The official Twitter for the Hyperinflation, manga released a PV in honor of the Shonen Jump Plus series. Kyuu Sumiyoishi’s hit series – and nominated for the Ebook Japan 2022 Manga Award – has become popular in Japan. But will it get an anime adaptation like the upcoming Chainsaw Man anime? We’ll have to wait!

Volume 4 of the Hyperinflation manga will be available to Japanese readers on May 2, 2022. Those curious about the series can read up to nine chapters free on the Shonen Jump website. There is currently no confirmation of an international release date, but the new PV trailer has hopefully drawn more attention to the series. Stay tuned for more details!

Unfortunately for English readers, there is no official translation of the Hyperinflation manga. Despite companies like VIZ – which recently released the first seven SPY x FAMILY volumes – publishing many Shonen series in the West, hyperinflation has eluded the market.

What is the plot of the Hyperinflation manga?

Driven from their homes by a greedy empire, the villagers in Gabul’s life are in a constant state of turmoil. Luke and his family are among them, and despite his parents’ efforts to protect him and his older sister, their own lives are sacrificed. After finding a shallow pit for their children to hide in, Luke’s parents stand their ground against their attackers but are cut down.

After the loss of his parents, Luke’s problems only get worse. While traveling with a small group of survivors – an elderly woman and baby – he is approached by Imperials seeking wealth through the slave trade. Luke has a saving grace, though. He hands the men gold coins to buy the freedom of his party. And since the sum is astonishing, he is successful.

Despite their excitement, the Imperials are beginning to wonder how a ‘primitive’ Gabul could get such an impressive gold collection. While bragging at a local tavern, the men meet a merchant who shares the true nature of the coin. With a scratch test, he proves that the money is counterfeit, but what intrigues him is that there is someone who is adept at making counterfeit coins.

Back at the remains of the village, Luke struggles not only with the encroaching empire, but also with his own people. After getting wind of his fake operation, the chief has him locked up. His sister – the shrine girl Haru – visits him. While the others think he will only incite the empire to attack, Haru wants to hear him.

Unlike the rest of the village who want to stay away from the Imperials, Luke dreams of making them an offer they can’t refuse. With his counterfeit operation, he hopes to build a profitable industry in the village so that none of them ever risk becoming slaves again. Unfortunately, the rest of the village does not come face to face with his plan and demands that he be executed.

Fortunately for Luke, the old woman and the baby return to share good news with the chieftain. Because the boy was able to use his counterfeit money to buy medicines, the child is no longer sick. Many may be skeptical, but they cannot deny the results. The village agrees to allow Luke to continue his operation in the hopes that he can use the money earned to save others.

Whether Luke and his people will manage to free themselves from their oppressors is something fans will have to read and see. Will starting a profitable industry be as profitable as Luke intends? And what about the traders who got wind of his counterfeit operation? Luke may have to face an uphill battle, but after a divine gift manifests, his dreams turn out not to be so wild after all.

What other manga was featured in the Ebook Japan 2022 awards?

Between December and January, fans took part in a voting campaign to select the best manga of 2022 from a list of twenty. Among the nominees was Hyperinflation. Unfortunately, the series did not make the top three. That said, the awards highlighted a lot of great manga titles that people looking for something new to read should check out.

First came Monster No.8, a Kaiju Battle anime created by Naoya Matsumoto that follows 32-year-old Kafka Hibino – a man who has given up on his dreams of fighting monster attacks in his home city until mysterious circumstances lead him to a powerful undergo transformation. English readers can read or buy the manga at VIZ’s website†

Second prize was Karin Anzai’s shoujo series It Takes More Than a Pretty Face to Fall in Love. High school student Sana Chiken is excited about her freshman year, especially because of an attractive upperclassman who attends the same school. The two meet in the halls on the first day, but the meeting doesn’t go as Sana expected. Read the manga on Comekey to find out why.

In third place was John Tarachine’s Umi ga Hashiru End Roll. After a trip to the cinema, 65-year-old Umiko Chino encounters a young film student who – after a short conversation – agrees to help fix her VCR and watch a movie together. Movies have become a source of comfort to her after her husband’s death, and she candidly tells her new boyfriend about her thoughts and feelings. What she doesn’t expect, however, is his suggestion for her to make a film herself. There is currently no official English translation, but Japanese readers can pick up the first volume at Ebook Japan’s website†

The winner of the book staff pick award was Aki Mochida’s Golden Raspberry, a josei series that follows 32-year-old Keisuke Kitakata who works as a manager for artists in the idol industry. Unfortunately, after an artist gives a public interview about Keisuke’s aloof nature, he loses his job and becomes NEET. Read a preview of the manga in Japanese at Japan Ebook and buy the first part.