faced Financial Struggles in the Beginning
The Kagurabachi author, Takeru Hokazono, revealed that he went through serious financial struggles before achieving success. Today, Kagurabachi has become a worldwide hit, but in an interview with The New Yorker, Hokazono admitted that in the first months after the manga’s debut, he was still in the red, even with the title’s growing popularity.
Kagurabachi Author Faced Financial Struggles in the Beginning
Hokazono explained that during the first three to four months of Kagurabachi’s serialization in Weekly Shonen Jump, all the money he earned per page went straight into paying his assistants. According to him, the initial income was not enough to cover the costs, and only with the release of the first compiled volume was he finally able to balance his finances.
In the magazine, new authors typically earn the equivalent of $140 per black-and-white page. However, real profits only come later, through royalties from sales, licensing, and merchandising — something not guaranteed for those constantly at risk of cancellation.
The Unexpected Success of Kagurabachi
When Kagurabachi first began publication, it was mocked online and even nicknamed the “Morbius of manga.” However, the scenario quickly changed: the series became one of Shonen Jump’s most in-demand titles and is now among the manga that fans most want to see adapted into anime.
Shonen Jump is home to legendary titles like Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Jujutsu Kaisen. Still, in recent years, the magazine has seen a high number of cancellations. Works such as More than Lovers, Less than Friends (100 chapters) and Love is Overkill (17 chapters) couldn’t survive. Even Astro Royale by Tokyo Revengers’ creator was cut short after just 50 chapters.
This trend is concerning, especially since major hits like My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen have already ended. With this, new series like Kagurabachi may soon carry the responsibility of sustaining the magazine’s popularity.
The Pressure on New Creators
Hokazono’s case is not unique. Rafal Jaki, producer of Cyberpunk: Edgerunners and author of the Shonen Jump+ manga No\Name, also shared how difficult it is to keep a series alive. Even after winning awards, his manga was canceled at chapter 14. According to him, the system is straightforward: if a series doesn’t become a hit immediately, it gets cut like the situation with Hirune.
Still, both Hokazono and other creators remain determined to continue their journeys despite the challenges.
via New Yorker