Daruma Matsuura's Steel of the Celestial Shadows Enters Hiatus

Reason for Hiatus & Return Date Unspecified

This year's sixth issue of Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior magazine announced on Friday that Daruma Matsuura's manga, Steel of the Celestial Shadows, will be going on hiatus. Unfortunately, the announcement did not provide any details regarding the reason for the hiatus or when the series will resume.

Previous Hiatus

The series previously entered a hiatus in 2021, allowing Matsuura time to conduct research for the story.

Story Overview

Steel of the Celestial Shadows is published in English by Viz Media, which describes the plot as follows:

It is said that a samurai's spirit rests in their sword—and Konosuke can't even pick one up thanks to a cruel curse that repels anything made of metal that gets near him. Destitute and hopeless, he decides to end it all. But when a beautiful and mysterious woman saves his life and his soul, it is the beginning of Ryudo's journey into a strange world of magic that exists a step away from his own.

Cover Image Source: Amazon
© VIZ Media LLC, Daruma Matsuura

Publication History

Matsuura launched the manga in June 2020, and Shogakukan published the ninth compiled volume on September 30. Meanwhile, Viz shipped the fifth compiled volume on January 21.

Previous Works

Matsuura is also known for her debut work, Kasane, which she launched in April 2013 in Evening. The series concluded in August 2018, with Kodansha publishing its 14th and final volume in September 2018. Kasane was nominated for the Kodansha Manga Awards and the Manga Taisho Award in 2015.

Kodansha Comics began releasing Kasane digitally in English in 2017. The manga inspired a live-action film adaptation that premiered at the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival in July 2018, winning the audience award in the international competition category. The film opened in Japan in September 2018, debuting at #9 at the box office.

Source: Big Comic Superior issue six