Kohei Horikoshi, the mastermind behind My Hero Academia, has been quiet since Deku’s story ended — but that silence just broke in the most unexpected way possible. The creator isn’t returning to Weekly Shonen Jump with another superhero saga. He’s coming back with a horror one-shot that has the entire manga community asking one question — especially in a year when Sakamoto Days entered its final arc and Hunter x Hunter made its shock return: what is Horikoshi hiding behind that smile?
Don’t Laugh, Shijima-san: The One-Shot Nobody Saw Coming
On August 10, 2026, Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #37/38 will feature Warawanaideyo Shijima-san (literally translated as Don’t Laugh, Shijima-san) — a 61-page one-shot that includes a full color spread. The announcement broke the internet when it dropped, because this is Horikoshi’s first original manga since My Hero Academia concluded in August 2024.
That’s nearly two years of silence from one of Shonen Jump’s most celebrated creators. And instead of playing it safe with a battle manga, Horikoshi is leaning into horror with a boy-meets-girl twist that fans are already obsessing over.
A Horrifying First Glimpse
The official visual released alongside the announcement shows a completely different side of Horikoshi’s art style. Gone are the bright hero costumes and flashy Quirks — in their place is something moodier, darker, and genuinely unsettling. The title itself is a clue: a girl named Shijima-san, and a warning not to laugh at her.
Fans on social media have already started theorizing about what the story means. Is Shijima-san a supernatural entity? A curse that punishes laughter? Or something more personal — a reflection of Horikoshi’s own fears as a creator? The horror-romance genre combination is rare for Shonen Jump, which makes this one-shot an even bigger risk.
Why This Matters for My Hero Academia Fans
For anyone who followed My Hero Academia to its emotional finale, this one-shot is essential reading for three reasons:
- It proves Horikoshi hasn’t left Shonen Jump. Many fans worried the mangaka would move to another magazine after MHA ended. This announcement kills that rumor for good.
- It showcases his range. Horikoshi built his name on Quirks and heroics, but his early works always had a darker edge. Warawanaideyo Shijima-san lets him explore that side without the constraints of a long-running series.
- It could be a full series in disguise. History says one-shots are often testing grounds. If readers respond well, Shijima-san could become Jump’s next big horror hit.
Horikoshi’s Long Road Back to Jump
This isn’t Horikoshi’s first one-shot, of course. Way back in 2007, he made his debut with Tenko — a supernatural action story that already hinted at his love for quirky characters and dramatic powers. He followed it with Oumagadoki Doubutsuen and Barrage, both of which were canceled early before My Hero Academia finally exploded into a global phenomenon that spawned movies, spin-offs, and a massive anime franchise.
Now, nearly two decades after that debut, Horikoshi is coming full circle. Returning to the one-shot format — where everything is on the line and there’s no safety net — takes guts. And if the early reactions are anything to go by, Jump readers are ready to embrace this new side of him.
What the Industry Is Saying
Industry insiders and fellow mangaka have already started weighing in. Several Jump veterans have publicly praised the announcement, noting that a 61-page horror one-shot with a color spread is a rare privilege that signals strong editorial confidence. The fact that Jump gave Horikoshi this much space for a non-My Hero Academia project suggests the magazine sees serious potential in his next era.
There’s also speculation that the one-shot’s protagonist — whoever Shijima-san turns out to be — could tie into themes Horikoshi explored in My Hero Academia’s final arc: the cost of heroism, the weight of expectations, and the monsters people carry inside. If that’s the case, this might be the most personal story he’s ever told.
When and Where to Read It
Mark your calendar: August 10, 2026. Warawanaideyo Shijima-san will be published in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #37/38, available in Japan through the magazine’s digital platforms and physical release. International readers will likely see it on Manga Plus, Shueisha’s official global manga app, shortly after.
Will the one-shot get an English release on day one? Probably. Will it lead to a full series? That depends entirely on reader response — which means your opinion actually matters here.
What Do You Think?
Are you excited to see Kohei Horikoshi try his hand at horror, or do you wish he’d just start a new superhero series instead? Do you think Don’t Laugh, Shijima-san will become a full manga — or stay a one-and-done experiment? And most importantly: what do you think Shijima-san’s secret actually is? Drop your theories in the comments below. The August 10 release can’t come soon enough.
