Guess Who’s Back? Aoashi’s Yūgo Kobayashi Teases New Manga for Spring!

Farewell to Aoashi, Hello to a New Beginning!

Yūgo Kobayashi, the talented creator of the popular soccer manga Aoashi, has announced that he’s already working on a brand-new series. The news was revealed in the 30th issue of Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine, where Aoashi also officially ended. Fans of Kobayashi won’t have to wait long, as his new manga is set to launch in the same magazine in spring 2026.

A Look Back at Aoashi’s Legacy

Aoashi first began serialization in January 2015 and quickly gained recognition for its realistic portrayal of soccer, youth struggles, and personal growth. The story followed young talent Ashito Aoi as he chased his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. Over the years, the manga collected 40 volumes and surpassed 15 million copies in circulation. It even won Best General Manga at the 65th Shogakukan Manga Awards — a major honor in the manga world.

The anime adaptation, produced by Production I.G, premiered in April 2022 on NHK Educational channel. The anime was well received for its crisp animation and authentic soccer tactics, and a second season is currently in production by TMS Entertainment, set to release next year.

Kobayashi’s Other Project: Fermat no Ryōri

In addition to Aoashi, Kobayashi also created Fermat no Ryōri, a unique manga about cooking and logic, which launched in Monthly Shonen Magazine in 2018. The manga has also seen great success, with 23 million copies in circulation as of April 2025.

Excitingly, Fermat no Ryōri is also getting a TV anime adaptation set to debut on July 5, 2025, airing Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. on TV Asahi under the "IMAnimation" block.

What’s Next for Kobayashi?

While details about the upcoming manga series are still under wraps, fans are already buzzing with excitement. Given Kobayashi’s track record for creating compelling, emotionally grounded stories — whether in sports or other genres — expectations are high for whatever he brings next.

One thing is clear: Yūgo Kobayashi isn’t slowing down anytime soon, and spring 2026 just became a lot more exciting for manga fans!