The manga series was already in a previous hiatus before the news was announced.
It was announced by the official Manga Time Kirara Max Magazine in its March issue that the beloved four-panel manga “Bocchi the Rock!” will continue its hiatus. The manga has already been on a break since the previous issue of the magazine. It has been revealed that the delay is due to the poor health of the author Aki Hamaji.
Bocchi the Rock! Manga hiatus details
The official announcement revealed that the mangaka, Aki Hamaji, is suffering from an unspecified ailment, and has since been advised by her doctors to rest and recuperate. The announcement was made because the magazine planned to resume the manga this month after its break. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been revealed when the manga will resume publication.
Hamaji ihas confirmed the hiatus through an X (formerly Twitter) post which says (machine translated):
“As announced, I will be taking a break from serialization for a while. Under the doctor's guidance, I will focus on recuperation, and while recharging, I will work to deliver content that you can enjoy even more once the series resumes. I would be delighted if you look forward to the resumption!
Spin-offs, the second season of the anime, stage adaptations, radio shows, real-life live events, and other content will continue to progress as usual, so I would be thrilled if you continue to support Bocchi the Rock! from here on out!”
Bocchi the Rock! began publishing in Manga Time Kirara Max in December 2017. The series has eight volumes as of November 2025. A spin-off manga series ‘Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi's Heavy-Drinking Diary’ began serialising in December 2023. The original manga has a very popular anime adaptation which came out in 2022. A second season has already been planned, although the release window is yet to be confirmed.
Yen Press publishes the manga in English and describes the story as:
Hitori Gotoh just wants to be popular, but the thought of interacting with her classmates makes her fall to pieces. Her solution-become a rock legend so cool that people approach her instead! However, while spending all of middle school in her closet shredding on the guitar may have earned her anonymous internet fame, it did nothing for her social skills. Now a high schooler, Hitori’s feeling ready to shrivel up and die-when she gets a sudden request to fill in for a band! It’s like her wish came true-but does this most anxious of introverts have what it takes to perform in front of a live audience?!