Unfortunate news about recent chapters of Spy x Family the manga has just emerged, resulting in a delay in the release schedule for the next chapters. The mangaka of the series, Tatsuya Endo is currently in poor healthwhich resulted in a Spy x Family hiatus starting December 9th, which will delay new updates until December 23rd.
Tatsuya Endo is unfortunately just one of many manga artists who have suffered health problems due to their work and I was forced to postpone deadlines because of these physical ailments. This recent announcement, posted on the official Shonen Jump X account @shonenjump_plusnot only brings disappointing news to Spy x Family fans look forward to the next chapter, but it sheds light on a disturbing problem plaguing the manga industry as a whole.
Tatsuya Endo's recent health struggles highlight an industry-wide problem
Other creators like Oda, ONE, and Togashi have also faced physical illnesses as a result of their work
While it may be disappointing to have to wait longer than expected for a Spy x Family update, what's even more worrying is the state of the manga industry that is causing so many talented professionals like Endo to deteriorate physically and mentally in efforts to meet strict deadlines and constant pressure to create more content faster. Recently, One Punch Man creator, known as ONE, has also struggled with health challenges, posting on X who had to seek medical attention at the hospital due to complications from asthma and chest pain.
The manga series One piece also took an unexpected break due to creator Eiichiro Oda's healthcausing concern among fans. In recent years, Oda has taken a few hiatuses from his manga to focus on his well-being, worrying readers that he may be trying too hard since the manga is so popular and is released weekly. Yoshihiro Togashi, from Hunter x Hunter fame, dealt with horrible back pain, leading him to take a long hiatus as well because he can't sit in one place to illustrate his manga while his back is in such bad shape.
Endo's decision to prioritize his own health is the right choice in this difficult situation
In the future, creators should feel encouraged to take breaks when needed rather than overextend themselves
The fact that each of these creators is struggling proves that health-related consequences are very common in the manga industry nowadaysto a more worrying degree than ever before. Creators in the anime industry also face similar challenges, and the backlash Blue Lock the second season faced is just one example. Tight deadlines, low wages and an inadequate number of employees have caused a sharp decline in the quality of series such as Blue Lock, as well as leading workers themselves to become overworked and exhausted, which is reflected in their suboptimal physical and mental health.
Endo's break is the right choice, as working to exhaustion benefits neither the creators themselves nor the fans receiving the final product. The hiatuses helped other creators like Oda and Togashi return later rejuvenated and feeling much better, able to create work they can be proud of, as they prioritized their health first. In the anime and manga industry, the work culture can be quite unforgiving and unacceptable when it comes to self-care, but this mentality only leads to mediocre, rushed work and burned-out creators, so Spy x Family Endo's hiatus is a step in the right direction.
Source: @shonenjump_plus in X, @@ONE_rakugaki in X