The acclaimed anime adaptation of Jun Mayuzuki’s Kowloon Generic Romance concluded its 13-episode run on June 28, 2025, bringing to a close the enigmatic story of Reiko Kujirai and Hajime Kudou within the perplexing confines of Kowloon Walled City. While the anime has reached its finale, the original manga by Jun Mayuzuki is still ongoing, having entered its final story arc in April 2025 with an anticipated conclusion by the end of the year.
The Anime’s Climactic Resolution
The 13th and final episode of the Kowloon Generic Romance anime aimed to tie up the central narrative threads and provide closure for its protagonists. The finale largely focused on the culmination of Hajime Kudou’s journey, revealing that the “Kowloon” they inhabit, often referred to as “Kowloon #2” or “Generic Terra,” was inadvertently created by him as a manifestation of his grief and desire to preserve the memory of the original Reiko Kujirai (Kujirai B). This revelation underscores the series’ profound exploration of loss, memory, and the struggle to move forward from a painful past.
Throughout the series, Reiko Kujirai (Kujirai A), a real estate agent operating within this surreal cityscape, grapples with her own identity and connection to her predecessor, Kujirai B. The finale sees Kujirai A making strides toward establishing her “absolute self,” a theme that has been central to her character arc. As Kowloon #2 begins to crumble—a visual representation of Kudou’s acceptance and release of his grief—Kujirai A bravely steps into an uncertain future outside the city’s dissolving borders, accompanied by her sentient goldfish, Success. Her decision to forge her own path, independent of Kudou’s past, emphasizes the anime’s message of individual agency and self-discovery.
Themes of Grief, Identity, and Moving On
The Kowloon Generic Romance anime finale meticulously wove together its core themes, presenting a bittersweet yet ultimately hopeful conclusion. A significant portion of the final episode delves into Kudou’s confrontation with his past self and his coming to terms with the death of Kujirai B. The anime suggests that Kudou’s inability to reconcile with his grief was the catalyst for the creation of Kowloon #2, a city powered by people’s regrets. His eventual acceptance, albeit a difficult one, allows for the city’s dissolution and the possibility of a new beginning.
While the exact mechanics of “Generic Terra” or the “Zirconians” were left largely unexplained, the narrative prioritized the emotional and philosophical aspects of the story. The resolution between Kudou and Kujirai A is left with a degree of ambiguity regarding their romantic future, emphasizing that Kujirai A’s journey is about her own self-realization rather than solely being a reflection or replacement for Kujirai B. This narrative choice reinforces the idea that true growth involves accepting loss and embracing one’s own identity, rather than clinging to shadows of the past. The finale also provides some closure for supporting characters like Yaomay, Gwen, and Miyuki, whose arcs were either concluded or progressed off-screen.
Anime Adaptation’s Reception and Manga’s Ongoing Journey
The anime adaptation of Kowloon Generic Romance was produced by Arvo Animation and aired from April 5 to June 28, 2025. While praised for its artistic direction and atmospheric depiction of Kowloon, some viewers noted a rushed pacing and variable animation quality in its later episodes, particularly given the density of the source material. The anime’s ending, while tying up most loose ends, did leave some overarching mysteries of the setting unanswered, focusing instead on the characters’ emotional resolutions.
It is crucial to distinguish the anime’s conclusion from the ongoing manga. As of July 2025, Jun Mayuzuki’s Kowloon Generic Romance manga is still being serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Young Jump and has reached 11 tankōbon volumes, with more to come as it navigates its final arc. This means that manga readers will experience the full, extended conclusion of Mayuzuki’s vision, which may offer deeper explanations or different nuances compared to the anime’s condensed adaptation.
In addition to the manga and the recently concluded anime, a live-action film adaptation of Kowloon Generic Romance is scheduled to premiere in Japanese theaters in August 2025, further expanding the franchise’s presence.
