Five years have passed since the passing of Kentaro Miura, the renowned creator of Berserk, who tragically died on May 6, 2021, due to an acute aortic dissection. On this fifth anniversary, the manga industry and its dedicated fanbase are commemorating his artistic legacy. All eyes are now on Kouji Mori, Miura’s closest friend and the individual tasked with bringing the epic story of Berserk to its conclusion.
The deep bond between Miura and Mori has become the emotional cornerstone that keeps Berserk alive. Following Miura’s death, the manga entered a prolonged hiatus before resuming under Mori’s supervision and the artistic talent of Studio Gaga. This continuation is a testament to Mori’s loyalty, rooted in decades of shared discussions and notes with his friend. Mori, who considers himself a “fundamentalist” and the greatest admirer of Miura’s craft, has asked for the readers’ understanding regarding the inherent imperfections of a work continued without its original author. He felt compelled to honor his friend’s unfinished story.
Five Years of Continuing Another’s Work
This fifth anniversary of Miura’s passing has brought forth an intimate revelation from Mori. He recalled a shared promise about a trip to Okinawa, a future they used to joke about. The plan was that once Mori finished his own projects, Tiger and D Diver, Miura would finally complete Berserk. “Of course, I didn’t trust his calculations at all… haha,” Mori confessed, his words tinged with nostalgia and sorrow. He shared a photo of his smiling friend, Kentaro Miura, on a beach.
The future of Berserk remains uncertain. While Studio Gaga continues its work, there is no official release date for the next chapter. Readers are left at a critical juncture, with Guts in a state of mental collapse following Casca’s abduction by Griffith. The anime adaptation is also in complete silence, with cease and desist letters reportedly sent to fans attempting to create fan projects. The hope remains that if Berserk ever returns to the anime format, the adaptation will be a significant improvement over the previous two attempts.
