Hunter x Hunter’smangaka Yoshihiro Togashi just provided a major health update, and it’s good news for the acclaimed mangaka and fans alike. However unsavory it is to admit,Hunter x Hunterhas racked up some infamy due to its constant hiatuses. The reason behind them has always been understandable—Togashi’s health, especially his back problems—but, unfortunately, that doesn’t do much to curtail fans' disappointment and impatience. After all,Hunter x Hunteris an acclaimed, revolutionary battle shōnen; it’s only natural that fans are anxious for more.
Recently,Hunter x Hunter’s fans have been treated to a fantastic comeback, proving that Togashi is still one of the top mangaka around. At the same time,despite many assurances about theHunter x Hunter’sfuture, there’s a lingering anxiety that the manga’s exceptional return will come to all too short an end. A recent health update from Togashi has provided some hope that this won’t be the case.
Hunter x HunterMangaka Togashi Provides Major Health Update
The Master Of Shonen Storytelling Has Apparently Gotten Surgery
Togashi provided fans with massively good news about his health now and in the future via X. The post, based on X’s translation from Japanese to English, describes Togashi’s apparent recent surgery. He says that it was a “valuable learning experience” because, being performed under local anesthesia, he was able to converse with the surgeon, receiving explanations and commentary.
Names completed for two chapters. I underwent surgery. The procedure was performed under local anesthesia, so I received explanations and a commentary, which was a valuable learning experience for me. Thank you very much.
While the nature of the surgery isn’t immediately clear, it’s possibly related to the back problems about which Togashi has been complaining for years. It would make sense if he decided to have this procedure now, as it would also follow changes to his production system in 2023. It enters the realm of speculation, but it’s possible to have health problems linger for a long time because they ironically make themselves too difficult to address—in which case,Hunter x Hunter’s warmly received return might have been the motivation he needed.
Hunter x Hunter’s Promising Future Demands Empathy, Too
Hunter x Hunterhas always been a window into Togashi’s relentless empathy. Little could be more emblematic of this thanHunter x Hunter’sexemplary trans representation, which was years ahead of the curve. It treated the subject on one hand with the nonchalant humanity of allowing it to be mundane; on the other, protectiveness against its detractors. Regardless of how the future ofHunter x Huntermight look, it’s crucial that the same empathy is reserved for Togashi.
Hunter x Hunter Quietly Foreshadowed Meruem’s Fate With an Overlooked Scene
With masterful storytelling and subtle foreshadowing in Yoshihiro Togashi’s Hunter x Hunter, the battle is often won before the fighting even begins.
This is especially important becauseHunter x Hunter’s release schedule now accommodates Togashi’s fluctuating condition—which, for fans of the franchise, might prove frustratingly inconsistent if Togashi suffers from a particularly bad flare-up.
It can be hard to empathize with the experiences of people who see and feel the world differently, disability or none. However, especially with disability, where every case is highly subject to individual circumstances, it’s all too easy to get too caught up in Gon and Killua’s story, always filled with (and surrounded by) hype, and forget there is a person behind the pen. Until further notice, though,Hunter x Hunterkeeps getting great news, and both Togashi and its fans will be able to rest a little easier.
Hunter X Hunter
Hunter × Hunteris a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Yoshihiro Togashi. The story follows Gon Freecss, a boy who discovers his father is a legendary Hunter, and embarks on a journey to become one himself. Along the way, he encounters friends and foes in a world filled with martial arts, adventure, and paranormal elements. The franchise spans manga, multiple anime adaptations, films, OVAs, and video games.
