Baki Celebrates a Monumental 35 Years in Print

AKITASHOTEN Celebrates this Anniversary with a New Illustration from Keisuke Itagaki, a Commemorative Animation, and MORE!

Los Angeles, Calif., January 28, 2026 - AKITASHOTEN today announced the launch of the BAKI manga series' 35th anniversary, marking more than three decades of one of Japan's most influential martial arts series. Created by Keisuke Itagaki, BAKI first began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Champion in 1991 and has continued to captivate readers around the world with its uncompromising vision of strength, combat, and human will.

To commemorate the milestone anniversary, a newly illustrated 35th anniversary visual by Keisuke Itagaki has been unveiled. In addition, a special commemorative animation featuring an original theme song titled “BAKI MENTAL” is now available, celebrating the legacy of the franchise while ushering in its next era.

As previously announced by TMS Entertainment, the latest anime installment, BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai, will premiere exclusively on Netflix worldwide on February 26, 2026, further building momentum for the series' anniversary year.

Watch the Baki 35th Anniversary Video: HERE

The commemorative theme song, titled “BAKI MENTAL,” will be released digitally on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Performed by POCYOMKIN, who previously released “Rap Grappler Gaki” in 2002; RUDEBWOY FACE, and TAKE-M, the track unites three creators with distinct styles and intensity to serve as the official theme song celebrating the BAKI series' 35th anniversary.

Produced by maeshima so-shi with a Drill-inspired sound, “BAKI MENTAL” explores the central questions that define BAKI: What is strength? and What does it mean to fight? The lyrics weave together iconic phrases, unforgettable scenes, and the philosophies of the original work, translating the series' raw violence, solitude, and relentless pursuit of power into music rooted in hip-hop's survival spirit.

Each contributing artist offered the following comments on this new soul-stirring single and their deep love of BAKI!

Comments from POCYOMKIN:

“Congratulations on the 35th anniversary!
BAKI is a true bible that continues to influence countless rappers.
This time, I had the honor of creating a track that's pure BAKI, down to the bone marrow.
I packed the lyrics with everything fans know and love – familiar phrases, iconic scenes, and the full spirit of the BAKI universe.
The result is, in hip-hop terms, the ultimate form of “boasting” – an absolute banger.
Every being in the universe should listen to this!!!

Comments from RUDEBWOY FACE:

"BAKI MENTAL"
I'm truly proud to have been involved in creating music for such a legendary work！
I wish I could go back and tell my younger self—the kid who got fired up reading the manga—about this moment, haha.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to POCYOMKIN for giving me this valuable opportunity to be part of the 35th anniversary song,
and to everyone who loves Baki—I send you all my greatest love and thanks.

Comments from TAKE-M:

For us Japanese boys who once practiced the “Sanchin” stance on swaying trains, tried to create a vacuum between our hands and a bowling ball, and struck pull cords with hands imagined as flowing liquid, BAKI is not something as mild as a “textbook.” It is a bible etched into our blood.
It is the greatest honor to be able to take part in the theme song for this beloved BAKI series' milestone 35th anniversary project.
Congratulations from the bottom of my heart!!

This announcement marks the first of several projects planned to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the groundbreaking BAKI manga. Fans around the world can expect additional news on how they can further celebrate this work and its impact in the coming months. In the meantime, fans old and new can look forward to the exclusive premiere of BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai on Netflix and explore the ongoing English release of Baki The Grappler (Perfect Edition), with Volume 9 scheduled to release on February 1, 2026.

BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai Staff:

Original Work: Keisuke Itagaki BAKI-DOU (AKITASHOTEN “Shōnen Champion Comics”)
Director: Toshiki Hirano
Series Composition: Tatsuhiko Urahata
Character Design: Shingo Ishikawa
Prop Design: Yasuhiro Moriki, Masahiro Sugiyama
Art Direction: Seiko Akashi, Sachiko Kigasawa
Background Art Seiko Akashi
Color Design: Hiromi Miyawaki
Director of Photography: Tatsuo Noguchi
Editing: Yuriko Sano
Sound Director: Yasuyuki Urakami
Sound Production: AUDIO PLANNING U
Sounds Effects: Masahiro Shōji (Fizz Sound Creation)
Music: Kenji Fujisawa (Team-MAX）
Animation Production: TMS Entertainment
Production: BAKI-DOU Production Committee

BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai Cast:

Baki Hanma: Nobunaga Shimazaki
Yujiro Hanma: Akio Ōtsuka
Musashi Miyamoto: Naoya Uchida
Sea King Retsu: Rikiya Koyama
Kaoru Hanayama: Takuya Eguchi
Doppo Orochi: Takayuki Sugō
Katsumi Orochi: Yoshihisa Kawahara
Goki Shibukawa: Bin Shimada
Jack Hammer: Kenta Miyake
John Horner: Tetsuo Kanao
Hitoshi Nonomura: Jin Domon
Sea Emperor Kaku: Kenichi Ogata
Chiharu Shiba: Tatsuhisa Suzuki
Kureha Shinogi: Ken Narita
Gaia: Ayumu Murase
Narration: Tōru Furuya

Streaming Info: 

BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai premieres February 26, only on Netflix
Title Page on Netflix: http://www.netflix.com/bakidou 

Official Accounts and Info:

• Official Website: https://Baki-anime.jp/ 
• Official X Account：@Baki_anime／@teambaki_en

Baki The Grappler (Perfect Edition) Vol 9 On Sale February 1, 2026!

Seeking the strength needed to defeat his father, Baki takes on a special forces unit comprised of the Japanese military's deadliest soldiers. Baki has proved himself in both the ring and on the streets, but does he have the strength needed to survive on the battlefield?