Pony Canyon has announced that an anime adaptation of the Manchuria Opium Squad manga series is in the works.
A format for the anime, its voice cast, staff, studio, and release date have not been confirmed, as of the time of writing, but will be updated on the series’ main website and social media accounts at a later date.
An English version of the anime announcement visual has also been released.
The historical crime manga is written by Tsukasa Monma and originally drawn by Shikako, who passed away in December 2025. The series entered a short hiatus after Shikako’s death before resuming serialization on October 5, 2026. Tsurushima was announced as the manga’s new artist late last month.
The manga series ran on Kodansha’s Comic Days website from April 9, 2020 to September 9, 2021. It was then moved to Weekly Young Magazine on September 18, 2021 where it has been serialized since. Twenty-two tankobon volumes have been released in Japan as of November 2025.
Kodansha USA releases the Manchuria Opium Squad manga in English digitally. It describes the first volume as:
In the corrupt, conflict-ridden Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo, the illegal opium trade is a perilous path to quick riches-or a swift death. Desperate to save his doomed family, the young Isamu Higata seizes a dangerous opportunity, using his botanical expertise to make mind-blowing opium in hopes of cashing in. But when sinister gangs and the oppressive state catch wind of his operation, Isamu is thrust deeper and deeper into a treacherous world of deceit and depravity to protect himself and those he loves.
Sources: Manchuria Opium Squad Official X/Twitter, press release
