The Chilling Truth: How Many Volumes Are There Of The Summer Hikaru Died (Hikaru Ga Shinda Natsu)?

The Summer Hikaru Died (Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu) has captivated the global manga community with its unique blend of poignant queer horror and psychological mystery, making it one of the most talked-about series of the last few years. As of today, December 15, 2025, the manga is actively ongoing, and fans are constantly searching for the latest volume count and release schedule.

This article will provide the definitive, most up-to-date answer to the question of "how many volumes are there of The Summer Hikaru Died," detailing the current Japanese and English releases, the final planned volume count, and all the essential information about the creator and the story's chilling premise.

The Definitive Volume Count and Release Status (Updated December 2025)

For fans tracking the original Japanese release of the manga, the series continues to progress steadily. The volume count reflects the raw, most current state of the story as created by Mokumokuren.

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• Current Japanese Volume Count: 8 Volumes
• Latest Japanese Volume Release: Volume 8 is the most recently published tankōbon volume in Japan, released by Kadokawa Shoten.
• Total Planned Volumes: The series is rumored to be planned to conclude around Volume 10. This suggests the story is entering its final, high-stakes arc, intensifying the mystery between Yoshiki and the entity that replaced Hikaru.

For international readers, the English release schedule through publisher Yen Press typically lags behind the Japanese originals, but new volumes are consistently announced.

• Latest English Volume Available: Volumes 1 through 6 are currently available from Yen Press.
• Upcoming English Volume: Volume 7 is scheduled for release on April 28, 2026.

The manga is serialized digitally on Kadokawa Shoten's Young Ace Up website, with new chapters released periodically, allowing the tankōbon volumes to collect the story arcs at a regular pace.

The Creator and The Chilling Premise: Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu

The success of the series lies entirely in the hands of its sole creator, Mokumokuren, who both writes and illustrates the manga. Their unique style masterfully balances the mundane beauty of rural Japan with unsettling, cosmic horror elements.

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Mokumokuren: The Author and Illustrator

Mokumokuren is a critically acclaimed manga artist known for their distinctive, atmospheric work. The Summer Hikaru Died began serialization in August 2021 and quickly gained massive traction for its compelling narrative and artistic execution. The series has garnered significant attention and has been nominated for and won several major awards, cementing its status as a breakout hit in the Queer Horror genre.

The manga is known in Japan as 光が死んだ夏 (*Hikaru ga Shinda Natsu*), which translates literally to "The Summer Hikaru Died."

The Core Story: Yoshiki, Hikaru, and the Otherworldly Entity

The story is set in a quiet, remote rural Japan mountain village and centers on two childhood best friends: Yoshiki Tsujinaka and Hikaru Indo.

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The entire narrative is kicked off by a devastating discovery: Hikaru, who disappeared the previous summer, has returned. However, Yoshiki soon realizes that the person who came back is not his friend, but an otherworldly entity that has taken Hikaru's form.

The manga then explores the complex, emotionally charged relationship between Yoshiki and the "Something" that now wears his friend's face. Yoshiki chooses to accept the entity, driven by his deep, unspoken feelings for Hikaru, and the story becomes a tense, beautiful, and terrifying examination of grief, identity, and unconditional love set against the backdrop of supernatural mystery and cosmic horror.

The Future of The Summer Hikaru Died: Anime Adaptation and Second Season

The manga’s popularity has led to major announcements that will introduce the chilling story to a massive new audience. This news is the freshest and most exciting update for the series.

The Highly Anticipated Anime Release Date

A full-scale anime adaptation of The Summer Hikaru Died has been officially announced.

• Anime Premiere Date: The series is set to begin streaming on July 5, 2025.
• Streaming Platform: The anime will be available for exclusive streaming on Netflix, making it easily accessible to a global audience.

The production of the anime signals a huge milestone for the manga, further solidifying its place in the modern horror and mystery landscape. The announcement of the anime's release date has driven a new wave of interest, causing many to seek out the current volume count to catch up before the premiere.

A Second Season is Already in Production

In a rare show of confidence in the source material, a second season of the anime adaptation has already been announced and is currently in production. This news is a strong indicator that the anime production committee intends to cover a significant portion of the manga's story, potentially all the way up to the planned Volume 10 conclusion.

Fans eager to know the full story and the ultimate fate of Yoshiki and the entity should continue to follow the manga's volume releases, as the anime will likely follow the manga's narrative structure closely.

Topical Authority and Key Entities (LSI Keywords)

To fully appreciate the world of The Summer Hikaru Died, it helps to understand the key entities and concepts that define the series. The manga is a masterclass in several genres, blending them seamlessly to create a truly unique reading experience.

• Genre Blends: Queer Horror, Psychological Mystery, Coming-of-Age, and Supernatural Thriller.
• Key Themes: Grief, loss, identity, devotion, and the nature of humanity versus the otherworldly.
• Publishers: Kadokawa Shoten (Japanese Original), Yen Press (English Translation).
• Serialization Platform: Young Ace Up.
• Main Characters: Yoshiki Tsujinaka and Hikaru Indo (The Entity).
• Adaptation Platforms: Netflix (Anime Streaming), Abema (Japanese Streaming).

With Volume 8 now released in Japan and the series heading towards its planned conclusion at Volume 10, the time is perfect to dive into this critically acclaimed manga. The story’s dark, emotional core, combined with the impending anime release in 2025, ensures that The Summer Hikaru Died will remain a central topic of discussion in the manga community for years to come.