Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine is bringing new series this summer. Among them is Harukaze Mound, a baseball manga by the creator duo Togo Goto and Kento Matsuura. This marks their return after their last series was cancelled four years ago.
Shonen Jump has seen many big series end recently, including My Hero Academia and Jujutsu Kaisen. The magazine is now working hard to find its next hit while cancelling underperforming titles. Goto and Matsuura know this well. Their previous manga, Phantom Seer, lasted only 30 chapters before cancellation.
Harukaze Mound tells the story of twin brothers who dream of playing at Koshien, Japan’s famous high school baseball championship. The younger brother, Aokaze, is a talented pitcher who draws attention from top schools. The older brother, Nagiharu, struggles but improves after meeting a new student who helps him find his pitching style. The brothers follow different paths toward their baseball dreams.
This new series fills a gap in Shonen Jump’s lineup, as baseball stories have not had much success in recent years. The last similar series, Nine Dragons’ Ball Parade, ended after 20 chapters. Fans hope Harukaze Mound can have a longer run.
You can read Harukaze Mound for free on Viz Media’s digital Shonen Jump or Shueisha’s MangaPlus.
