Bonnō Saiyūki Manga Will End With Its 13th Volume

Crystal na Yōsuke’s manga series Bonnō☆Saiyūki is heading toward its conclusion. The listing for the upcoming 12th volume confirms the story will wrap up in a 13th and final volume. Volume 12 is scheduled to ship on November 19.

The series takes a lively new approach to the classic Journey to the West story. It follows the Buddhist priest Genjō on a journey to India, joined by three spirited and capable companions: Son Gokū, Cho Hakkai, and Sha Gojyo. Crystal na Yōsuke launched the manga in Shogakukan’s Sunday GX magazine in February 2020.

Crystal na Yōsuke has experience wrapping up long running stories on a warm note. Their earlier series Osake wa Fūfu ni Natte kara ran from 2015 and concluded in its 12th volume in September 2019. That manga also inspired a short run of anime adaptations and earned a devoted following over the years.

With just one volume remaining, the series looks set to land a proper ending for Genjō and his companions. Readers who have been following along since 2020 should not have much longer to wait.

My take: There is something genuinely comforting about a manga that arrives at a clear and planned conclusion. A Journey to the West retelling with an unconventional cast sounds like a lot of fun, and it is nice to know readers will get a proper sendoff.