After 40 Years, Kochikame Comes To An End In Its 200th Volume

[MOONPHASE]

Shueisha announced on Saturday that Osamu Akimoto will end his long-running Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo ("Kochikame") police comedy manga in the 42nd issue of Weekly Shonen Jump on September 17. Akimoto stated that he has an idea for his next work, but any development is as-yet undecided.

The manga centers on the crazy adventures of middle-aged policeman Kankichi Ryōtsu. Akimoto debuted Kochira Katsushika-ku Kamearikouen-mae Hashutsujo in 1976, and it has become Weekly Shonen Jump's longest-running manga series. Shueisha published the 199th compiled book volume on June 3, and the 200th volume will be the final volume for the series and will also ship on September 17.

The manga series has approximately 150 million copies in print as of June when the 199th volume shipped.

The manga inspired a 1996-2004 television anime adaptation and two anime compilation films in 1999 and 2003. Additionaly, the manga inspired an anime special in 1985 and then various other anime specials that aired between 2005-2008.

In addition to the anime, the manga inspired live-action films in 1977 and 2011, and a live-action drama adaptation in 2009.

The manga has also inspired several stage plays, and a new stage play will run from September 9-19 at Tokyo's AiiA 2.5 Theater Tokyo, and from September 23-25 at Osaka's Sankei Hall Breeze. LaSalle Ishii, who played Kankichi Ryōtsu in the previous anime adaptations, and in earlier stage play adaptations, will star in the play.

The manga is also inspiring a new one-hour television anime special that will air on Fuji TV on September 18.

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