The manga that everyone calls the successor to Haikyu is ending much sooner than we expected

The hit sports manga often called Haikyu!! successor, Ao Ashiis about to come to an end, despite its relative youth. Ao AshiThe anime has been celebrated as one of the best sports anime of all time. Its manga has also performed exceptionally well, with over twenty million copies in circulation as of 2024. Under the shell of a sports anime, Ao Ashi has proven to be a hit among fans through its perfect combination of comedy and drama elements since its 2015 debut in Shogakukan's Weekly Big Comic Spirits.

January 5, 2025 marks the tenth anniversary of the football manga. The year will also bring its surprisingly sudden end. Sitting comfortably in the company of sports manga stars like Blue Lock, Ao Ashi proved to be one of the most capable successors to Haikyu!!- still, it will apparently end up with fewer volumes, as Haikyu!! accumulated 45 volumes by the end of 2020 compared to Ao Ashi 40. Despite being often overlooked by anime fans everywhere, Ao AshiThe conclusion offers a better time than ever to start the manga.

Ao Ashi To end with the climactic final showdown

After 40 volumes, the beloved football manga will close the curtain

In an official post Ao Ashi account on Xmangaka Yugo Kobayashi shared unfortunate news. Following the great match of Tokyo City Esperion FC against Barcelona, ​​​​concluding its 40th volume. Apparently, this conclusion has been in the works since protagonist Ashito Aoi joined the Esperion A-Team in volume 11. Kobayashi's message reads:

To all AO ASHI supporters

I am the author of AO ASHI, Yugo Kobayashi. Thank you for always supporting me. AO ASHI will reach its final episode with the conclusion of the ongoing game with Barcelona.

When Ahito joined team A in volume 11, the following opponents were Kashiwa, Tokyo V, Funabashi, Aomori and Barcelona, ​​all of which were already decided at that time (I was thinking whether to include the Ganon-Osaka match or not), and I think I'll be able to finish this story, which progressed along with Ashito's growth, with everything portrayed in full.

The total number of volumes is 40, which is also a nice round number. I will do my best to put all my enthusiasm into the next two volumes, so please stay with me until the end. It is thanks to you, readers, that AO ASHI has grown so much.

December 25, 2024

- Yugo Kobayashi, via aoashiofficial on X

The 38th volume released on December 26, 2024, ending with the Esperion A-Team facing Barcelona's Youth A-Team for a rematch after a devastating defeat when Barcelona signed their best player, Demian. The confrontation with Barcelona has continued since then. While it could go in any direction, there are still several chapters left before the series reaches its predestined conclusion to complete its 40th volume. With chapter 393 having just been released, fans of the franchise are eagerly awaiting every goal to come as the match unfolds and the series prepares for its grand conclusion.

Ao Ashi and Blue Lock compete for the place of Haikyu's true successor!!

Ao Ashi is one of the best sports anime, but few people noticed

Anime fans thinking about giving it a try Ao Ashi I shouldn't see this as a spoiler. Sports manga and anime are usually quite predictable in terms of their “endgame,” with the protagonist ascending to world-class status in one way or another. The joy is in the journey.

Haikyu!! it is one of the most important series of recent years; It's not that sports manga were unpopular and gave new life to the genre, but it's impossible to deny Haikyu!!inspiring magnitude. Building on giants like Captain Tsubasa and Kuroko's basketball, Haikyu!! shot to the top. Countless series have tried to capture the same magic since then, and with Ao Ashi and Blue Lock having a duopoly in the manga's representation of football, the two maintain a subtle rivalry.

While Blue Lock subverts sports anime expertly, when it comes to which series can truly claim the mantle of Haikyu!!successor to, the only option is Ao Ashi. Although Ao AshiAshito Aoi's protagonist starts out bolder than Haikyu!!For Shoyo Hinata, watching them discover the power of cooperation in the face of personal struggles (and occasional arrogance) is a refreshing experience that gets to the heart of why sports manga have been beloved for so long.

To Haikyu!! fans curious about Ao Ashiyour anime was incredibly well received, boasting an 8.17 rating on MyAnimeList at the time of writing. For those who have been following Ai's journey more closely, you can wait Ao AshiIt's impressive closer around the corner.