Horikoshi Trades Heroes for Horror
The top item in Oricon News' July 29 most-read anime and game news roundup is the big one for Jump readers. Kohei Horikoshi has a new one-shot titled Warawanaide yo Shijima-san (笑わないでよ しじまさん, roughly "Don't Laugh, Shijima-san") landing in Weekly Shonen Jump's combined issue No. 37-38, on sale in Japan on August 10. It is his first published work since My Hero Academia wrapped its serialization in August 2024.
The premise is a hard left turn from superhero action. The Japanese entertainment news outlet describes the one-shot as a boy-meets-girl "horror" story, running 61 pages with a center color spread. That is a generous page count for a one-shot, giving Horikoshi room to build a full story rather than a quick sketch. Beyond the genre tag and the page count, the report keeps details under wraps; no synopsis or character art has surfaced in the coverage so far.
Pop Team Epic's Creator Draws Chiikawa's Siren
The roundup's second item is lighter. Bukubu Okawa, the artist behind the gleefully chaotic Pop Team Epic, shared an illustration of the Siren from Nagano's Chiikawa, and the character's subtly smug expression is what set fans off. The response was summed up in one word repeated across replies: "azakawa," a fan portmanteau of azatoi (calculatedly sly) and kawaii. Chiikawa began as illustrations Nagano posted on X and has been serialized since 2020, building a huge audience on the gap between its adorable little characters and the harsh world they live in.
Miichan to Yamada-san Committee Responds to Anime Concerns
The roundup's most serious entry involves Miichan to Yamada-san (みいちゃんと山田さん), a manga serialized on Kodansha's Magazine Pocket app since September 2024. The story is set in Tokyo's Kabukicho nightlife district and follows the hostess Yamada-san and newcomer Miichan. The anime adaptation's announcement drew criticism, and on July 27 the production committee issued a statement on the anime's official X account addressing the concerns. The committee said it takes the feedback seriously, stands by its judgment that the source material is worth adapting, and pledged to "proceed with production carefully," consulting outside experts and applying appropriate ratings and content warnings so the anime does not reinforce prejudice or misunderstanding.
Also in the Roundup
A few more headlines from Oricon's July 29 list, at a glance. Yuru Camp creator Afro is taking a break for health reasons, pausing serialization of multiple series including mono and citing the physical limits of running simultaneous serializations. A new Gundam anime's mobile suit design is drawing attention online. And Pokémon merchandise designed around the package art of past games kept selling out, so made-to-order and restock sales have been confirmed.
Looking Ahead
Weekly Shonen Jump's combined issue No. 37-38 hits Japanese newsstands on August 10, 2026. Shueisha has not announced an English release for Warawanaide yo Shijima-san. The publisher frequently runs high-profile Jump one-shots in English on its Manga Plus service the same day they publish in Japan, though, so that is the place to watch. My Hero Academia itself remains available in English through Viz Media, which should make the one-shot an easy license if Shueisha follows its usual playbook. As for Miichan to Yamada-san, the committee's statement did not include new production details, and no broadcast window or international streaming partner has been announced.