Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ website has confirmed that Matsumoto Naoya’s Kaiju No. 8 (怪獣8号 / Kaijuu 8-gou) manga will end in two chapters. The next chapter, number 128th, will be released on June 20th, 2025, and the manga will end with the release of chapter 129th.
The manga began serialisation in July 2020, and Shueisha published the manga’s first tankoubon volume in December 2020 and the 15th volume in March 2025.
Viz Media publishes the manga in English under the name Kaijo No.8. The 13th volume was released digitally on June 3rd 2025. The manga is also released digitally on the MANGA Plus service under the name Monster #8. Viz Media describes the manga’s first volume below:
“Kafka hopes to one day keep his pact with his childhood friend Mina to join the Japan Defence Force and fight by her side. But while she’s out neutralising kaiju as Third Division captain, Kafka is stuck cleaning up the aftermath of her battles. When a sudden rule change makes Kafka eligible for the Defence Force, he decides to try out for the squad once more. There’s just one problem—he’s made the Defence Force’s neutralisation list under the code name Kaiju No. 8.”
The manga has inspired a spin-off manga, a spin-off light novel, an OVA, and an anime film. The manga was also adapted into a TV anime in 2024, and the anime’s second season will premiere on July 19th, 2025.
The anime’s first season premiered in Japan on April 13th, 2024, and was directed by Miya Shigeyuki at Production I.G. and Studio Khara. All 12 episodes in the first season can be streamed on Crunchyroll, along with the second season as it airs.
Crunchyroll describes the anime below:
“The story revolves around Kafka Hibino, a 32-year-old longing to join the Defence Force and make good on his promise to a childhood friend, Mina Ashiro. He befriends a new coworker, Reno Ichikawa, while cleaning up Kaiju remains, whose determination to join The Defence Force inspires Kafka to fulfil his childhood promise to pass the entrance exam and join Mina to protect humanity. When a small Kaiju burrows itself inside Kafka, he gains superhuman strength and powers fit for fighting Kaiju. He works to earn the trust of his human teammates, defeat increasingly powerful Kaiju, and keep the world safe.”
