Kohei Horikoshi Returns With a New Horror One-Shot, Don't Laugh, Shijima-san

My Hero Academia creator Kohei Horikoshi is returning to Weekly Shonen Jump0, Shijima-san, arriving on August 10, 2026.

After years of defining modern shonen through My Hero Academia, Kohei Horikoshi is stepping into something much darker.

When a creator as influential as Kohei Horikoshi announces a brand-new work, anime and manga fans immediately pay attention.

That is especially true when the new project is not another hero story, sequel, or spin-off, but a horror one-shot.

Horikoshi is officially returning to Weekly Shonen Jump with a new 61-page manga titled Don't Laugh, Shijima-san (Warawanaide yo Shijima-san). The one-shot is scheduled to appear in the magazine’s combined Issue #37/38, which goes on sale in Japan on August 10, 2026.

For readers who have followed Horikoshi’s work for years, this is a major creative shift and one of the most interesting manga announcements of the week.

What Was Announced?

The announcement confirms several key details at once.

Horikoshi’s new manga will be:

a one-shot
61 pages long
published in full color
released in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue #37/38
available on August 10, 2026
titled Don't Laugh, Shijima-san (official Weekly Shonen Jump announcement)

That alone makes the project worth watching.

A creator does not usually return to the magazine with this much attention unless the project is intended to make an impact.

Why This Feels Like a Big Deal

Horikoshi is not just any manga artist.

He is the creator of My Hero Academia, one of the most successful shonen manga and anime franchises of the last decade.

Because of that, any new work from him automatically becomes a major event.

But this one is even more interesting because it does not simply extend the world of My Hero Academia.

Instead, it takes him into a completely different genre.

This matters because:

it shows Horikoshi is exploring new creative territory
it gives readers a fresh tone after years of superhero storytelling
it keeps his name in the weekly manga conversation
it gives Shonen Jump a prestige one-shot from a huge creator

For fans, that is enough reason to get curious.

A Horror Story From the My Hero Academia Creator

The new one-shot has been described as a boy-meets-girl horror story.

That alone is enough to raise eyebrows.

Horikoshi built his reputation through action, heroism, and large-scale emotional storytelling, but horror gives him a very different canvas. Instead of focusing on flashy battles and heroic ideals, this project suggests a more intimate kind of tension.

A horror one-shot also creates a very different reading experience.

There is no long runway. There is no slow build across dozens of chapters. Everything has to land in a single chapter.

That means the story has to be sharp, atmospheric, and memorable from page one.

The 61-Page Format Is Important

A 61-page one-shot is not a throwaway short story.

That is enough space for real world-building, strong character work, and a complete narrative arc.

In practice, that means readers can expect:

a clear setup
a developing mood
a central relationship or encounter
escalating tension
and a full ending

One-shots often show a mangaka’s range more clearly than a long series does.

Because of that, this new manga may end up telling fans a lot about Horikoshi’s creative instincts outside the world of superhero fiction.

Why the Full-Color Detail Matters

Another important detail is that the one-shot will be released in full color.

That is a strong signal that Shonen Jump is treating the project as a premium release rather than an ordinary filler feature.

Full-color manga one-shots usually get that treatment because they are meant to stand out immediately on the page.

For readers, that means the visual presentation itself is part of the experience.

And for a horror story, color can be especially effective.

It can shape mood, contrast, and emotional impact in ways black-and-white storytelling sometimes cannot.

Why Horror Is a Smart Genre Choice

This announcement makes sense on a deeper level too.

Horikoshi has always had a strong visual instinct for:

unsettling faces
dramatic expressions
emotional intensity
and high-stakes atmosphere

Even in a shonen action setting, those qualities have often made his work more visually expressive than average.

Horror gives him room to lean into a darker side of that skill set.

Horror can highlight:

tension over action
atmosphere over spectacle
emotional unease over triumphant momentum
visual discomfort over heroism

That makes this one-shot feel like a strong creative test.

The Timing Is Meaningful

The manga will appear in August 2026, which is still relatively soon after the conclusion of My Hero Academia in 2024.

That timing matters because it shows Horikoshi is not disappearing after his huge success.

Instead, he is returning quickly with something new.

That is a strong sign for fans who were wondering what he would do next after finishing such a major series.

It also keeps him visible in the manga industry at a moment when his name still carries enormous recognition.

What Makes This One-Shot So Talked About

The discussion around this announcement is not just about the title.

It is about the creative pivot.

Horikoshi built a generation-defining action manga with My Hero Academia. Now he is switching to a horror one-shot.

That kind of shift naturally gets people talking because it raises several questions:

How scary will it be?
Will it feel like Horikoshi’s usual style, or something completely different?
What kind of characters will he introduce?
Will there be a supernatural element?
Will readers see a side of him they have never seen before?

Those questions are part of why this announcement works so well.

It makes readers want to see the manga before they even know the plot.

Why Weekly Shonen Jump Fans Should Care

Weekly Shonen Jump has always been a place where big creators return for special projects.

A one-shot from a creator of Horikoshi’s status does more than fill space in the magazine.

It becomes an event.

It gives readers:

a new conversation topic
a reminder of how versatile Jump creators can be
and a chance to see an established mangaka do something unusual

For fans of the magazine, this is exactly the kind of announcement that keeps the weekly ecosystem exciting.

What This Means After My Hero Academia

Since My Hero Academia concluded in 2024, readers have naturally been wondering what Horikoshi would do next.

This one-shot offers a first answer.

It does not promise a new long-running series. It does not continue the hero saga. It does something different.

That is often the best kind of post-series move from a major creator.

It shows growth. It shows range. And it keeps the audience guessing.

What Fans Can Expect From the Story

While the actual plot details have not been fully revealed, the available description gives enough to suggest the tone will be unsettling and character-driven.

Since it is being described as a boy-meets-girl horror story, fans can probably expect a central relationship at the heart of the narrative, even if that relationship becomes darker or stranger as the story unfolds.

That setup is very effective for horror because it combines emotional familiarity with fear.

You recognize the shape of the story. Then the horror element changes everything.

Why This Could Be One of the Most Interesting Manga Releases of the Month

This one-shot has several advantages:

a huge creator behind it
a strong genre change
a premium magazine placement
a full-color presentation
and a concise page count that demands impact

That combination makes it feel like a must-read for manga fans who enjoy seeing what accomplished creators do outside their biggest hit.

OtakuNaija’s Take

This is one of the most exciting manga announcements to hit shonen news recently because it feels fresh in the best way.

It is not a sequel announcement. It is not an adaptation. It is not a rebranding of an old hit.

It is Kohei Horikoshi trying something new.

That alone makes it worth paying attention to.

If the one-shot lands well, it could become the kind of work people keep recommending afterward as an example of how far a creator can stretch beyond their most famous series.

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Final Thoughts

Kohei Horikoshi returning with a horror one-shot is the kind of news that reminds manga fans why creators matter.

A strong artist can define a genre for years, but a great artist can also surprise you when they step outside it.

Don't Laugh, Shijima-san gives Horikoshi that chance.

It is short, fully colored, officially dated, and very different from the work that made him famous. That is exactly why it is so interesting.

As August 10 approaches, this is one manga one-shot that shonen readers will not want to miss.

Stay tuned to OtakuNaija for more manga news, shonen updates, release announcements, and everything happening in the world of anime and manga.