Sui Ishida Details Brutal Tokyo Ghoul Manga Production Schedule

Sui Ishida, the author of the popular manga series Tokyo Ghoul, has provided details regarding the intense production schedule he followed during the manga's serialization. In a recent interview published on Shueisha’s Manga Million app, Ishida elaborated on the demanding hours and conditions he experienced while working on the series.

Ishida revealed that his work routine involved working overnight almost every day of the week to complete his drawings for Tokyo Ghoul. Following these overnight sessions, he would attend a morning meeting with his staff to discuss storyboards. He stated that he spent approximately five to six days each week working through the night, often for twelve to thirteen hours daily, before a thirty-minute to one-hour storyboarding meeting at ten in the morning.

Impact on Health and Creative Process

The author has previously spoken about the health issues he faced due to strict publishing deadlines. He noted that his work schedule shifted around the seventh volume of the manga, leading him to intentionally overwork himself. This routine resulted in recurring health problems, including a loss of his sense of taste, which Ishida observed mirrored the ghouls in his story. He also mentioned that finishing the series brought him a significant sense of relief, describing the conclusion of serialization as being "released from a cage" due to the manga consuming his time, emotions, and personal relationships.

Despite the difficulties, Ishida found enjoyment in drawing the manga during its final stages. He also shared that he sought assistance from a trusted friend and his older sister when facing narrative challenges for the manga's ending. This collaborative experience provided him with a new perspective on the creative process, leading to a change in his mindset. He now aims to learn something new daily and enjoy the process.

Current Work

Currently, Sui Ishida is working on his new manga, Choujin X. Unlike Tokyo Ghoul, Choujin X operates on an irregular release format, freeing him from the weekly schedule he previously maintained. As of June 2026, Choujin X has compiled its chapters into 16 tankobon volumes and has over 2.5 million copies in circulation.