Is Hourou Musuko finished?

In this post, we take a closer look at the current status of the series “Hourou Musuko”, also known by the following titles:

• Wandering Son
• 放浪息子
• The Transient Son
• Hourou Musuko: Wondering son
• Wandering Son (Hourou Musuko)

Status

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Based on our analysis, the series is NOT FINISHED. ❌

Here’s how we reached that conclusion:

• All related entries are marked as finished on MyAnimeList
• The series is listed as ended on Trakt
• The original source material has not been fully adapted, according to MangaUpdates

Taken together, these points indicate that Hourou Musuko is still ongoing in some form.

Watch order

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Hourou Musuko ↗ ↖

November 12, 2002

Finished Manga

Wandering Son
放浪息子

Summary

Shuuichi Nitori is a 5th grade student who likes to bake and has always been something of a feminine boy. When he transfers to a new school, Shuuichi is mistaken for his 6th grade sister on his first day. Then he ends up sitting next to Yoshino Takatsuki, a tall, boyish girl who everyone calls "Takatsuki-kun." They both have secrets they can't let anyone know...

The series deals with issues such as being transgender, gender identity, and the beginning of puberty.

(Source: Kotonoha, edited)

Background

Hourou Musuko was selected as a recommended work in the manga division by the jury in the 10th and 17th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2006 and 2013 respectively. It was also nominated for the 2012 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list by the Young Adult Library Services Association. The series has been published in English as Wandering Son by Fantagraphic Books in hardcover format since July 5, 2011. Hourou Musuko received an 11-episode anime adaptation which aired in 2011.

Hourou Musuko ↗ ↖

January 14, 2011

Finished Airing TV

Wandering Son
放浪息子

Summary

Effeminate fifth grader Shuuichi Nitori is considered by most to be one of the prettiest girls in school, but much to her dismay, she is actually biologically male. Fortunately, Shuuichi has a childhood friend who has similar feelings of discomfort related to gender identity: the lanky tomboy Yoshino Takatsuki, who, though biologically female, does not identify as a girl. These two friends share a similar secret and find solace in one another; however, their lives become even more complicated when they must tread the unfamiliar waters of a new school, attempt to make new friends, and struggle to maintain old ones. Faced with nearly insurmountable odds, they must learn to deal with the harsh realities of growing up, being transgender, relationships, and acceptance.

Lauded as a decidedly serious take on gender identity and LGBT struggles, Takako Shimura’s Hourou Musuko is about Shuuichi and Yoshino’s attempts to discover their true selves as they enter puberty, make friends, fall in love, and face some very real and difficult choices.

Background

Please note that this series was 11 episodes when aired on TV but 12 episodes when it was released on BD & DVD. See more info for further details. Hourou Musuko won the Best Animated Broadcast Release at the 65th Motion Picture and Television Engineering Society of Japan Awards in 2012.

Hourou Musuko Specials ↗ ↖

August 24, 2011

Finished Airing Special

Wandering Son Specials
放浪息子

Summary

The full versions of episodes 10 and 11 that were previously edited together into episode 10 of the TV series.