Laid-Back Camp and mono Manga Go on Hiatus Due to Creator Afro's Health

Houbunsha editors announced on July 28 that manga creator Afro's two ongoing series - Laid-Back Camp and mono - will go on indefinite hiatus. The decision comes after the creator's health worsened from the stress of serializing both manga at the same time.

What the Editors Said

The announcement came jointly from editors of Houbunsha's Manga Time Kirara magazine and the Comic Fuz website, the respective homes for Afro's two serializations. The editors stated that Afro's health had deteriorated specifically due to the burden of maintaining two concurrent manga series. Both titles will return at dates to be announced later by their respective editorial teams, though no specific timeline was provided.

No direct personal statement from Afro accompanied the announcement. The notice was purely editorial, leaving fans to hope for a speedy recovery without further details on the nature or severity of the health issues involved.

Two Beloved Series on Pause

Laid-Back Camp, known in Japanese as Yuru Camp, has been one of the most beloved slice-of-life manga of the past decade. The series has been serialized on Comic Fuz since 2019 and has accumulated 18 compiled volumes, with the most recent released in November 2025. It follows a group of high school girls who bond over outdoor camping activities across Japan's scenic landscapes, and has become a cultural touchstone for the cozy outdoor recreation genre.

The franchise extends well beyond the manga. Laid-Back Camp has produced multiple anime seasons, an anime film, and a live-action television adaptation. A fourth anime season is currently planned to premiere in 2027, though it remains unclear whether the manga hiatus will affect that production timeline.

Afro's second series, mono, has been serialized in Manga Time Kirara Carat since March 2017 and currently spans five compiled volumes, with the latest released in June 2025. The series received its own TV anime adaptation, which debuted in April 2025. While less widely known internationally than Laid-Back Camp, mono has built a dedicated following among fans of Afro's gentle artistic style and contemplative storytelling.

The Challenge of Double Serialization

The strain of maintaining two simultaneous serializations is a well-documented challenge in the manga industry. Creators who take on multiple concurrent series face relentless deadlines that compound the already demanding pace of weekly or monthly manga production. The physical and mental toll has led numerous manga creators to take health-related breaks over the years, with the industry gradually becoming more open about prioritizing creator well-being over strict publishing schedules.

Houbunsha's decision to pause both series rather than ask Afro to drop just one reflects a publisher willing to give its creator comprehensive time to recover. The dual hiatus ensures Afro faces no serialization pressure during recovery.

Where to Watch and Read

Fans looking to revisit Afro's work during the hiatus have plenty of content available. The first three seasons of the Laid-Back Camp anime, the Laid-Back Camp film, and the mono anime adaptation are all streaming on Crunchyroll. The compiled manga volumes for both series remain available through standard retail channels.

The anime community has largely responded with messages of support, wishing Afro a healthy recovery. With no return date set for either manga, readers will be watching for updates from Houbunsha's editorial teams in the months ahead.