In May 2015, time in the manga world split into two streams. One continued to flow, while the other froze with the release of 'Vagabond' chapter 327. Takehiko Inoue, a living legend of Japanese manga, left Miyamoto Musashi catching his breath on a grueling path of enlightenment, keeping us waiting for over a decade. Fans have just one burning question: "Sensei, what on earth have you been doing? And when will Vagabond return?" 🤔
The Stalled Path of the Sword: Vagabond's 10-Year Wait 🗡️
'Vagabond' is a work lauded for elevating manga from simple entertainment to a form of art. Based on Eiji Yoshikawa's novel 'Musashi', it was reborn with entirely new vitality at the hands of Takehiko Inoue. Musashi's anguish and growth, captured in every one of Inoue's brushstrokes, depicted not just a swordsman's tale but a human's desperate journey for enlightenment.
However, that epic narrative came to a halt in May 2015, with chapter 327 in volume 37. It has now been well over a decade. The series has long surpassed the infamous hiatus record of 'Hunter x Hunter,' known for the "Togashi, get back to work" meme. First, there were health concerns, then news of 'Real' resuming, and then the sudden announcement of his directorial debut with the 'Slam Dunk' movie. Fans' hopes and despair have been on a rollercoaster. Since it's officially on 'hiatus' and not 'cancelled', we can't let go of hope, but the wait has been agonizingly long.
"I won't come back until I regain my enthusiasm for working on it." – Takehiko Inoue during his 2010 hiatus
Why Did the Master Lay Down His Pen?: Reasons for the Hiatus 🤔
So why did 'Vagabond' stop? While there's no single official reason, we can infer a few causes from the author's past interviews and the surrounding circumstances.
- Extreme Mental Drain and Pressure: 'Vagabond' is not a simple action manga. It contains deep philosophical explorations of life and death, the meaning of strength, and the human psyche. Inoue himself has expressed the difficulty of keeping up with the characters' psychology, which made it hard to advance the story. The pressure to produce near-perfect artwork weekly, or even monthly, likely exhausted his passion. He once revealed, "The overwhelming pressure of making the series perfect drained me of all my passion, and it became more of a chore rather than something I enjoyed."
- Health Issues: Having taken breaks for health reasons in the past, it's a likely contributing factor to the long hiatus. The toll that the weekly serialization system takes on a mangaka's physical and mental health is well-documented.
- Loss of Creative Direction: During the 2010 hiatus, he stated, "I was stuck doing the work for external factors for so long that I'd forgotten to look inside myself. I became unsure of where I was heading, couldn't even remember where I'd started from in the first place." This suggests that he wasn't just struggling with the story, but that he, as an artist, had lost his way along with the work.
A Roar that Broke the Silence: Returning as Director of 'The First Slam Dunk' 🏀
While the clock for 'Vagabond' was stopped, fans briefly held onto hope when his other series, 'Real', resumed. But the master's true comeback happened in a way no one expected: as the director and screenwriter for 'The First Slam Dunk'.
The result? A global phenomenon. The return of 'Slam Dunk' after 26 years was not mere nostalgia. By reframing the story from the perspective of Ryota Miyagi instead of the original protagonist Hanamichi Sakuragi, and by perfectly capturing the texture and speed of a real basketball game on screen—something the manga couldn't fully express—he created something new. The film was a critical success, winning the Japan Academy Film Prize for Animation of the Year, and a commercial blockbuster worldwide, proving that Takehiko Inoue is still a creator at the top of his game.
In an interview, he stated, "Although I am a novice in film production, I was able to say with confidence that 'I will direct' thanks to my rich experience as a manga artist." He also expressed his affection for the project, hoping that "audiences who saw the film would become closer to the sport of basketball." The success of 'The First Slam Dunk' might be a positive sign that he has emerged from the depths of 'Vagabond' with renewed creative energy.
Key Takeaway
'Vagabond' has been on hiatus for over a decade with no official return date. However, the author made a successful comeback as a director with 'The First Slam Dunk' and continues to work on his manga 'Real', so he has not stopped his creative activities. He has also expressed his intention to return to Vagabond on several occasions.
The Voice of the Fans: Reactions from Reddit and Communities 🌐
A decade is long enough to change landscapes. From old fans who experienced the start of the 'Vagabond' hiatus in real-time to new fans who start the series knowing full well it's on hold, a mix of emotions can be found in fan communities worldwide, especially on Reddit's r/vagabondmanga subreddit.
- Resignation and Understanding: Many voices express resignation, saying things like, "After 10 years, it's pretty much over." But at the same time, you can easily find mature fans who respect the author's decision, commenting, "I understand the immense pressure for perfection he must have been under. His health comes first."
- Hopeful Speculation: Fans who mourned the unfinished 'Berserk' after the passing of its author, Kentaro Miura, speculate hopefully that "seeing the fans' sorrow, Inoue won't want to leave his own masterpiece unfinished." There's also a positive interpretation that the resumption of 'Real' is a 'warm-up' for his return to 'Vagabond'.
- The Meaning of the 'Last Manga Exhibition': Some fans consider the epilogue revealed at the 2008 'Takehiko Inoue: The Last Manga Exhibition' as a form of ending. In this exhibition, Inoue drew an elderly Musashi laying down his sword, which some interpret as the author's final vision for the character. However, since this wasn't part of the official serialization, it fails to quench the thirst of fans who desire a complete conclusion.
So, Will Vagabond Return?: Prospects for the Future 🌄
Let's return to the most important question. Will 'Vagabond' ever come back? Unfortunately, the most honest answer is, "Nobody knows." There has been no official announcement, and everything remains in the realm of speculation.
But there are definite reasons for hope. First, the author himself has expressed his will to finish the series on multiple occasions. He has shown his affection for the work is not gone, saying, "I can't wait to start drawing it again." Second, the massive success of 'The First Slam Dunk' has likely provided him with new creative momentum and confidence. Lastly, he continues to hold his pen, working steadily on 'Real'.
Perhaps for Takehiko Inoue, the 'Vagabond' hiatus was not a mere pause but a period of seeking, much like Musashi himself, to look inward and understand the true meaning of being "invincible under the sun." All we can do is quietly wait for the day his sword once again becomes a brush to draw the final journey of Miyamoto Musashi. We don't know when that day will come, but a master's return is always worth the wait. 🙏