Jun Yokoyama’s Mari-Chan manga is approaching its grand finale. The series, which first launched in 2022, will wrap up with its final chapter in the third issue of Shonen Gahosha’s Young King Bull magazine, set to be published on September 2, 2024. Fans of the series can look forward to the release of the third and final compiled book volume in October 2024.
Mari-Chan tells the story of Mami Inaba, a 74-year-old woman who has been running a quaint diner in a peaceful small town for nearly 20 years. Her life takes a dramatic turn when a new apartment complex, complete with a shopping mall, opens nearby. This new development draws away her regular customers, putting her beloved diner in jeopardy.
To make ends meet, Mami relies on a handful of loyal patrons who have frequented her diner for years. In a twist of fate, she encounters Hijiri Umakoshi, a missing actress. Together, they devise a plan to revive Mami’s struggling diner and compete with the fast-food chains in the new mall.
Fans have praised Mari-Chan for its compelling storytelling and its reflection of contemporary societal issues. The manga vividly portrays Mami’s struggle to keep her small business afloat amid the rise of large corporations, resonating with many readers who face similar challenges in real life.
Aside from Mari-Chan, Jun Yokoyama has also made a name for himself by adapting Liu Cixin’s novel Taking Care of God into a manga. This adaptation, serialized on Kadokawa’s Comic Hu website from January 2022 to January 2023, was well-received and later released in English by Yen Press.
As Mari-Chan nears its conclusion, fans are eagerly anticipating how Yokoyama will wrap up the story. There’s also excitement about what new projects the talented mangaka might embark on next. Keep an eye out for updates on the final volume of Mari-Chan, which will be available in October 2024.
