Beloved Seinen Manga Wraps Up After 18 Years, Fans React to Shocking Finale News
Fans of the beloved manga series March Comes In Like a Lion are in for a bittersweet moment. The long-running series, written and illustrated by Chica Umino, is set to conclude with Volume 19.
Volume 18 is scheduled for release on September 29, 2025, picking up from Chapter 195. According to the usual release pattern, Volume 19 is expected to arrive in about two years. This information was shared on X by @MangaMoguraRE, a well-known source for manga news and updates.
"March Comes in Like a Lion" by Chica Umino will END with the next volume 19!
— Manga Mogura RE (Anime & Manga News) (@MangaMoguraRE) September 28, 2025
Human Drama about an introvert teenage Shogi player who lost his family early is struggling with the challanges of life and loneliness while gradually bonding with a three-sister household.… pic.twitter.com/wkPyDNJlrR
March Comes In Like a Lion, or 3月のライオン (Sangatsu no Raion), follows Rei Kiriyama, a shy professional shogi player, as he navigates both his career and personal relationships. The manga has been serialized in Hakusensha’s Young Animal magazine since July 2007 and has released 216 chapters so far.
The series is often praised for its storytelling and psychological depth, even though it doesn’t fit the typical Seinen mold and leans more toward slice-of-life drama.
The franchise has also been adapted into an anime by Shaft, with two seasons airing from 2016 to 2018 on NHK G. The English dubbed version was released by Aniplex of America in four parts between 2017 and 2019. Additionally, two live-action films were released in 2017.
The manga has been licensed for English release by Denpa. Despite this, a third anime season has yet to be confirmed, leaving many fans anxious about whether the story will get a full animated adaptation. Even the spin-off manga, March Comes In Like a Lion – The Untold Showa-Era Tale: Scorching Times, which ran from 2015 to 2020, hasn’t received any anime adaptation.
The series has earned critical acclaim over the years, winning the fourth Manga Taishō, the 35th Kodansha Manga Award in the general category, the 18th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize’s Grand Prize, and the Grand Prix in the manga division of the 24th Japan Media Arts Festival. The anime adaptation is also highly regarded and is considered one of the standout series of the 2010s.
Fans on social media have expressed a mix of excitement and concern about the ending. Comments include: “Hopefully Shaft can adapt it to the end. I’m sure the manga is great, but I love the Shaft touch too much to read it,” and “One of the most underrated manga out there, truly a masterpiece in both emotional development and drama.”
Others shared their personal attachment: “My all-time favorite manga. From what the direction the mangaka going, we are ending it well,” while some lamented the lack of a third season: “It’s a pity that there hasn’t been a third season animation in 8 years.”
I think it’s amazing that March Comes In Like a Lion has lasted 18 years and built such a strong emotional connection with fans. The manga’s depth and sensitivity are rare, and I hope the final volume delivers a satisfying conclusion. What do you think about the series ending? Share your thoughts in the comments.