Is How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift Finished?

If you’ve been eyeing How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? (ダンベル何キロ持てる?) and wondering whether the manga is finished or still going, you’re in the right place. Let’s get straight to it.

Is How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift Manga Finished? No — It’s Still Ongoing

The manga is not finished. As of 2026, How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? is still an ongoing series with no announced end date.

Here’s the quick rundown:

• Publication status: Ongoing
• Current volume count: 20 volumes in Japan, with volume 21 already announced
• Writer: Yabako Sandrovich
• Artist: MAAM
• Serialization: Manga ONE / Ura Sunday (published by Shogakukan)
• Genre: Comedy and slice-of-life — a laid-back, everyday-life style of story focused more on humor and character interactions than on high-stakes plot

The good news? This is a comedy series with an episodic structure, meaning each chapter generally tells its own self-contained story rather than building toward one long continuous plotline. There’s no massive multi-volume cliffhanger waiting to ruin your day if you catch up. You can start reading right now without worrying about being stranded in the middle of an unfinished storyline.

One thing worth noting early: the series carries a 16 Years age rating for the English edition. There’s comedic content that plays up the characters’ physical appearances in exaggerated, suggestive ways — something common in manga humor but worth knowing about if you’re buying for a younger reader or prefer to avoid that kind of comedy.

Full Publication Timeline and Volume Count

The series has been running for quite a while now, and there’s a solid collection of volumes to enjoy.

Japanese publication:

• The first collected volume — where individual chapters that were published online are gathered together into a single book — released in December 2016 in Japan
• 20 volumes have been published so far
• Volume 21 has been announced, confirming the series continues

The manga is serialized on Manga ONE and Ura Sunday, which are digital platforms (apps and websites) where new chapters are published before being collected into physical volumes. The release pace has varied across the run, which is pretty common for manga published on digital platforms like these. Some stretches see volumes coming out relatively quickly, while others space out a bit more.

The anime adaptation:

A TV anime series — an animated television show based on the manga — began airing on July 3, 2019, which brought a huge wave of international attention to the manga. The anime adapted material from the earlier volumes of the manga, turning those chapters into animated episodes. The manga has continued well past the point where the anime left off, so if you watched the anime and loved it, there’s a large amount of new material waiting for you in the manga that the show never got to.

English publication:

• Published by Seven Seas Entertainment
• 20 English volumes are now available
• The most recent English volume released on April 14, 2026

That means English readers are fully caught up with the Japanese release — a rare and wonderful situation. No waiting months (or years) for translations to catch up.

Should You Start Reading Now or Wait?

This is the big question for anyone who prefers to read a completed series from start to finish, so let’s break it down honestly.

Why starting now works great

How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? isn’t structured like a long-running action manga where each volume feeds directly into the next through interconnected story arcs — multi-chapter storylines that build on each other and need to be read in strict sequence. Instead, it’s a comedy and slice-of-life series built around gym workouts, fitness tips, and the daily lives of its cast. The chapters are largely episodic — each one tells a complete, satisfying little story within a few pages rather than leaving you on a cliffhanger.

With 20 volumes available in English, that’s a substantial amount of content. You’re not jumping into a series with three volumes and a prayer. There’s plenty to read, and each volume delivers complete comedic scenarios rather than half-finished plot threads.

The format also makes it a surprisingly good pick for newcomers to manga. You don’t need to memorize complicated rules about how the characters’ abilities work or keep track of who’s fighting whom in a bracket-style competition. Volume 1 is a natural and easy entry point — the premise is simple, the humor lands immediately, and the fitness information woven into each chapter is genuinely fun to read. If you’ve never read manga before and want something approachable, this is a strong starting point.

The case for waiting

If you’re someone who absolutely, positively will not start a manga until the final volume is on shelves, that preference makes sense for certain types of series. There’s no announced end date for How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?, and with volume 21 already confirmed, the story isn’t wrapping up anytime soon.

But given the episodic nature of the series, “waiting for the ending” matters much less here than it would for a plot-heavy manga. You won’t be left agonizing over an unresolved storyline. Each volume gives you a complete, enjoyable reading experience on its own.

The bottom line: Start now. You’ll have a great time, and you won’t feel like anything is missing.

Similar Sports Manga to Read Next

If you enjoy How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?, you’ll probably want to check out other works by the same writer. Manga spans a huge range of genres, and Yabako Sandrovich’s other series show a very different side of his writing — shifting from lighthearted gym comedy to intense, action-driven storytelling.

Kengan Ashura

Kengan Ashura is also written by Yabako Sandrovich, but it takes a completely different tone. Where Dumbbells is lighthearted comedy with fitness tips, Kengan Ashura is a fighting manga — a genre focused on hand-to-hand combat and martial arts — set in the world of underground corporate fighting. Companies settle business disputes by hiring fighters to battle in brutal, high-stakes matches.

Despite the darker premise, Sandrovich’s trademark humor still shines through. The character writing is sharp, the fights are incredibly well-choreographed, and there’s a surprising amount of heart beneath all the punching. If you like Sandrovich’s comedic voice in Dumbbells, seeing how he applies that same sensibility to a fighting manga is a treat.

The two series actually share the same fictional universe — you’ll spot characters from one series making appearances in the other, which is a fun bonus for readers of both.

Kengan Omega

Kengan Omega is the direct sequel to Kengan Ashura, continuing the story with a mix of returning favorites and new fighters. It builds on everything that made the first series work while expanding the world and raising the stakes through a new series of organized fights.

Both Kengan series pair well with Dumbbells because they showcase Sandrovich’s range — he can write a goofy gym comedy and a visceral fighting series with equal skill, and his love of athleticism and the human body runs through all of them.

Where to Buy the English Volumes

The English edition of How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? is published by Seven Seas Entertainment in both print and digital editions.

Here’s what you need to know:

• 20 English volumes are currently available
• The latest volume released on April 14, 2026
• The series carries a 16 Years age rating for the English market — there’s exaggerated, suggestive humor throughout, so keep that in mind if you’re buying for a younger reader
• Available through major book retailers in both print and digital formats

Volume 1 is the natural place to start, and it does a great job setting up the cast and tone. If you’d like a physical copy, Volume 1 is available in paperback from major retailers.

Since the English release is caught up with Japan at 20 volumes, you can read the entire available story without waiting for translation gaps to close.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many volumes of How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift are there?

There are 20 volumes in both the Japanese and English editions. The English volumes are published by Seven Seas Entertainment, and are available in both print and digital formats.

Will there be a volume 21?

Yes — volume 21 has been announced. The manga is ongoing, so more volumes beyond that are expected as well.

Is there an anime adaptation?

Yes. A TV anime series began airing on July 3, 2019. It introduced many international fans to the series. The manga has continued well past the material the anime covered, so manga readers get a large amount of additional content that the anime never reached. If you enjoyed the anime, the manga picks up where the show left off and keeps going for many more volumes.

Who creates How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?

The series is written by Yabako Sandrovich and illustrated by MAAM. Sandrovich is also known for writing Kengan Ashura and its sequel Kengan Omega. The series is serialized on Manga ONE / Ura Sunday — digital platforms run by Shogakukan, the Japanese publisher — where chapters are released online before being collected into physical volumes.

What does the 16 Years age rating mean?

The English edition carries a 16 Years age rating from the publisher. This means the series contains content — primarily exaggerated, suggestive humor centered on the characters’ physical appearances — that the publisher considers appropriate for readers 16 and older. It’s comedic in tone rather than graphic, but it’s worth being aware of before purchasing.