After a 12-year hiatus, one of the most beloved martial arts manga series is making its triumphant return. According to reports from Anime News Network, creator Shun Matsuena announced via X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday that Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple will be getting a direct sequel manga titled Shijō Saikyō no Deshi Kenichi 2 Tatsujin-hen (Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple 2 Masters Arc), launching on Shogakukan’s Sunday Webry platform on March 25, 2026.
This announcement marks a monumental moment for fans who have been waiting over a decade to see Kenichi Shirahama’s journey continue. The original manga concluded in September 2014 after an impressive 12-year run in Weekly Shonen Sunday, spanning 583 chapters collected across 61 volumes. The series left readers with a time-skip epilogue showing Kenichi as a master, but many questions remained unanswered about his path to reaching that level.
The Legacy of Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple
For those unfamiliar with the series, Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple (originally titled Shijō Saikyō no Deshi Kenichi in Japanese, literally “History’s Strongest Disciple Kenichi”) follows the story of Kenichi Shirahama, a perpetually bullied high school student whose life changes dramatically after meeting Miu Fūrinji, a mysterious transfer student with extraordinary martial arts abilities. On her recommendation, Kenichi joins Ryōzanpaku, a dojo housing six eccentric masters who specialize in different martial arts disciplines.
What set Kenichi apart from other shonen martial arts manga was its unique approach to training and combat. Rather than relying on supernatural powers or mystical energy, the series grounded itself in realistic martial arts techniques drawn from various disciplines including karate, judo, Chinese kenpo, Muay Thai, and weapons-based arts. The manga expertly balanced intense action sequences with comedy, character development, and a healthy dose of fanservice that became one of its trademarks.
The series achieved significant commercial success, accumulating over 12 million copies in circulation during its original run. Its popularity extended beyond manga, spawning a 50-episode television anime series produced by TMS Entertainment that aired from October 2006 to September 2007. Funimation originally licensed the anime for North American distribution, though the rights later expired in 2018. Discotek Media subsequently picked up the series in 2020, releasing it on Blu-ray with an upscale presentation.
The Masters Arc: What Can Fans Expect?
The subtitle “Masters Arc” provides tantalizing hints about the sequel’s direction. The original series ended with Kenichi having grown significantly in strength and skill, having faced numerous opponents from the criminal martial arts organization Yami and their youth division, Yomi. The epilogue showed him years later as a master himself, suggesting he had achieved the ultimate goal of surpassing his teachers.
However, the journey between the series’ conclusion and that epilogue remained largely unexplored. The Masters Arc title suggests that the sequel will focus on Kenichi’s continued development as he potentially transitions from disciple to master, or perhaps explores the deeper world of master-level martial artists that was only hinted at in the original series. The announcement illustration shows what appears to be a younger Kenichi, raising questions about whether the sequel will pick up immediately after the original ending or explore events that occurred during the time-skip.
One of the most compelling aspects of the original series was the dynamic between Kenichi and his six masters at Ryōzanpaku: the philosophical Akisame Kōetsuji, the aggressive Sakaki Shio, the cheerful Apachai Hopachai, the weapons specialist Shigure Kōsaka, the elderly but powerful Hayato Fūrinji, and the perverted but skilled Kensei Ma. Each master brought unique fighting styles and personalities that shaped Kenichi’s development. The sequel could potentially delve deeper into these characters’ backgrounds while introducing new master-level fighters.
Shun Matsuena’s Journey Since Kenichi
Following the conclusion of Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple in 2014, Matsuena remained prolific in the manga industry. He launched Tokiwa Kitareri!! in December 2014, which ran until June 2017 across 13 volumes. In 2018, he began Kimi wa 008 (You are 008) in Weekly Shonen Sunday, a spy-action series that concluded in May 2024 after 33 volumes.
More recently, Matsuena launched Kichijōji Shōnen! (Kichijōji Boy) in Monthly Shonen Sunday in December 2024, though this series ended in November 2025. In January 2025, he began yet another new series titled Sora e… on Sunday Webry. This prolific output demonstrates Matsuena’s continued creativity and work ethic, but the return to his most successful franchise suggests a special connection to the world and characters of Kenichi.
The fact that Matsuena chose to revisit Kenichi after exploring various other genres and concepts speaks to the enduring appeal of the series and perhaps unfinished stories he wishes to tell within that universe. Past interviews indicated that while the manga reached its planned conclusion, there were always possibilities for continuation, with Matsuena once mentioning the potential for “a oneshot or something” in the future. This full sequel series far exceeds those modest expectations.
Sunday Webry: The Digital Platform
The choice of Sunday Webry as the platform for the sequel is significant. Launched by Shogakukan in 2016, Sunday Webry serves as a digital manga distribution service and app that features works from Weekly Shonen Sunday, Monthly Shonen Sunday (Gessan), and Monthly Sunday GX, alongside original web-exclusive series. The platform operates on a freemium model, allowing readers to access chapters using free daily tickets or through coins and points for binge-reading.
Publishing on Sunday Webry provides several advantages over traditional magazine serialization. The digital platform allows for more flexible release schedules, potentially giving Matsuena more time to craft each chapter. It also provides immediate access to a global audience, as digital manga can be read anywhere with an internet connection. Additionally, Sunday Webry has become increasingly important to Shogakukan’s strategy, hosting numerous successful original series alongside reprints of classic works like Detective Conan, Inuyasha, and the original Kenichi series.
What This Means for the Franchise
The announcement of a sequel manga opens up numerous possibilities for the Kenichi franchise beyond just the new series itself. The original anime adaptation, while popular, only covered a portion of the manga’s storyline, ending around the Ragnarok arc. A subsequent OVA series titled Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple – The Attack of Darkness, produced by Brain’s Base, was released from 2012 to 2014 and covered the Yomi arc, but still left significant portions of the manga unadapted.
If the sequel manga proves successful, it could potentially lead to new anime adaptations covering both the unadapted portions of the original series and the new Masters Arc content. The martial arts anime genre has seen renewed interest in recent years with series like Baki and Kengan Ashura finding success on streaming platforms. A modern anime adaptation with updated animation techniques could introduce Kenichi to a new generation of fans while satisfying longtime followers.
The sequel also provides opportunities for merchandise, video games, and other media tie-ins that could revitalize the franchise. The original series had limited game adaptations, and modern gaming technology could create compelling fighting games or action titles based on the property.
Fan Reactions and Expectations
The announcement has generated significant excitement within the anime and manga community. Social media platforms have been flooded with reactions from fans who never expected to see Kenichi’s story continue. Many readers felt the original ending, while providing closure, left room for further exploration of the world and characters Matsuena had created.
However, with excitement comes expectations and potential concerns. Sequels to beloved series always carry the risk of not living up to the original, and fans will be watching closely to see if Matsuena can recapture the magic that made Kenichi special. The 12-year gap raises questions about whether the tone and style will remain consistent or if Matsuena’s evolution as a creator will bring new elements to the series.
There’s also curiosity about how the sequel will handle the passage of time. Will it feature the same cast of characters, or will it introduce a new generation? Will the martial arts action remain grounded in realistic techniques, or will it escalate to more fantastical levels? These questions will only be answered when the series launches in March 2026.
Looking Ahead to March 2026
As fans count down the days until March 25, 2026, the return of Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple represents more than just another manga sequel. It’s a reunion with characters who have been absent for over a decade, a chance to revisit a world that balanced humor and intensity in equal measure, and an opportunity to see one of shonen manga’s most unique martial arts series continue its story.
For readers who followed Kenichi’s journey from bullied weakling to formidable fighter, the Masters Arc promises to show the next stage of his evolution. For newcomers, the sequel provides a perfect entry point to discover what made the original series so beloved, especially with the original manga readily available on Sunday Webry for those who want to catch up.
The announcement also serves as a reminder that in manga, beloved series can always find new life. While many series end and remain concluded, the passion of creators and fans can sometimes bring stories back when there are still tales worth telling. As Shun Matsuena prepares to return to the world of Ryōzanpaku after working on various other projects, fans can only hope that the Masters Arc will prove worthy of the legacy established by the original Kenichi the Mightiest Disciple.
Whether you’re a longtime fan who has been waiting 12 years for this moment or someone curious about what all the excitement is about, March 25, 2026, marks a significant date in the martial arts manga calendar. The disciple is returning, and this time, he’s ready to explore what it truly means to be a master.
