Will Tokyo Salad Bowl be canceled or axed in the future? Some readers are concerned about the series due to several ongoing issues.
In this article, we break down the main factors that could affect Tokyo Salad Bowl’s future.
Was Tokyo Salad Bowl Canceled or Axed? Reasons Explained
Tokyo Salad Bowl appears to have ended earlier than expected, as several plot threads were left unresolved.
However, a sequel is now being serialized, so the story is continuing.
“Tokyo Salad Bowl” was serialized in ‘Palcy’ from June 20, 2021, to February 25, 2024, and its sequel has been serialized in “Comic DAYS” since April 20, 2026.
It was also adapted into a live-action drama, which aired on NHK General from January 7 to March 4.
Did not meet the publisher's sales targets
It is said that the decision to cancel “Tokyo Salad Bowl” was based on a commercial assessment that the series failed to meet the sales targets set by the publisher.
Although the series had a steady readership, the author himself has acknowledged that it did not achieve sufficient results from a business perspective.
While some comments online question the editorial department’s decision, it is possible that raw sales figures became the hurdle preventing the series from continuing.
It is speculated that the inability of the tankōbon volumes to reach the break-even point ultimately led to the series’ cancellation.
Although the series enjoyed strong support from its dedicated fan base, it is said that it was difficult to meet the strict sales standards required by commercial magazines.
The Negative Effects of a Long Hiatus
“Tokyo Salad Bowl” was on a long hiatus because the author, Kuromaru, was working on “Kurosagi Reboot,” and it’s possible that this hiatus led to the series being canceled.
It appears that the author, Kuromaru, took a long hiatus of about a year—from May 2022 to June 2023—to work on “Kurosagi Reboot.”
??大切なおしらせ??
諸事情により『#東京サラダボウル』はしばらく休載になります。
すごくサミシイ！??ﾏｯﾃﾃ…③巻は予定通り6/22頃発売です??#パルシイ の担当さんにはご迷惑かけちゃいますが…発売日頃にはTwitter企画や対談記事など色々催しがあるので楽しみにしていてください#拡散希望 pic.twitter.com/UGMfMdjumI
— 黒丸 【東京サラダボウル??】ドラマ毎週火曜22時NHK??? (@kuromaru_) May 29, 2022
Furthermore, since the series concluded less than a year after its resumption, it is believed that one of the reasons for its cancellation was the difficulty of balancing it with “Kurosagi Reboot,” as well as a decline in popularity due to the long hiatus.
During this long hiatus, fans expressed concerns that reader interest had waned and the series had lost its momentum.
The fact that the series concluded in less than a year after its June 2023 resumption may have been influenced by the loss of readers due to the hiatus and the editorial department’s decision.
This situation highlights the risks that a long hiatus poses to a series’ survival, and it can be said that Mr. Kuromaru’s busy schedule cast a shadow over the entire project.
It has been suggested that the decision to end the serialization of “Tokyo Salad Bowl” may have been influenced by the author, Kuromaru’s, busy schedule and the need to balance it with his other works.
Factors such as the long hiatus associated with the relaunch of his representative work, the “Kurosagi” series, may have posed obstacles to maintaining a stable serialization schedule.
There are cases where it is speculated that the burden of writing and the difficulty of coordinating schedules cast a significant shadow over the pacing and continuity of the work.
Juggling multiple projects simultaneously amid a hectic schedule may have been one of the factors that made it difficult to maintain the serialization over the long term.
It is believed that the circumstances preventing the author from continuing to draw under optimal conditions also had some impact on the story’s development and the continuation of the serialization.
The Commercial Challenges Posed by the Nature of Social Issues
One of the factors cited for the cancellation of *Tokyo Salad Bowl* is the commercial challenges posed by its realistic, socially conscious themes, such as multicultural coexistence and foreign residents.
Because the content is substantial and requires meticulous research and expert supervision, it is said that the production process was so difficult that the author himself mentioned the burden and costs involved.
Compared to works centered on flashy battles or straightforward romance, it appears that the series was structurally unable to directly appeal to a broad general readership and boost circulation.
Nevertheless, fans who appreciated the high-quality content continued to express their regret, and the subsequent adaptation into a TV drama reaffirmed the depth of the work’s potential fan base.
It is believed that the mismatch between commercial performance and the work’s quality and thematic depth was a major factor that ultimately led to its cancellation at the time.
It's suited for a TV drama, but not for a manga.
Although the original manga for *Tokyo Salad Bowl* was canceled, the TV drama has received high praise, leading some to believe that the subject matter is better suited for a drama than for a manga, which is why the original manga struggled to gain popularity.
東京サラダボウル、こんなに題材がいいのになぜ打ち切りに......?という気持ちと漫画向きじゃなさすぎる感じもある。ドラマっぽい。
— さめくん (@ayanamireikasyo) March 11, 2025
東京サラダボウル観てる。ドラマ向きだよな?とは常々
— ＥＪ (@Eiji_4649) January 7, 2025
This subject matter, which deals with complex international investigations and social issues, lends itself well to the dynamic staging and dialogue of a drama; it may have been difficult to fully bring out its appeal through the static nature of manga and its page-count limitations.
Works that focus particularly on dialogue-driven scenes and the subtle nuances of human relationships are often better suited to visual media.
Manga has limitations in conveying the depth of a story and detailed depictions within a short timeframe, so it could be said that it was ill-suited for stories requiring the extended pacing and visual effects found in TV dramas.
Consequently, while the manga’s narrative was not fully accepted by readers and the series was canceled, its potential was reevaluated through its adaptation into a TV drama.
This difference in suitability between the two media can be considered a key factor that determined the work’s fate.
The drama has few episodes
Since the TV drama *Tokyo Salad Bowl* has a total of nine episodes—fewer than usual—it may be why people are saying the show has been canceled.
東京サラダボウル、完走。10話しかなくて案外短かったー。今のドラマってこれくらいの話数が平均的？？
しかし松田龍平が上手かった、最後まで持っていったね?— 熊猫控ヾ(´(ｴ)｀ﾉﾞ (@itAte_thisgq) June 18, 2025
Compared to the average number of episodes in recent terrestrial TV dramas, the series’ nine-episode run was short, and it is believed that this contributed to the impression that the story unfolded at a rushed pace.
Consequently, this led to the spread of rumors among viewers that the series had been canceled, as they felt it had ended before fully exploring the rich episodes of the original work.
As a result, while the quality of the series itself was highly praised, the sense of unfulfillment among certain viewers may have contributed to their perception of the early conclusion as a cancellation.
Suspicions That Manga Editors Make Poor Judgments
Even though “Tokyo Salad Bowl” has been generating so much buzz on TV dramas, there have been no active commercial efforts such as reprints, so it’s possible that the manga editors made a poor decision and canceled the series.
「東京サラダボウル」原作漫画が打ち切りになったのも、ドラマやってるのに再版もせず絶版のままなのもまじ講談社（そして編集部）バカで無能すぎる
— スミダカズキ (@cadzqui) February 19, 2025
Typically, when a manga is adapted into a TV drama, sales of the original work tend to increase, so it’s common practice to step up reprints and promotional efforts. However, the opportunity to reprint the original manga, launch related merchandise, and strengthen marketing efforts was missed, which may have hindered the work’s commercial success.
To begin with, if a TV drama adaptation had been confirmed, there was a strong possibility that the series would have gained popularity given that it was created by Mr. Kuromaru—who had already achieved success with *Kurosagi*—and there would have been a clear justification for continuing the serialization even compared to other manga. The editorial department’s misjudgment stands out as a glaring error.
Considering Mr. Kuromaru’s past successes and the track record of *Kurosagi*, it appears there was an opportunity for a long-term serialization and a resurgence in popularity if a strategy had been adopted to further promote the original manga by riding the wave of the TV drama’s popularity.
However, the fact that Kodansha’s editorial department failed to capitalize on this opportunity is seen as a result of a lack of strategy and a misreading of market trends, and they faced harsh criticism from fans and industry insiders.
This misstep was a contributing factor in the series’ failure to realize its full potential and likely hastened the decision to cancel it.
The appeal of “Tokyo Salad Bowl” as a one-of-a-kind story centered on multicultural coexistence
A depiction of multicultural coexistence that captures the reality of modern society
“Tokyo Salad Bowl” sharply portrays everyday life in the metropolis of Tokyo, where diverse cultures and values intersect, from the perspectives of foreign workers’ hardships and their sense of loneliness within Japanese society.
Its approach to highlighting societal distortions and the real-life struggles of minority groups—issues that are often overlooked—gives the work a unique presence as a story that explores the theme of multicultural coexistence.
Underlying the story is the universal message that “everyone has a different background,” which resonates deeply with many readers living in the modern world and prompts them to reflect on these issues.
A profound human drama featuring a cast of colorful characters
One of the highlights of the series is the partnership between police officer Mari Koda and interpreter Ryo Arikino—two characters with contrasting personalities who team up to tackle international crime.
The careful portrayal of Arikino’s past wounds and inner conflicts elevates the series beyond a mere social commentary, establishing it as a heartfelt human drama.
The process by which the two gradually deepen their bond through their cases is highly convincing, and the growth of each character serves as a major driving force behind the story.
How far does the final episode of the “Tokyo Salad Bowl” drama go? Where does the original manga begin?
The TV drama adaptation of *Tokyo Salad Bowl* covered the entire story up to the end of the original manga.
However, since there are differences between the drama and the manga in terms of the protagonist’s character and the relationships with the other characters, I recommend reading the manga from the beginning.
⇒Watch the drama “Tokyo Salad Bowl” on Amazon Prime Video
Final Thoughts on Tokyo Salad Bowl
In conclusion, Tokyo Salad Bowl has not been canceled, and there are currently no strong signs of it ending early.
Overall, the series appears to be continuing without major issues.
Some readers believe Tokyo Salad Bowl ended too soon because the drama became a success, or because its potential was not recognized early enough.
However, the sequel is now being serialized, and the series still has room to grow through future media adaptations.
It may still be worth checking out for yourself.
⇒Watch the drama “Tokyo Salad Bowl” on Amazon Prime Video
