Shun Saeki, the manga artist known for Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma, announced on Sunday that they have ended their exclusive contract with Shueisha, which had been in place for many years. Saeki thanked the people who have supported them. With the contract ended, Saeki said they are accepting inquiries for new projects, while noting that they cannot accept long-term projects at present. The listed areas include art duties, illustrations, and character design.
Food Wars! Shokugeki no Soma was launched by writer Yūto Tsukuda and Saeki in Shueisha's Weekly Shonen Jump in 2012. The series ended after a three-chapter epilogue in August 2019, with chef Yuki Morisaki credited for cooperation. Viz Media released chapters weekly in English on its app and website and publishes compiled volumes in English; Shueisha also published the manga digitally in English on MANGA Plus.
Tsukuda and Saeki later collaborated with writer NisiOisin on a one-shot manga in Weekly Shonen Jump in September 2019, and published another one-shot in the magazine in May 2020. In April 2023, Tsukuda and Saeki launched Tenmaku Cinema in Weekly Shonen Jump. That manga ended in September 2023 and received a bonus chapter that November. Viz Media publishes Tenmaku Cinema digitally, and MANGA Plus also published it in English.
Sources: Anime News Network.