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This is paws-itively the best news a manga fan could ask for. Tomohiro Yagi’s Hitoner (ヒトナー) has just revealed its first volume cover on the official Twitter account—and it’s starring everyone’s favorite feline, Toneriko!
The first volume is set to go on sale on Friday, September 4th, giving fans an opportunity to pre-order their copy now on Shueisha’s website. The first volume consists of 192 pages, featuring a ultra deluxe obi (豪華帯) that features special comments and exclusive illustrations.
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Hitoner’s accomplishments:
- A Viral Success: When it was released on Shueisha’s Digital manga platform, Shonen Jump +, it reached 1.95 million views. It trended on Twitter, even reaching the No. 1 spot, sparking widespread discussions across social media and fan art. It would even receive praise from Kohei Horikoshi (My Hero Academia) and Shinsuke Kondo (Ninja and Gangster).
- Serialization Greenlight and Launch: When it was first reported on April 22nd, it began ongoing biweekly serialization on Shōnen Jump+ (with Chapters 1–2 released simultaneously) after the strong response to the One-Shot. It is also receives simultaneous international releases on Manga Plus in multiple languages (including English). By mid-August, the manga has already reached 11 chapters, with a short bonus story posted recently.
- The official account’s popularity continues to grow: The Official Twitter account for Hitoner launched around Mid-May and has already surpassed 10,000 followers, (celebrated with a special illustration from the author). Its popularity continues to grow to this day.
- Award Nominations: On June 25th, it was confirmed that it was nominated in the Web Manga category for the 2026 Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taishō (Next Coming Manga Award / Next Manga Awards). Voting ran into mid-July 2026; results were scheduled for September 16, 2026.
- The First Volume: That’s where the series is at now, its first collected volume (both digital and in print). A reflection of the strong positive reception of this series on Jump +.
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Even though Hitoner is still just a few months into its run as of August 2026, the series is already making serious waves. It’s racked up strong positive buzz on digital manga platforms (Manga Plus and Shonen Jump +) and social media in impressively short order, following a path that feels familiar to early Shōnen Jump+ breakouts like Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man and Yukinobu Tatsu’s DanDaDan. Major sales figures, an anime adaptation, and high-tier awards may still be ahead of it — but with momentum this strong right out of the gate, those milestones feel genuinely within reach.
“A single human Earthling arrives on an isolated planet inhabited by beastkin known as “Kemo,” who are shaken to their cores at the sight of their first “Hito.” Thus does their society begin to transform, spurred on by this interspecies exchange…”
Source: Official Hitoner Twitter Page
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