Miyamoto Musashi has returned to the great beyond, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a Baki-Dou Season 3.
Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai was one of the most brutal chapters in the entire history of the series. The oft-romanticized Musashi is typically presented as a heroic figure, but author Keisuke Itagaki actively steered into the fact that he is remembered in real life for his ability to brutally kill people. That resulted in a compelling villain who made an indelible mark on the series.
But with Musashi floating around through infinity, what’s next for the Baki franchise? Long story short, fans don’t have to worry about having more hard-hitting, thickly muscled action.
Will there be a Baki-Dou Season 3?
The story of Baki-Dou will almost certainly continue either with a Season 3 or a new series, though it has not yet been officially confirmed. None of the major rightsholders attached to Baki have confirmed more animated content, but Baki Hanma and Baki-Dou were both highly successful for Netflix. Barring a shocking turn of events, this should mean a return at some point in the future.
The only real question as it relates to “Baki-Dou Season 3” is whether Netflix will opt to rebrand the follow-up as a standalone series.
The Baki-Dou naming convention is a bit awkward for Western markets. Officially speaking, there were two “Baki-Dou” manga series in Japan, with one having its name written out in katakana and the other being written out in kanji. The first series, initially released in 2014, was completely adapted through Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai. The second series, which launched in 2018, begins a new arc that features a different warrior of old.
Given how popular Baki, Baki Hanma, and Baki-Dou have been for Netflix, it’s effectively certain that more Baki anime is coming. The only question is how it will be categorized.
The fact that the Musashi arc was dubbed “Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai” strongly suggests that the next release will retain the “Baki-Dou” name while receiving a new subtitle. That means that fans can look forward to a “Baki-Dou Season 3,” though Netflix may or may not treat it as a brand-new series.
What will Baki-Dou Season 3 be about?
The next release of Baki-Dou content will follow the reincarnation of Nomi No Sukune, a real-life figure who is regarded as the first sumo wrestler. While Musashi was resurrected through a combination of cloning and wizardry, the next chapter of Baki-Dou doesn’t venture into science fiction.
The second Nomi No Sukune seeks to honor his predecessor by reviving the martial art of “ancient sumo.” The legend of Nomi No Sukune reads that he defeated a boisterous fighter, Taima No Kehaya, by kicking him to death. Nomi No Sukune II combines this striking with more modern sumo techniques to stand as a well-rounded martial artist. Not only that, but he was bestowed the title of Nomi No Sukune II by compressing a piece of coal into diamond; a feat Yujiro Hanma couldn’t pull off.
Unlike the Baki-Dou featuring Musashi, 2018’s Baki-Dou series is divided into two distinct arcs. The first is a tournament where modern sumo wrestlers fight Nomi No Sukune II and a number of familiar faces from the Tokyo Dome Underground Arena. From there, Sukune heads off on his own for fights against other major characters.
When will Baki-Dou Season 3 come out?
It is unknown when Baki-Dou Season 3 will come out. It could be relatively soon, though.
There has been an inconsistent cadence to the release of animated Baki content, but TMS Entertainment has averaged one season per year across Baki, Baki Hanma, and Baki-Dou.
Hypothetically, this could mean a 2027 release date for the next chapter of Baki-Dou. Fans shouldn’t get too excited, though. Even if a new season of content is released, it could be withheld by Netflix for an extended period of time.
For both Baki Hanma Season 2 and the release of Baki-Dou, Netflix seemingly held back release dates in order to have multiple seasons released in quick succession The last two parts of Baki Hanma came out in July and August 2023, while Baki-Dou initially released in February 2026 before being finished the following June.
This is to say that it’s difficult to guess when Baki-Dou Season 3 comes out, but fans will almost certainly get it eventually.
