March comes in like a lion Manga Goes on Short Break Due to Surgery

This year's 19th issue of Hakusensha's Young Animal magazine announced on Friday that Chika Umino's March comes in like a lion (Sangatsu no Lion) manga is going on hiatus due to the author's health. Umino will be undergoing hospitalization, surgery, and recuperation for an undisclosed issue. However, Young Animal's editors report that the series is scheduled to resume later this year.

The story of March comes in like a lion follows a solitary shōgi player named Rei and his relationships with a neighboring family. He becomes acquainted with Akari, and two young girls, Hinata and Momo, who also have have a large number of cats.

Umino started the series in Young Animal in 2007, and Hakusensha published the ninth compiled volume (pictured right) on Friday. The series has taken breaks at various points since the third compiled volume was released in 2009. The series has won several awards including the Manga Taisho award and Kodansha Manga award in 2011.

Umino also drew the Honey and Clover manga that inspired two television anime series and a live-action film. She later drafted the original character designs for the Eden of the East anime.