Rurouni Kenshin: Hokkaido Arc manga has now returned from a long hiatus in Japan. In the latest issue of Jump Square that went on sale in Japan last June 4, the front cover features the main franchise’s protagonist Kenshin on the lower right.
Although the manga has already returned for publication in Japan, it might take a while for the West to pick it up again.
Last year, its manga artist Nobuhiro Watsuki was caught with possession of child pornographic materials which caused him to pay the fine of 200,000 yen for his actions. He was not given jail time.
At the height of the controversy, the ongoing manga series was put on hold by the publisher and reruns of the live-action film adaptations on TV were canceled. The punishment that was given to him returned mixed opinions from its fans.
In a statement printed on the back of the magazine issue’s table of contents, Watsuki said: “I deeply apologize for causing trouble and worrying everyone. I will do my sincere best.”
Viz Media is responsible for the digital distribution of the Hokkaido Arc manga in the US but as of this time, there is still no word if they will be releasing the latest chapter. International rights clearance not being green-lit or translations could be the reason for this delay.
Source: Anime News Network, SoraNews24
