Renowned
writer Kōji Yanagi, creator of the hit Joker Game franchise,
will see his latest novel Unbreakable ~Yaburezaru Monotachi~ (Unbreakable:
The Undefeated) transformed into a manga. The adaptation will
be curated by first-time artist Tamaki Kaigane and will be
published in Akita Publishing's Young Champion on August
26, 2025 (Spain time).
A story
set in 1925
The plot
takes place in the years following the enactment of the Peace
Preservation Act of 1925, which persecuted those who sympathized with
Marxist ideology.
In this
context, the proletarian writer Takiji Kobayashi decides to
focus his next novel on the harsh working conditions of the workers of a crab
processing ship. His choice arouses the attention of the special police,
who send two spies to keep a close eye on him.
Kōji
Yanagi's Career
The
original Unbreakable novel was published by Kadokawa
in 2024. Yanagi is widely known for his play Joker Game (2008),
which received the prestigious Mystery Writers of Japan Award
in 2009. Since then, he expanded his literary universe with three
sequels: Double Joker (2009), Paradise Lost (2012)
and Last Waltz (2015), reaching more than 1.35 million
copies in circulation.
Joker
Game Franchise Expansion
The impact
of Joker Game was such that it inspired multiple adaptations:
a live-action film directed by Yū Irie in 2015, an anime
series produced by Production I.G in 2016 (available on Crunchyroll and Funimation),
plus a manga illustrated by Subaru Nitō between 2016 and 2018.
He even reached the theater stages with two plays premiered in 2017 and 2018.
With the
announcement of Unbreakable, Yanagi's fans will have the
opportunity to delve into a new story full of political tension and espionage,
now in manga format.
