The Elusive Samurai Ends Next Week
After 5 years, Yusei Matsui’s third major serialization will be ending with the next chapter.
On February 9, 2026, The Elusive Samurai released Chapter 237, titled, “The Epilogue Part 1 of 2”, confirming that the series will be ending in the next chapter.
The climax was announced on October 22, 2025.
Additionally, the series will also be celebrating its 5th anniversary next week and with that comes a “special announcement” for the release of Chapter 224: “What I Have and You Don’t 1352”, meaning there were 14 chapters left, as the author, Yusei Matsui, noted that the series took longer than anticipated.
While there are 23 volumes already circulated, this only covers 205 chapters and each volume is 8 chapters long.
With The Elusive Samurai ending with Chapter 238: “The Epilogue Part 2 of 2”, it is likely there will be 3 more volumes released over the rest of 2026.
This has been considered author Yusei Matsui’s longest series yet, reaching 5 years of publication since its release on January 25, 2021, and potentially 26 volumes.
Matsui has been the author of the popular “Neuro: Supernatural Detective”, which ran for 23 volumes from February 2005 to April 2009 that sold 4 million copies in Japan, and the highly-acclaimed “Assassination Classroom”, which ran with 21 volumes from July 2, 2012 to March 25, 2016 and is his best-selling work with over 27 million copies sold as of October 2023.
By July 2024, the series has sold over 3 million copies in circulation.
Volume 24 is set for release on March 2026, alongside One Piece Volume 114 and Sakamoto Days Volume 26.
This volume will likely cover Chapter 206: “Warning 1351” to Chapter 214: “Disturbance in Japan 1352”.
The Elusive Samurai was adapted into an anime by CloverWorks (Spy x Family, The Promised Neverland) with the first season airing its 12 episodes from July 07, 2024 to September 28, 2024, adapting up to Volume 4, Chapter 31: “Desire to Survive 1334” during the VS Kokushi Arc, the sixth arc of the series.
Season 2 will be aired on July 2026, on the anime’s 2nd anniversary, which will likely reach Volume 9,, Chapter 72: “Leaving Shinano 1335” during the Shinano Arc, the tenth arc of the series.
The Elusive Samurai is the story of Hojo Tokiyuki, a young, cowardly prince in 14th century Japan whose family is betrayed and slaughtered by the usurper Ashikaga Takauji and we follow his journey across 20 years, from 1333 to 1353.
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