In a recent appearance on the talk show ‘Iwakura to Yoshizumi no Bangumi‘, Yoshihiro Togashi, the creator of Hunter X Hunter, unveiled four potential scenarios for concluding the long-standing manga series. During the show, Togashi shared a letter where he disclosed that he had developed three of these possible endings, leaving the fourth as a contingency in case he couldn’t finish the manga before his passing.
Togashi, who is currently 57, presented the abandoned ending, referred to as “ending D”, which takes place after a considerable time skip into the future. The scene depicts a girl named Gin catching a massive fish and declaring to her mother that she would not pursue a career as a hunter. The story reveals that her decision was rooted in the neglect her grandfather, Gon, showed her grandmother Nouko due to his adventurous life as a hunter.
Notably, Gon was the main protagonist of the manga, having chosen to become a hunter to find his estranged father. The ending concludes with Gin choosing to stay on the island and not follow in her grandfather’s footsteps, symbolised by a bird flying into the sky.
Togashi expressed his desire to create a satisfying ending without resorting to the alternate endings A, B, or C, which he predicted would receive mixed reactions. He anticipated an 80% positive response for ending A, an even split for ending B, and a 90% negative reaction for ending C. Despite the expected criticism, Togashi personally favoured ending C among the possibilities. That said, these endings will continue to remain a mystery as he continues to work on the manga.
The manga has faced intermittent hiatuses (including a four-year pause) with the most recent one beginning in January due to health issues. Shueisha, the publisher, decided to alter the serialisation format, shifting away from the weekly release schedule. Togashi has hinted at the manga’s return soon.
Hunter X Hunter, launched in 1998, has inspired multiple anime series, films, and original video animations. Despite its sporadic schedule, the manga continues to captivate fans with its intricate narrative and characters.
Togashi is also best known for his other work, Yu Yu Hakusho, which has a live-action Netflix adaptation set to release on 14 December 2023.
Edwin is a seasoned raconteur with a lifelong passion for video games, comic books, movies, and more. He thrives on captivating stories and immersive world-building, with a soft spot for adorable monsters.
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