Shun Saeki, the artist behind the popular manga Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, has officially ended his long-standing exclusive contract with Japanese publisher Shueisha. The manga artist announced the news through his official X account, thanking everyone who had supported and worked with him throughout the agreement while opening the door to new professional opportunities.
In his announcement, Saeki confirmed that his exclusive contract with Shueisha had reached its end. Following the conclusion of the agreement, he is now accepting new work involving manga illustration, character design, and other illustration-related projects.
However, the artist clarified that he is currently not accepting long-term commitments, instead focusing on shorter-term opportunities.
Food Wars! Artist Shun Saeki Announces End of Shueisha Exclusivity
In his official announcement, Saeki wrote:
“Shun Saeki has now concluded (terminated) the exclusive contract he had maintained with Shueisha for many years. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved who has supported me throughout this time.”
He also announced that he would be accepting new professional opportunities following the conclusion of the agreement.
The announcement marks a notable change in Saeki’s professional arrangements after years of working under an exclusive contract with one of Japan’s major manga publishers.
However, Saeki has not announced any disagreement or dispute with Shueisha. His statement focuses on expressing gratitude to the people he worked with and announcing his availability for new projects.
Shun Saeki Is Looking for Illustration and Character Design Work
Alongside announcing the conclusion of his contract, Saeki shared details about the types of projects he is currently interested in.
His announcement lists the following opportunities:
- Manga drawing and illustration work.
- Character design.
- Other illustration-related projects.
Saeki also clarified that he is currently not accepting long-term projects, indicating that he is prioritizing shorter-term assignments for the time being. He concluded his announcement by expressing hope for new professional connections and collaborations.
Shun Saeki is best known for his artwork in Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, the popular cooking manga written by Yuto Tsukuda and illustrated by Saeki.
The series follows Soma Yukihira, a young chef who enters the prestigious Totsuki Culinary Academy, where students compete through intense cooking battles known as Shokugeki.
The manga ran in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump from November 2012 to June 2019 and received multiple anime adaptations produced by J.C.STAFF.
Saeki’s announcement has not included any details about a new manga series or upcoming project. It also does not indicate that he will stop working with Shueisha altogether. The confirmed development is that his exclusive contract has ended and he is now opening himself up to new professional opportunities.
This could give the artist greater flexibility to explore different projects, particularly in illustration and character design, beyond his previous publishing arrangements.
For now, fans will have to wait to see what Saeki takes on next. Bookmark Otaku Mantra for more manga news and updates!
About Shun Saeki
Shun Saeki is a Japanese manga artist best known for illustrating Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, written by Yuto Tsukuda. The manga was serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump from 2012 to 2019 and became a major title through its combination of cooking competitions, comedy, and character-driven storytelling.
Following the conclusion of his long-standing exclusive contract with Shueisha, Saeki has announced that he is accepting new short-term opportunities involving manga illustration, character design, and other creative projects.
