Kikuri's Solo Run Keeps Pouring
The Bocchi the Rock! universe continues to expand beyond Hitori Gotoh's guitar case. Kumichou's spinoff manga centered on Kikuri Hiroi — the perpetually intoxicated bassist of SICKHACK who became a breakout fan favorite in the anime — hits its seventh collected volume today through Houbunsha. The series, based on Hamaji Aki's original Bocchi the Rock! manga, gives Kikuri the spotlight for her own brand of booze-soaked comedy.
Volume 7 lands on a stacked release day catalogued by Comic Natalie, with over 40 new manga volumes dropping across nearly a dozen publishers.
Other Notable Releases
Houbunsha has a solid lineup beyond the Kikuri spinoff today. Gunjin Muko-san to Daikon Yome-san reaches volume 9, and Majo wa Mangetsu ni Saku — by Hara Yui, the creator of Kiniro Mosaic — hits volume 5. The publisher also debuts a new series, Nui no Naoshiya volume 1 by Horokotoni.
KADOKAWA leads the day in sheer volume with 12 releases, leaning heavily into isekai and romance light novel adaptations. Among them: 31-banme no Okisaki-sama volume 8 and several ongoing fantasy titles. Hobby Japan contributes four volumes, including Isekai Ryouridou volume 14.
Harper Collins Japan rounds out the day with six Harlequin romance manga adaptations, while smaller publishers like Shinshokan, Libre, and Plantan each contribute one or two titles.
Looking Ahead
The Bocchi the Rock! franchise remains active on multiple fronts. The main manga by Hamaji Aki entered a hiatus earlier this year, announced in Manga Time Kirara MAX's March 2026 issue. Meanwhile, Hamaji recently illustrated a 35th-anniversary visual for Shimokitazawa SHELTER, the live venue that inspired the series' fictional setting.
For international readers, the main Bocchi the Rock! manga is available in English through Yen Press. The Kikuri spinoff has not been licensed for English release. The anime adaptation, which aired its first season in fall 2022 via Crunchyroll, sparked much of the international interest in these characters — particularly Kikuri, whose chaotic energy made her a standout despite limited screen time in the main series.