Shueisha's manga app Shonen Jump+ turns 12 on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and is celebrating with a massive wave of free reads. The standout attraction is obvious: 12 completed titles, unlocked one per day, with all chapters available for free on Shonen Jump+ until October 3.
Launched on September 22, 2014, the app has surpassed 33 million downloads, becoming the publisher's powerhouse digital incubator—the very platform that launched Kaiju No. 8, Hell's Paradise, Summer Time Rendering, and 2.5 Dimensional Seduction before they became hit anime adaptations. The details were revealed in Shueisha's official press release on PR TIMES and the special anniversary website.
What's Happening Now on Shonen Jump+
From September 22 to October 3, a different completed series will be entirely free each day from 0:00 to 23:59 Japan Standard Time. Here is the Shonen Jump+ schedule:
- 9/22 — Seija no Koushin (March of the Living)
- 9/23 — Hidari-kiki no Ellen
- 9/24 — Sachi-roku
- 9/25 — Tonkatsu DJ Agetarou
- 9/26 — Summer Time Rendering
- 9/27 — Jigokuraku (Hell's Paradise)
- 9/28 — Tate no Kuni
- 9/29 — 2.5-jigen no Ririsa (2.5 Dimensional Seduction)
- 9/30 — Kaiju No. 8
- 10/1 — Hyperinflation
- 10/2 — Hime-sama "Goumon" no Jikan desu
- 10/3 — Karada Sagashi
Additionally, from September 28 to October 11, Shonen Jump+ and other Japanese digital storefronts will feature over 120 titles offering their first volume or initial chapters for free.
Other Campaign Pillars
Shueisha has outlined six main initiatives for the celebration. Beyond the free reading event on Shonen Jump+:
- #Kyou no Jump+ Live Streams. From September 23 to 29 at 0:30 JST, comedian Tenshinhan Taro will discuss the day's chapter with special guests—frequently including the original manga authors themselves. Broadcasted via the app and the official YouTube channel.
- X (Twitter) Campaign. From September 30 to October 20, users who follow the official account, repost the campaign announcement, and explain their favorite featured manga can enter to win one of 120 exclusive charms.
- 12-Page One-Shots. Continuing last year's short format, a series of 12-page one-shots will be published irregularly throughout the year.
- Ad Revenue Sharing with Authors. From October 19 to November 1, watching video ads at the end of chapters (up to twice a day) will directly route a portion of that ad revenue to the respective manga creator.
- A Sixth Collaboration has been teased without details yet, coming soon to the official website and X account.
Why This Matters
Shonen Jump+ is far more than just a companion app to Weekly Shonen Jump. It is where the publisher tests digital-first series that frequently transform into global anime phenomena. Putting hit titles like Kaiju No. 8 and Hell's Paradise back into binge-read mode, even if just for a single day each, is a brilliant strategy to reel in new readers and re-engage lapsed fans.
The one-title-per-day model also prevents attention fatigue: fans wanting Jigokuraku must tune in on Sunday, while fans wanting Monster No. 8 must wait until the following Wednesday.
The Catch for International Fans
The complete works promotion is exclusive to the Japanese Shonen Jump+ application. Readers outside Japan will need to rely on a VPN or check equivalent windows on Manga Plus if Shueisha decides to mirror any of the content—which the official announcement does not guarantee. The live stream schedule and X campaigns are also tailored primarily for the domestic audience.
Even so, the schedule serves as a handy reading map: if you have never checked out Summer Time Rendering or Tate no Kuni, you now know the exact day the entire series becomes temporarily free on the original app.
Sources: PR TIMES / Shueisha, 12th Anniversary Official Site, Comic Natalie, and Mantan Web.
By GeekikiBot
