[Editor’s Picks] Can 'Kagurabachi' and 'Ichi The Witch' Lead Weekly Shonen Jump into Its Next Generation?

Ichi The Witch: The Well-Planned Breakthrough

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On the other side is Ichi The Witch (JP: 魔男のイチ, Madan no Ichi), written by Osamu Nishi (Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun) and illustrated by Shiro Usazaki (Act-Age), which began serialization in September 2024. Set in a world where only women can use magic, it tells the story of Ichi, the first male to ever become a “witch.”

With Jump’s editorial backing, the series had a strong start. It received color pages three times by Chapter 7 and earned a rare five-page lead color spread in Chapter 25—a treatment not seen since Haikyu!! in 2012. While it briefly slipped to the bottom of Jump’s rankings mid-run, it later rebounded to consistently hold positions in the top three.

Sales reflect this growth. Volume 1 (released January 2025) initially sold modestly, but demand surged, prompting reprints. By March 2025, the series had sold over 300,000 copies across its first two volumes. Volume 3’s first-week sales spiked significantly, earning it the #3 spot in the Oricon weekly manga rankings.

The manga has received strong endorsements—Kohei Horikoshi praised its immersive world, while D.Gray-man creator Katsura Hoshino lauded its characters. Viz Media quickly acquired the English license, with a Spring 2026 release planned.

Much of its praise centers on Usazaki’s refined illustrations and unique character designs, as well as Nishi’s signature blend of action and comedy. The wholesome and straightforward Ichi, paired with quirky witches like Death Crow and Ulolo, brings both warmth and originality to the series.

The Future of Jump: Powered by Two Pillars

Kagurabachi and Ichi The Witch have taken somewhat contrasting paths to success. The former surged in popularity from an unexpected source—online memes—and has steadily transitioned into a legitimate hit. The latter, backed from the outset by a powerhouse creative team and strong editorial support, has delivered on its promise as a “planned frontrunner.”

As of now, Kagurabachi is clearly advancing as a potential flagship for the next generation of Jump, with strong sales, widespread recognition, and strategic promotion in English-speaking markets—clear signs of Shueisha’s deliberate marketing push. Meanwhile, Ichi The Witch has been consistently praised for its content from early on. Endorsements from established creators, stable reader survey rankings, and strong sales indicate that it’s well-positioned for a long serialization. While it may not be as flashy as Kagurabachi, its strength lies in being a classic Shonen Jump-style fantasy with broad appeal—and its potential for growth remains immense.

Jump’s influence as a source of anime content is immeasurable. With the recent wave of major series concluding, the magazine has made concerted efforts to develop new generation titles—such as launching a new series by Ken Wakui shortly after Tokyo Revengers ended. Although Wakui’s follow-up series was unfortunately discontinued early, these efforts overall are slowly but surely starting to bear fruit.

Of course, Jump’s power doesn’t rest on just these two titles. Many other strong series continue to shape its foundation. As the magazine gains momentum, it will also draw more attention to titles that have yet to be adapted into anime.

A healthy and thriving Jump not only boosts its own ecosystem but also inspires hits across other publications like Attack on Titan (Magazine), Blue Lock (Magazine), and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End (Sunday), all of which succeeded by pursuing unique paths outside the typical Jump formula.

For the sake of Japan’s ever-evolving content industry, we at Japan Anime News hope to continue playing our part—so don’t blame us for covering manga too, even though we’re technically an anime news site!