Shueisha’s global digital manga platform, MANGA Plus, has officially announced the addition of Eco Mikawa’s acclaimed baseball manga, Oblivion Battery (Bōkyaku Battery), to its simulpub lineup. This move allows readers worldwide to access new chapters in English concurrently with their release in Japan on the Shonen Jump+ platform. The simultaneous publication commenced on June 26, 2025 (JST).
Oblivion Battery, written and illustrated by Eko Mikawa, has been serialized on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ online manga application since April 2018. The series has garnered significant attention for its compelling blend of sports action and character-driven drama, establishing itself as a notable title within the baseball manga genre. As of April 4, 2025, Shueisha has released 21 compiled tankōbon volumes of the series in Japan.
The Narrative of Lost Memories and Second Chances
The manga’s plot centers on the formidable baseball battery of Haruka Kiyomine, a pitcher renowned for his “perfect” arm, and Kei Kaname, a brilliant catcher known as “the General.” In their middle school years, this duo was considered unrivaled, their talent often leading to the crushing of opponents’ dreams.
However, a dramatic twist unfolds as Kei Kaname suffers from amnesia, losing all memory of his baseball prowess. Despite their extraordinary past, both Haruka and Kei unexpectedly enroll in Tokyo Municipal Kotesashi High School, an institution not recognized for its baseball program. Here, they coincidentally reunite with several former star players who, having previously lost to the genius duo, had abandoned their baseball aspirations. This unlikely assembly at a low-profile school sets the stage for a new high school baseball story, focusing on themes of lost memories, redemption, and the enduring pursuit of glory in the sport.
Expanding Franchise: Anime and Stage Play
The popularity of Oblivion Battery has led to various adaptations, broadening its reach beyond the manga format. An original net animation (ONA) produced by MAPPA streamed in October 2020 as part of the Jump Special Anime Festa.
More recently, an anime television series adaptation, also produced by Studio MAPPA, premiered in April 2024 and aired until July 2024. Crunchyroll licensed the series for streaming, making it accessible to a global anime audience. Following its successful first season, a second season of the anime has already been announced, promising to continue the story for fans.
In addition to the anime, the Oblivion Battery franchise is further expanding into live entertainment with a stage play adaptation. This play is scheduled to run in Tokyo and Osaka in October, showcasing the story in a new theatrical format.
The introduction of Oblivion Battery to MANGA Plus’s simulpub service marks a significant step in making this compelling baseball manga readily available to a wider international readership, allowing fans to follow the ongoing narrative in real-time as it unfolds in Japan.
