Krunal 
After more than a decade of waiting, fans of Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple are finally getting new manga. Creator Shun Matsuena confirmed on his X (formerly Twitter) account that a sequel called Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple 2 – Masters Arc is coming. The new series will begin on March 25, 2026, on Shogakukan’s Sunday Webry digital manga platform.
This is the first new Kenichi manga in over 11 years.
What Is the Sequel About?
The Japanese title of the sequel is Shijō Saikyō no Deshi Kenichi 2: Tatsujin-hen, which translates to “Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple 2 – Masters Arc.” The “Masters Arc” name gives fans a big hint about where the story is going. It signals a shift in focus toward the powerful martial arts masters that made the original series so popular.
The original manga ended with a time skip that showed Kenichi becoming a master himself. So far, Matsuena has not shared a detailed plot summary for the sequel. What fans do know is that the announcement illustration shows a younger-looking Kenichi, which has sparked debate online. Some believe the sequel will explore his journey leading up to becoming a master. Others think it could pick up after the events of the first series.
Either way, the “Masters Arc” title suggests the story will dig deeper into the world of high-level martial arts fighters.
A Quick Look at the Original Series
For anyone who has not read the first manga, here is what you need to know.
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple ran in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shōnen Sunday magazine from April 2002 to September 2014. That is 12 full years of publication. Shogakukan collected the entire run into 61 tankōbon volumes.
The story follows Kenichi Shirahama, a 15-year-old high school student who gets bullied constantly. His life changes when he meets Miu Fūrinji, a transfer student at his school. Miu introduces him to Ryōzanpaku, a training dojo run by her grandfather, the undefeated martial artist Hayato Fūrinji. The dojo is home to six masters, each an expert in a different martial art.
What starts as simple self-defense training turns into something much bigger. Kenichi grows fast, and that growth draws the attention of Ragnarok, a dangerous gang of delinquents. He ends up fighting stronger and stronger opponents while training under masters who push him to his absolute limit.
The manga sold over 12 million copies, making it one of the most successful shonen manga series of its era.
The Anime and OVA History
The manga was adapted into a 50-episode anime television series by TMS Entertainment. It aired on TV Tokyo from October 2006 to September 2007. Funimation released the anime in North America, and Crunchyroll currently holds the license for the series in the region.
After the TV anime ended, Brain’s Base produced an 11-episode OVA (Original Video Animation) series called Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple – The Attack of Darkness. These episodes were released between March 2012 and May 2014. The OVA later aired on Japanese television channels Tokyo MX and BS11.
The anime covered the story up to around Chapter 196 of the manga. A lot of the later story from the manga, including much of the final arc, was never adapted into anime form.
Why This Sequel Matters to Fans
Kenichi has a dedicated fanbase that has been waiting for new content for over a decade. The series stood out in the shonen genre for its focus on real martial arts techniques and training, mixed with a strong comedy element. Kenichi was not a superhero or someone born with special powers. He was an ordinary kid who got stronger through hard work and brutal training. That made him a character fans connected with.
The fact that Matsuena is returning to this series after so long shows he still has stories to tell in this world. The choice of Sunday Webry as the platform also means fans around the world will be able to read it digitally as soon as it launches.
Where and When to Read It
- Title: Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple 2 – Masters Arc
- Platform: Sunday Webry (Shogakukan’s digital manga platform)
- Start Date: March 25, 2026
- Creator: Shun Matsuena (writer and illustrator)
- Format: Digital serialization
Sunday Webry is an online manga platform run by Shogakukan, the same publisher behind the original series. Reading options and regional availability may vary, so keep an eye on official announcements closer to the launch date.
What Fans Are Saying
The announcement has generated a lot of buzz in the manga and anime community. Fans on social media have been sharing the official illustration and speculating about the story direction. The biggest question right now is whether the sequel will follow a younger Kenichi or pick up after the original manga’s ending.
Many longtime fans are excited simply because the series is back. Others are curious to see how Matsuena will handle the “Masters Arc” concept and whether it will bring back beloved characters from the first series.
Summary
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple 2 – Masters Arc is set to launch on March 25, 2026, on Sunday Webry. Shun Matsuena is writing and illustrating the sequel, just as he did with the original. After 11 years since the first manga ended, this is a significant return for one of shonen manga’s most beloved martial arts series. Whether it follows Kenichi’s rise to becoming a master or picks up after the original story, fans will find out soon.
Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 English Dub Release Date & Cast 2026