Weekly Shonen Jump Ends After 27 Years, Marking an Era for Shonen Manga
Weekly Shonen Jump from Shueisha is one of the most influential manga magazines in Japan, responsible for launching a long list of legendary franchises fans still talk about today. Titles like Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Naruto helped define entire generations of shonen storytelling. Beyond action and big-power fantasy, the magazine has also been a proving ground for some of the strongest sports series ever.
In 1999, Weekly Shonen Jump introduced what many tennis fans consider the genre’s defining manga: The Prince of Tennis. The series wrapped up in 2008, but it didn’t take long for the franchise to spring back with a continuation. The New Prince of Tennis arrived in 2009, running in Jump Square, and it’s now approaching its final stretch with the story set to end at Volume 48—meaning the manga legacy will conclude, while the anime remains as the main ongoing place to revisit the world.
Legendary Shonen Series ‘The New Prince of Tennis’ Is Ending With Volume 48
When people talk about sports anime and manga, basketball, football, and volleyball often dominate the conversation. Many point to Slam Dunk for basketball, Blue Lock for football, and Haikyu!! for volleyball. Tennis, though, has long had one standout above the rest: The Prince of Tennis.
The Prince of Tennis was created by Takeshi Konomi. The manga began in Weekly Shonen Jump with Issue #32 on July 6, 1999. It quickly became a major hit and continued for years, eventually reaching 42 volumes before finishing in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #14 on March 3, 2008. Shueisha has reported that in Japan alone, the original run generated 40 million sales.
Given how successful the franchise became, it’s not surprising that it returned shortly after its original ending. The New Prince of Tennis is a direct sequel and debuted in Jump Square with Issue #4 on March 4, 2009. While the publication home shifted to allow a monthly rhythm, the story’s roots still trace directly back to Weekly Shonen Jump.
Changing from weekly to monthly isn’t unusual for creators, since maintaining a weekly schedule is notoriously difficult. The New Prince of Tennis has now been running since 2009, and the series currently stands at 47 volumes. Unfortunately, Takeshi Konomi has confirmed that the story will be concluding with the upcoming The Prince of Tennis Volume 48.
Konomi shared the news via an X post dated June 29, 2026, published under his account handle (@konomi_takeshi). The announcement included a sketch that reflected the bittersweet nature of the reveal.
Some of anime’s most intimidating villains never stayed in the “pure evil” lane for long—many of them eventually changed, evolved, and became surprising heroes.
The Prince Of Tennis Sequel Story Will Establish A Great Legacy For The Series Forever
It’s a tough moment for fans to hear that a franchise with such a long legacy is nearing its finish. At the moment, the exact release date for the next volume hasn’t been confirmed. Still, looking at the pacing and release patterns from earlier volumes, the final stretch is expected to land around October 2026, with the last manga chapter likely appearing in the magazine much earlier—around August 2026.
Even with that estimate, it’s not yet clear which specific chapter number will serve as the official ending point. More details are expected from Shueisha as the schedule gets closer.
Volume 48 will also bring an end to the manga franchise as a whole. After a 27-year run, total sales are estimated to exceed 60 million copies. There are currently 89 volumes available, with one more still on the way. The story has remained especially big in Japan, but it hasn’t gained the same level of overseas reach.
With the manga fully concluding, it may be a good time for international readers to check it out—both the original The Prince of Tennis and the longer-running sequel, The New Prince of Tennis.
Sign in to claim your place on the leaderboard!
The Prince of Tennis Story Continues Through the Anime for Now
The manga is officially ending, with the author confirming the news himself. Unless Konomi returns with yet another sequel in the future, the series is set to wrap up for good. Since the creator has devoted a significant portion of his life to the manga, it’s reasonable to assume he’ll want time away from the series before considering what’s next.
For now, that means the manga continuation isn’t expected. However, fans still have the anime to look forward to. The The New Prince of Tennis anime is scheduled to return in late 2026, and it will adapt the U-17 World Cup Finals Members Decisive Match. More project information is expected to be shared in the coming months, so tennis fans have at least one front to keep an eye on.
