The acclaimed Space Brothers (Uchū Kyōdai) manga by Chūya Koyama is officially slated to conclude with its 46th compiled book volume. The 45th volume is set to be released on July 23.
The news comes as Amazon listings for the 45th volume have indicated the manga’s impending finale in the subsequent volume. Author Chūya Koyama had previously hinted at the series entering its final arc in January 2022, and by December 2022, he reported that the manga was in its final stage, with the ending planned for the near future.
Space Brothers has been serialized in Kodansha’s Morning magazine since December 2007, making its run nearly 18 years long. The series tells the inspiring story of two brothers, Mutta and Hibito, who made a childhood vow to travel to space. While the younger brother, Hibito, became an astronaut, Mutta’s journey took an unexpected turn, eventually leading him to pursue his own dream of space travel.
Over its extensive run, the manga has garnered significant recognition, winning the General categories at both the 56th Shogakukan Manga Awards and the 35th Kodansha Manga Awards in 2011. It has also inspired a 99-episode television anime series that aired from 2012 to 2014, a 2012 live-action film starring Shun Oguri and Masaki Okada, and an anime film titled Space Brothers #0 in 2014, for which Koyama wrote the original scripts.
As of March 2022, the manga had over 28 million copies in circulation. Fans have eagerly followed Mutta’s journey to become an astronaut and fulfill his long-held dream alongside his brother. The conclusion of such a long-running and beloved series is anticipated to be a significant event for the manga community.
