The future of Hunter x Hunter looks bright as writer and illustrator Yoshihiro Togashi returned from his hiatus to join Twitter for a long-anticipated announcement. Fans of the popular shonen series have waited nearly four years since the release of its most recent chapter -- and eight years since the most recent anime adaptation -- for any sign of continuation.

Although Togashi has had frequent hiatuses in the past, this last one has been his longest since the series' release. Since his recent post on Twitter, several collaborators and acquaintances of Togashi, including the Japanese voice actors for Gon and Killua, have also responded to the big update, much to the fandom's delight.

hunter x hunter manga

The popular series -- which has fostered the release of two anime adaptations, several movies and multiple video games -- follows young Gon Freecss on his journey to become a renowned and licensed Hunter and to find his long-lost father of the same profession. Throughout his strange and paranormal adventures, he is accompanied by loyal friends Kurapika, Leorio and Killua on their own individual missions to gain the benefits and independence of Hunters.

Gon ultimately achieves his goal of finding his father and concludes the manga and the anime in a normal state, with the potential of gaining his previous ability to use nen in the future. Although his Hunter quest seemingly ends, the manga continues to focus on Kurapika's own mission: to avenge his dead clan and retrieve their remaining Scarlet Eyes while working as a bodyguard for a prince in the midst of a deadly succession contest.

Hunter x Hunter's story itself seems far from over, with the ongoing "Succession Contest" arc and the potential for Gon to return with a new purpose of regaining his previous abilities. However, the demands of the manga industry frequently take a toll on creators before they are able to complete their stories. Mangakas often illustrate and storyboard themselves, as is the case with HxH. Many have famously succumbed to injury and illness from the stress of this continuous workload.

Togashi is no exception, as he suffers from chronic back pain that is sometimes debilitating to his health and work. He has previously assured that he will finish the series no matter how long it takes, easing the concerns of many invested fans, but the Hunter x Hunter manga has had no shortage of hiatuses since its 1998 publication. Since 2006, there have been 12 hiatuses ranging from nine weeks to over three years, with the most recent pause breaking the record for this manga's longest stoppage.

Nonetheless, fans are still ecstatic to find a new update on the manga directly from a Twitter account claiming to be Togashi. On Tuesday the account posted a single picture of the corner of what seems to be a rough sketch with the tweet translated, "four more episodes for the time being."

The account has yet to be verified since it was made in May 2022, but the bio claims it is official and the main source for the progress of the manuscript. One-Punch Man artist Yusuke Murata who also follows the account, has backed its claim, tweeting that it is indeed Togashi.

To further substantiate this, Gon and Killua's 2011 anime voice actors, Megumi Han and Mariya Ise, tweeted individual sketches of a teary Gon and Killua the very same day to signal the emotional response of what many in the global fandom are probably feeling after so long. Although both the 1999 and 2011 anime adaptations have ended, fans have still been anxious for a sequel adapting the remaining and ongoing content. Han and Ise may no longer be involved in the anime (for now), but their excitement for the latest update reassures both fans and creators that the love is still there.

Understandable frustration and a need for more content have made the Hunter x Hunter hiatuses a running gag for the fandom, making this announcement all the more thrilling and hard to believe. Togashi has amassed over two million followers since his Twitter debut less than a week ago. He has been updating the account daily with individual images of corner pages, teasing his current work. Although there has been no official news on when fans can expect to see new chapters, these tweets have been a sign to many that they might not have to wait much longer for new content.

Source: Yoshihiro Togashi's Twitter, Yusuke Murata's Twitter, Megumi Hand's Twitter, Mariya Ise's Twitter