This year's May issue of Shueisha's Jump SQ. magazine is announcing on April 4 that Nobuhiro Watsuki's new Rurouni Kenshin: Hokkaido Arc ( Rurouni Kenshin Meiji Kenkaku Romantan: Hokkaido-hen ) manga will launch this summer. The manga was originally announced in December as launching this spring.

The new series will feature Kenshin as the protagonist, and it will have five "arcs."

Watsuki and his wife Kaoru Kurosaki published a two-chapter prologue titled "Rurouni Kenshin Hokkaido-hen Jomaku: Ashitarō Zenka Ari" (Rurouni Kenshin Hokkaido Arc Prologue: The Criminal Ashitaro, pictured at right) for the manga in the Jump SQ. magazine in November and December. The manga featured a new protagonist named Ashitaro. Viz Media's digital Weekly Shonen Jump manga magazine published the prequel in English in December.

Kurosaki is also serving as story collaborator on the new manga.