Manchuria Opium Squad Gets Anime Adaptation as Manga Serialization Resumes

Crime-suspense manga Manchuria Opium Squad is officially getting an anime adaptation. The announcement arrived on October 5, 2026 alongside the first anime adaptation visual.

The date also marks an important new stage for the original manga. Following the death of artist Shikako, serialization has resumed with Tsurushima taking over the artwork beginning with Chapter 217, while Shikako remains credited for the original art concept.

Quick Summary

• Global title: Manchuria Opium Squad
• Japanese title: 満州アヘンスクワッド
• Romanization: Manshu Ahen Squad
• Original format: manga
• New adaptation: anime
• Anime status: officially announced
• Anime announcement: October 5, 2026
• Anime format: unannounced
• Release/broadcast date: unannounced
• Animation studio: unannounced
• Director: unannounced
• Series composition: unannounced
• Anime character design: unannounced
• Music: unannounced
• Cast: unannounced
• Broadcast/streaming platforms: unannounced
• Anime visual: adaptation announcement visual released
• Original story: Tsukasa Monma
• Original manga art: Shikako
• Manga from Chapter 217: Tsurushima
• Original art concept: Shikako
• Publisher: Kodansha
• Current magazine: Weekly Young Magazine
• Digital platform: Young Magazine Web
• Digital platform: Comic DAYS
• Original serialization start: April 2020
• Original platform: Comic DAYS
• Move to Weekly Young Magazine: September 2021
• Manga status: serialization resumed
• Resumption date: October 5, 2026
• Magazine issue: Weekly Young Magazine No. 45
• Return chapters: Chapter 216 and Chapter 217
• Chapter 216: 突撃 / Totsugeki
• Chapter 217: 悪 / Aku
• Chapter 216: 12 pages
• Pages completed by Shikako before his death: 11
• Page 12: restructured by Tsukasa Monma
• Page 12 backgrounds: completed by assistants
• Chapter 217: first chapter drawn by Tsurushima
• Published volumes: 22
• Cumulative circulation: over 3.5 million copies
• Genre: crime suspense
• Young Magazine category: mystery / suspense
• Category: serious
• Category: social drama
• Setting: Manchuria
• Period: Showa 12 / 1937
• Protagonist: Isamu Higata
• Initial role: Kwantung Army soldier
• Condition: loses sight in his right eye during combat
• Initial motivation: earn money to save his sick mother
• Story trigger: discovers poppies being cultivated
• Conflict: begins illegally manufacturing opium
• Consequence: the decision changes both Isamu's life and the wider fate surrounding him
• Shikako died: November 8, 2025
• Announced cause: choroidal malignant melanoma
• Shikako's wish: the story should continue under a successor if he could no longer work on it
• Successor: Tsurushima
• Professional connection: Tsurushima was Shikako's senior when both worked as assistants for Yasuhisa Hara
• Yasuhisa Hara work: Kingdom
• Previous Tsurushima work: Shikyuji - Koko Kyuji ni Ashita wa Nai -
• Previous Tsurushima work: Gokuaku Tensei
• Campaign: complete manga temporarily available free
• Campaign period: October 5–11, 2026
• Campaign platforms: Young Magazine Web and Comic DAYS

Anime Adaptation Visual

The first visual accompanied confirmation of the anime project. No trailer, PV, cast, staff, or production studio has been revealed at this early stage.

A Crime Suspense Set in Manchuria in 1937

The story follows Isamu Higata, a Kwantung Army soldier who loses sight in his right eye during combat. Considered no longer useful as a combat soldier, he is transferred to an agricultural unit.

There he discovers poppies used to produce opium. His need for money to help his sick mother pushes him into illegal production, setting off a much larger chain of criminal and political conflicts.

The Manga Returns With Chapters 216 and 217

Weekly Young Magazine No. 45 marks the return of Manchuria Opium Squad. Chapter 216 is largely the final manga work completed by Shikako before his death.

Of the final 12 pages, 11 were drawn by Shikako. Tsukasa Monma restructured the remaining page without character artwork, while assistants who had worked on the series completed its background.

Starting with Chapter 217, Tsurushima takes over the manga artwork.

Tsurushima Continues Shikako's Work

Tsurushima's selection is directly connected to Shikako's professional history. Both previously worked as assistants on Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom, with Tsurushima serving as Shikako's senior at the time.

Young Magazine explained that continuing the series follows Shikako's stated wish that the story should not end if he became unable to draw it. Under the new credits, Tsukasa Monma remains the original story writer, Tsurushima handles manga artwork, and Shikako is credited with the original art concept.

Almost Every Anime Production Detail Remains Open

The October 5 announcement currently confirms only that an anime adaptation is being produced and provides its first visual.

It has not yet been announced whether the project will be a TV series, film, or another format. Its studio, director, staff, cast, release year, broadcaster, and streaming services also remain undisclosed.

Why This Matters

1) The anime arrives alongside a new chapter for the manga

The adaptation announcement comes on the same day the original serialization resumes following an extended hiatus.

Game Ad

Catventure

2) The manga continues according to Shikako's wishes

This is not a routine artist change. Tsurushima is taking over after Young Magazine sought someone capable of preserving the characters and world Shikako had established.

3) The anime project is still at a very early stage

Only its existence and announcement visual are public, leaving the studio, cast, staff, format, and release schedule for future reveals.

Manchuria Opium Squad Anime and Manga Information

For now, the additional important information currently known includes:

• the Japanese title is 『満州アヘンスクワッド』
• the global English title used in coverage is Manchuria Opium Squad
• the title can be romanized as Manshu Ahen Squad
• the anime adaptation was announced October 5, 2026
• an anime adaptation announcement visual has been released
• no anime PV or trailer has been announced
• the anime format has not been detailed
• no release year has been announced
• no exact release date has been announced
• the animation studio remains unannounced
• the director remains unannounced
• series composition remains unannounced
• anime character design remains unannounced
• music staff remains unannounced
• cast remains unannounced
• broadcaster remains unannounced
• streaming services remain unannounced
• Tsukasa Monma writes the original story
• Shikako handled the manga artwork from the beginning
• Tsurushima now handles the manga after serialization resumed
• Shikako remains credited for the original art concept
• Kodansha publishes the manga
• the series originally launched on Comic DAYS in April 2020
• it moved to Weekly Young Magazine in September 2021
• serialization resumed in Weekly Young Magazine No. 45
• that issue was released October 5, 2026
• Chapters 216 and 217 were released together
• Chapter 216 is titled 『突撃』
• Chapter 217 is titled 『悪』
• Chapter 216 contains 12 pages
• its first 11 pages were Shikako's final completed work
• Chapter 216 had originally been planned for 16 pages
• Tsukasa Monma restructured the 12th page
• assistants completed the background for that additional page
• Chapter 217 begins Tsurushima's artwork
• a new serialization-resumption visual was also drawn by Tsurushima
• Shikako died on November 8, 2025
• Young Magazine announced the cause as choroidal malignant melanoma
• Shikako was 37
• before his death, Shikako expressed his wish for the series to continue
• Young Magazine subsequently searched for a successor
• Tsurushima ultimately accepted the role
• Tsurushima and Shikako both previously worked under Yasuhisa Hara
• Tsurushima was Shikako's senior while assisting on Kingdom
• Tsurushima previously worked on Shikyuji - Koko Kyuji ni Ashita wa Nai -
• he also worked on Gokuaku Tensei
• the manga currently has 22 collected volumes
• Volume 22 was released November 6, 2025
• Volume 22 contains 176 pages
• Volume 22 ISBN-13 is 9784065414019
• Volume 22 ISBN-10 is 4065414016
• cumulative circulation has surpassed 3.5 million copies
• the story is set in Manchuria in 1937
• the protagonist is Isamu Higata
• Isamu arrives in Manchuria as a Kwantung Army soldier
• he loses sight in his right eye during combat
• he is subsequently transferred to an agricultural unit
• Isamu discovers poppies used as raw material for opium
• the need to help his mother drives his initial decision
• the story develops into a crime suspense about illegal trade and power
• Young Magazine Web categorizes the manga as mystery/suspense, serious, and social drama
• all chapters are receiving a limited free-reading campaign celebrating the manga's return and anime announcement
• the campaign runs through October 11, 2026 at 23:59 JST
• the campaign is available through Young Magazine Web and Comic DAYS
• anime updates will be published through the Official Anime Website
• manga announcements are available through Official X
• the manga is available through Young Magazine Web
• the digital edition is also available through Comic DAYS

Closing

Manchuria Opium Squad entered two new phases on October 5: its anime adaptation was officially announced and its manga returned with Tsurushima beginning his work from Chapter 217.

Most details surrounding the anime remain undisclosed. Its studio, staff, cast, format, and release schedule will be revealed later through the official site and social channels.