Takeshi Konomi, the esteemed creator behind the long-running sports manga phenomenon, The New Prince of Tennis, has officially announced that the series is slated to conclude within the next year. This significant revelation, made around July 1, 2025, marks a pivotal moment for a franchise that has captivated readers for over two decades. Konomi’s announcement coincided with the 26th anniversary of the original Prince of Tennis manga, highlighting the remarkable longevity and enduring popularity of his tennis-centric narrative.
A Legacy Spanning Decades
The Prince of Tennis franchise first served up its compelling narrative in July 1999, with the original manga serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine until March 2008. It introduced readers to the prodigious middle school tennis player Ryoma Echizen and his journey through competitive tennis, battling rivals and striving for national glory. The series quickly garnered a massive following, praised for its dynamic matches, unique character designs, and the sheer passion it infused into the sport. Its success transcended the pages of the manga, spawning a highly popular 178-episode anime television series that aired from 2001 to 2005, numerous animated films, original video animations (OVAs), live-action adaptations in Japan and China, and a beloved stage musical series that continues to perform. By November 2019, the entire Prince of Tennis manga franchise had circulated over 60 million copies, solidifying its status as one of the best-selling manga series of all time.
The narrative continued with The New Prince of Tennis (also known as Shin Tennis no Ōji-sama), which launched in Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine in March 2009. This sequel picked up several months after the conclusion of the original series, following Ryoma’s return to Japan and his participation in a highly selective training camp for elite players under 17. For 16 years, The New Prince of Tennis has expanded the universe, introducing new challenges and characters while continuing to delve into the competitive world of professional-level youth tennis. The sequel also inspired its own anime adaptations, including a 2012 television series, OVAs, and more recently, The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup which premiered in July 2022, and its sequel, U-17 World Cup Semifinal, which aired from October to December 2024.
The Road to the Grand Finale
Konomi’s recent announcement on his official X (formerly Twitter) account indicated his intention to conclude the The New Prince of Tennis manga within a year, asking fans to continue reading until the very end. This statement confirms that the series is officially entering its final arc. The August 2025 issue of Jump Square, released on July 4, 2025, features a cover, lead color page, and three chapters at once, marking the beginning of this concluding phase. While the exact final chapter count or specific end date in 2026 remains fluid, the author’s declaration provides a clear timeline for the series’ impending conclusion.
The news of the manga’s impending end has naturally sparked a range of emotions among its dedicated fanbase, many of whom have grown up with the series. The conclusion of such a long-running and influential work marks the end of an era for both the shonen sports genre and the manga industry at large. Fans are eagerly anticipating how Ryoma Echizen’s journey will culminate and what ultimate lessons and triumphs await him and his fellow tennis players in the final chapters.
The winding down of The New Prince of Tennis also brings into focus the evolving landscape of shonen manga, as other long-standing titles also move towards their respective conclusions. As Konomi prepares to deliver the final strokes of this iconic tennis saga, the anticipation for a powerful and memorable conclusion is palpable. The series, which has continually pushed the boundaries of sports manga, is set to leave an indelible mark on its genre, ensuring its legacy as a beloved and groundbreaking work for years to come.
