The Baki the Grappler franchise kicked off its 35th anniversary celebration with the “Beyond Baki: Cosplay, Editing & New Challenges” panel at New York Comic Con 2025, and to learn more about what’s in store for Baki’s next chapter, Final Weapon had the chance to interview Yuki Yokoi, the Assistant General Manager of the Business IP Department at Akita Shoten.
Yokoi has worked closely with the Baki title and its creator, Keisuke Itagaki, and 2026 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the franchise. Kodama Inc. is working with Akita Shoten to bring the Baki the Grappler manga to fans around the world, and the new Baki-Dou anime is also scheduled for release next year. Our interview delves into these topics, along with Yokoi’s experience working with Itagaki, the outlook on the Baki franchise from the Japanese fandom, Baki 35th anniversary plans, and much more.
The interview is available below with slight edits for clarity:
Final Weapon: Could you please introduce yourself and your role at Akita Shoten?
Yuki Yokoi: I am Yuki Yokoi, Assistant General Manager of the Advertising & Promotion Department at Akita Publishing, also overseeing the Business IP Department.
As my title suggests, I am responsible for selling advertising space in our in-house magazines used as media outlets, as well as managing promotional advertising for our own titles. The department also functions as our company’s public relations division, and I serve as its deputy manager.
However, for the Baki series specifically, I have been acting as the point of contact and manager for all matters outside the manga serialization—such as anime, merchandising, and tie-ups—because the company did not originally have a dedicated IP licensing contact for Baki. Since I was the editor in charge up until the launch of the anime adaptation, I continue to oversee these areas related to the Baki IP.
Akita Shonen is working with Kodama to bring the Baki the Grappler manga to more fans around the world. What can fans expect in terms of Baki manga releases as the series celebrates its pivotal 35th anniversary?
Yokoi: First, for the core storyline of the original Baki series—from Baki the Grappler to the latest installment Baki Rahen, and the stories that will continue beyond—I hope to work closely with Kodama Inc. to bring the series to audiences around the world until the very end.
For the anniversary year, we have prepared both Japanese and English versions of our official X (Twitter) accounts so that we can share various updates, primarily through social media, with fans in Japan and overseas. From there, we plan to roll out many interactive initiatives.
As for the anime, as already announced, the Baki-Dou anime is scheduled for release in 2026, so there’s a lot to look forward to.
Are there any new Baki adaptations being considered, such as live-action?
Yokoi: We are currently exploring various possibilities for expanding the series into different media formats.
While we are not yet at the stage where anything can be announced publicly, we are examining a wide range of potential opportunities.
You’ve worked closely with Keisuke Itagaki, the creator of the Baki series. What’s his outlook on Baki now that the series is approaching its 35th anniversary? How involved is Itagaki in the franchise’s plans heading into 2026 and beyond?
Yokoi: I myself have been working with Itagaki-sensei since 2007.
Itagaki-sensei refers to his own profession as a “Baki-ya” (a “Baki craftsman” or perhaps “Baki-maker”), and he often says that he has descended into this world, holding a video camera, and wants to deliver to the fans the footage he has been filming in the form of manga.
Even now, as the series reaches its 35th anniversary, he does not view this period as “long,” but rather sees it as an ongoing story woven by characters who will continue to exist far into the future.
In 2026 as well, he intends to continue his role as the original author—overseeing new anime-related merchandising and other developments—while also looking for opportunities, between chapters, to meet fans around the world.
Events like New York Comic Con give Baki fans an opportunity to engage with the franchise in new and insightful ways, including the recent panel. Could you discuss some plans for the Baki series at upcoming events?
Yokoi: Since it will be the 35th anniversary year, we are also considering participating in overseas conventions, both on the anime side and the original manga side.
We are also looking into taking exhibitions like the “Baki Expo,” which was held in Japan and featured original artwork, on an international tour.
If we are able to connect with local organizers who might work with us on such events, we believe we can create opportunities for people overseas to experience the world of Baki beyond the manga itself.
With over 100 million copies in circulation, the Baki series has impacted and resonated with many fans. What has fan reception been like from readers in Japan? How has it differed from fan reception outside Japan?
Yokoi: I think that fans in Japan tend to fall into a few groups: those whose lives have been changed by the series and who take to heart its message about becoming strong and staying strong; those who enjoy the work as an entertaining series, interpreting the extraordinary and over-the-top actions and expressions of the characters—who are sometimes almost absurdly formidable—as a kind of “gag”; and those who enjoy clipping scenes from the series and treating them as internet memes.
As for overseas fans, I feel that many of them are closer to the first group in Japan—people who are sincerely moved by the greatness of the work and its martial-arts expression.
But as more people like Logan (@loganchitwood), who cosplays Yujiro, appear, I think we may also see an increase in fans who enjoy Baki’s more humorous, meme-worthy scenes in a similar way.
What are some key takeaways that you would like to give to Baki fans for 2026?
Yokoi: To everyone in the English-speaking world, thank you for your patience as we prepare the release of Baki the Grappler. It will be published with the same specifications as the complete edition sold in Japan. Please look forward to receiving two volumes every month.
In addition, the official overseas account for the Baki series has now launched. We will be sharing updates and projects that fans can enjoy, so please follow and join us there as well.
The Baki-Dou anime is also coming to streaming! It features the ultimate and most powerful Miyamoto Musashi ever depicted. Please enjoy seeing him in action!
What are some of your favorite moments from Baki?
Yokoi: It is Retsu Kaioh’s final scene in Baki-Dou.
His final line, “Next time, I will capitalize on my chance to…” was added based on my suggestion.
Itagaki-sensei himself thanked me for sharing that idea, so as someone who has worked on the series—even if only as a small part of the editorial team—it is one of the scenes I cherish the most.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Yokoi: We carried out many projects for the 30th anniversary, but we see the 35th as a year to expand even more and reach fans overseas as well!
We are committed to making it a year that Baki fans all around the world can enjoy.
Please stay tuned!
Thank you so much for your time, Yokoi-san!
