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An anime adaptation of the manga “Manchurian Opium Squad” has been announced. The series had been on extended hiatus after artist Kanoko passed away on November 8, 2025, from choroidal malignant melanoma, but serialization resumed today, October 5, in issue 45 of Weekly Young Magazine. Taking over the art duties is manga artist Tsurushima, a senior “brother disciple” from the days when Kanoko worked as an assistant on “Kingdom.” The story is set in Manchuria in 1937 (Showa 12) and follows a former Kwantung Army soldier who lost sight in his right eye during the war as he gets drawn into opium smuggling — a crime thriller. On 5ch forums, commenters debated the merits of a drug-themed work, how closely it sits to historical fact, and comparisons to “Breaking Bad.”
2026-10-05
It has been announced that the manga “Manchurian Opium Squad” will receive an anime adaptation. Detailed information on the production studio, staff, and cast will be announced later via the official website and other channels. Additionally, serialization of the original manga resumed today, October 5, in issue 45 of Weekly Young Magazine. Artist Kanoko, who had been drawing the series, passed away on November 8, 2025, from choroidal malignant melanoma, putting the series on extended hiatus; taking over art duties is manga artist Tsurushima, a senior “brother disciple” from when Kanoko worked as an assistant on the manga “Kingdom.” The new issue carries two chapters: the first half is chapter 216, the last one Kanoko completed before passing, and the second half is chapter 217, drawn by Tsurushima. Kanoko will continue to be involved going forward in the form of original art concept credit.
“Manchurian Opium Squad” is a crime thriller set in Manchuria in 1937 (Showa 12), depicting how Hikata Isamu, a Kwantung Army soldier who lost sight in his right eye on the battlefield, gets drawn into opium smuggling to save his sick mother — a choice that sends both his own fate and Manchuria’s spiraling out of control.
Source: oricon.co.jp / Original article here
What people said
The British were the ones who got the Chinese hooked on opium, and the Kwantung Army jumped on the bandwagon to rake in war funds — the story is about skimming off that pile.
It was already spreading before that, brother… There was a YouTuber who used to point out the Sassoon family's role in it.
Kumi Morikawa's whereabouts are actually unknown these days. Wish they'd put Soshuu Yakyoku and the Valentina series out as ebooks.
It's a historical fact that China's national strength declined after Britain flooded it with opium. China was the victim here, so it's not framed as some shameful past on their end.
This is a manga where the story kicks off with the hero being hunted by the Kwantung Army itself — the old Japanese Empire is the enemy here. No way this turns into an international incident.
I've read a few chapters — there's betrayal and double-dealing among the Chinese characters too, so it's not like only the Japanese Kwantung Army gets painted as the villain. Might still rub some people the wrong way either way, though.
Yeah, it's not all that interesting. Breaking Bad already did the 'rise to the top through drugs' story, and this one hasn't topped it.
Wait, you don't know Osugi and Peeko?
Back then the Japanese Empire was the world's biggest producer and seller of narcotics. You should know what they were up to in league with the British Empire after the Qing dynasty fell.
It's actually starting to feel like it's building toward the endgame.
Same creator as Guilty Circle (´ . .̫ . `)
Background and Key Points of This Discussion
The opium-smuggling story this series depicts in Manchuria draws on real history — Britain’s role in spreading opium through China during the Opium Wars, and the fact that the Kwantung Army used opium revenue as one of its funding sources during the Manchukuo era. Opinions in the thread were split: some worried this kind of material could get mistaken for straight historical fact, while others pointed out that since the hero is hunted by the Kwantung Army itself, the story can’t be read as one-sidedly glorifying Japan. It’s not unheard of in the manga industry for another artist to take over after the original creator’s sudden death, but what stands out here is that the final chapter Kanoko had completed before the hiatus ran first, with Kanoko continuing to be credited as the original art concept creator going forward. “Breaking Bad” tends to come up as a comparison for drug-themed works, but that likely reflects its status as a widely referenced forerunner in the genre rather than something specific to how this title is being received.
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Entertainment/Sports News+) thread “Manga ‘Manchurian Opium Squad’ Gets Anime Adaptation — Crime Thriller Set in 1937 Manchuria.”
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