Get vol. 1 for 99¢ and take up to 50% off subsequent volumes!
As part of the Throwback Thursday digital manga sale you can now get the first volume of the shonen action fantasy epic by Hiro Mashima, FAIRY TAIL, specially priced at 99¢, and also take up to 50% off select volumes after that! Sale starts now and ends Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
Learn about Fairy Tail: Cute girl wizard Lucy wants to join the Fairy Tail, a club for the most powerful wizards. But instead her ambitions land her in the clutches of a gang of unsavory pirates led by a devious magician. Her only hope is Natsu, a strange boy she happens to meet on her travels. Natsu’s not your typical hero—he gets motion sickness, eats like a pig, and his best friend is a talking cat. With friends like this, is Lucy better off with her enemies?
Save on Rom-Coms Like When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, That Blue Summer, Lovesick Ellie & more during this special summer digital sale
We’ve reached the last sale of the the Kodansha Manga Matsuri summer celebration event. This time we’re putting a huge spotlights on the love born from those hot summer nights with the Manga Matsuri: Summer Fling digital sale! Fans can save up to 50% off such favorite rom-coms as the anime-inspiring will-they-wont-they shogi showdown, When Will Ayumu Make His Move? (Now streaming on HIDIVE); as well as the social media-driven love saga, Lovesick Ellie; the time-traveling unrequited love drama, Those Summer Days; and even the incredibly wild isekai motherhood manga series, I Guess I Became the Mother of the Great Demon King’s 10 Children in Another World!
Take advantage of the hilariously touching Manga Matsuri: Summer Fling digital sale, giving you series celebrating summer love up to 50% off! To see where you can save, visit one of our participating digital vendors: Bookwalker, Kindle, Google Play, Kobo, Nook, izneo and MyAnimeList!
Sale ends Monday, August 1st!
Curious about this sale but want to see more? Read the first chapter of When Will Ayumu Make His Move?, FREE or click on any of the titles shown below to read a first chapter preview!
Kodansha USA Publishing announced today at Comic-Con International 2022 in San Diego their latest offering for digital manga series debuting this August, as well as special drop-in print manga licenses arriving Spring 2023.
Additional Spring 2023 print releases announced today include the Shaman King sequel – by the original series creator, Hiroyuki Takei – SHAMAN KING: FLOWERS; a cute near future close encounter adventure, Break of Dawn; as well as the manga adaptation of the isekai comedy light novel, also coming from Kodansha & announced at Anime Expo ’22, Saving 80, 000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement!.
The special drop-in print titles announced will be available Spring 2023 at local and online book vendors like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, and more!
And August 2022 digital debuts will be available upon release across all our participating digital vendors, including Bookwalker, Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Nook, Kobo, izneo, MyAnimeList and more!
See the full list of all-new licenses announced for print and digital below or on kodansha.localhost/.
AUGUST 2023 PRINT LICENSES:
SHAMAN KING: FLOWERS By Hiroyuki Takei
The ghosts, spirits, zombies, and gods return in this brand-new sequel to the classic shonen adventure manga SHAMAN KING! Hana Asakura finds that being the son of Yoh & Anna Asakura isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and his boredom has him itching for any kind of excitement. But when a fight comes straight to his doorstep, it’s from a place he least expects—his own family? The battle for Asakura supremacy begins!
Rated: 13+
Break of Dawn By Tetsuya Imai
It’s the year 2038, but more importantly, it’s summer. A little boy named Yuma is obsessed with the impending return of the Arville Comet. Then, one day, he sneaks onto the roof of an apartment building and finds something even more amazing—something not from this world. Now Yuma and his friends, and his hovering autopet Nanako, must work together to uncover a secret that’s slumbered in the Earth for years, as dawn breaks over a new era for him and for humanity… Entire story in a single volume.
Inspired an anime film coming soon from the acclaimed screenwriter Dai Sato (Cowboy Bebop, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex)!
Rated: 13+
Saving 80, 000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement (Manga) By Keisuke Motoe Original story by FUNA Character Designs By Tozai
After growing up an orphan, Mitsuha has a healthy respect for money and a desire to live well—at least, until she dies after being pushed off a cliff. Waking up in a strange fantasy world, Mitsuha narrowly survives an encounter with a pack of wolves, then realizes she has the power to move between this world and the real one. A lesser person might embark on heroic adventures—Mitsuha instead immediately recognizes the lucrative possibilities of her new situation, and heads out to buy an arsenal of modern weapons. Her goal: to acquire 80, 000 gold, and the life of leisure she’s always dreamed of! The manga companion to the popular light novel series, also coming soon from Kodansha!
Rated: 16+
AUGUST 2022 DIGITAL DEBUTS
Our Love Doesn’t Need a Happy Ending By Fuyumi Yajima
Release Date: August 2, 2022
Daiki Tomita likes movies, but the real reason he’s still kept up with his university’s film club members after they all graduated is his unrequited love for fellow member Koharu Kobayakawa. He’s been hesitant to risk their friendship by asking her out, but when Koharu breaks the news that she doesn’t have long to live, Tomita must decide whether or not he’s willing to let her go without ever telling her how he truly feels…
Akari is a third-year student who has spent her high school career sticking to the straight and narrow…but her attention is caught by Yuki Sendo, the short-haired, standoffish girl in her class who seems to buck the trend. Akari can’t seem to stop seeking Yuki out, and her feelings rapidly develop into something more than girlish friendship. But Yuki seems to have eyes only for her childhood friend, Rintaro Kagawa…who himself seems to have feelings for Akari. It’s a mess…and one that threatens to grow even messier as Akari navigates between what she wants and what’s expected of her…
Save on Sports Manga like Knight of the Ice, Grand Blue Dreaming, Fairy Girls & More!
The Kodansha Manga Matsuri summer celebration continues with our spotlight on sports and game-themed digital manga where fans can save up to 50% off such fan favorite series as the competitive ice-skating rom-com, Knight of the Ice; the social media game-of-death series, Real Account; the bro-tastic seaside serious comedy, Grand Blue Dreaming, and many more!
Take advantage of the amazing Manga Matsuri: Sports Fest digital sale giving you titles that celebrate the sporty summery season with volumes of select series up to 50% off! To see where you can save, visit one of our participating digital vendors: Bookwalker, Kindle, Google Play, Kobo, Nook, izneo and MyAnimeList!
Sale ends Monday, July 25th!
Curious about this sale but want to see more? Read the first chapter of Knight of the Ice, FREE or click on any of the titles shown below to read a first chapter preview!
Kodansha & Comic-Con International Return in Person! Visit us at Booth #5542
This weekend marks the triumphant in-person return of Comic-Con International San Diego and with it comes the Kodansha USA celebration of the poignant trans coming-of-age manga series, Boys Run the Riot from Keito Gaku. We are showing up to the internationally renown pop culture festival in grand fashion with a Boys Run the Riot pop-up art gallery at booth #5542, special Con Exclusive giveaways, new licensing panel presentation, and even some special items for fans at home! Take a look below to see all the amazing happenings Kodansha has in store for Comic-Con International and follow along with all our activities on social media via hashtag #Kodansha_SDCC22.
Comic-Con International San Diego happens from July 20th through July 24th and will be held at the San Diego Convention Center.
Boys Run the Riot Pop-up Gallery& T-Shirt Giveaway
This Comic-Con International, we are celebrating the groundbreaking, fashion forward manga, Boys Run the Riot at the Kodansha USA booth #5542 by displaying manuscript pages from the original series!
And for 100 special fans we’ll also be giving away special, Con Exclusive, Boys Run the Riot t-shirts, inspired directly from the design found in the manga series! Quantities will be limited each day, so show up early to get yours!
Here’s instructions on how to get your Con Exclusive Boys Run the Riot t-shirts at Comic-Con International 2022:
Step 1. Take a picture or video at Kodansha’s Boys Run the Riot booth #5542 Step 2. Post your picture or video with a hashtag #BoysRunTheRiot on your social media. Step 3. Show the social media post to the Kodansha staff Step 4. Get your Boys Run the Riot T-shirt!
Won’t be at Comic-Con but still want to get your hands on a Boys Run the Riot shirt?
Don’t worry! We’ve set aside 10 Con-Exclusive T-shirts, so the folks online can have the opportunity to get this one-of-a-kind giveaway too. To participate in the Boys Run the Riot T-shirt Online Giveaway, follow the instructions on this form.
Join us for the Kodansha Universe Panel at Comic-Con International
Saturday, 7/23/22, 11:00AM – 12:00PM, Room: 9
The Kodansha Universe: New & Upcoming Manga
Get an exclusive sneak peek at the upcoming debuts from Kodansha, publisher of such manga classics as Attack on Titan, AKIRA, and Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. Manga experts Misaki Kido (Kodansha USA), Ivan Salazar (Kodansha USA), and Ben Applegate (Penguin Random House), reveal the latest and greatest manga, along with extended previews and recommendations for what to read next. Stick around for giveaways at the end of the panel!
Boys Run the Riot Digital Wallpaper Giveaways for All
Not going to Comic-Con International San Diego this year? We still want to celebrate Boys Run the Riot with you, by offering fans everywhere special digital wallpapers for mobile devices featuring stunning art by series Keito Gaku. Click the links below to get your wallpaper today!
Download the Boys Run the Riot Vol. 1 Wallpaper Here: Mobile
Download the Boys Run the Riot Vol. 2 Wallpaper Here: Mobile
Download the Boys Run the Riot Vol. 3 Wallpaper Here: Mobile
Download the Boys Run the Riot Vol. 4 Wallpaper Here: Mobile
Learn about Boys Run the Riot
Haven’t experienced the poignant trans manga drama Boys Run the Riot? Read the entire first chapter free below:
About Boys Run the Riot creator, Keito Gaku: Keito Gaku is a manga artist and transgender man living in Tokyo, Japan. At age 22, Gaku was awarded the 77th Tetsuya Chiba Prize for his debut one-shot work, Light, which was later adapted into Boys Run the Riot. Boys Run the Riot is his debut manga series and first work to be published in English.
And check out our special Boys Run the Riot sketch video from the creator Keito Gaku
Stay tuned to this page for more Comic-Con International-related announcements from Kodansha USA!
And to always find out the latest sign up for the Kodansha USA newsletter below!
We’re back for another week of summer celebrations with the Manga Matsuri: Fun in the Sun digital sale discounting a number of action/adventure as well as found family manga to fill your summer days and nights with wonder and excitement!
Right now you can save up to 50% off select volumes from like the action-packed fantasy spin-off (& soon-to-be-anime), FAIRY TAIL: 100 Years Quest; or the all-girl desert island survival saga, Are You Lost?; the binge-worthy baseball drama, Ace of the Diamond; or the stunning supernatural medical manga, Mushishi! All this and more can be on your summer reading list at a deep discount!
Take advantage of the amazing Manga Matsuri: Fun in the Sun digital sale giving you titles that celebrate friends, fun, and time out in the sun with volumes of select series up to 50% off! To see where you can save, visit one of our participating digital vendors: Bookwalker, Kindle, Google Play, Kobo, Nook, izneo and MyAnimeList!
Sale ends Monday, July 18th!
Curious about this sale but want to see more? Read the first chapter of the upcoming anime, FAIRY TAIL: 100 Years Quest, FREE or click on any of the titles shown below to read a first chapter preview!
With the summer in full swing we’re making sure you have plenty to celebrate during the Manga Matsuri month of sales spotlighting hidden gems and fan-favorites for a summer of manga to help you escape the heat and your home without leaving your front door!
Take up to 50% off all volumes of select series during the Manga Matsuri: Friendly Hangouts featuring series like the story of our favorite saintly duo in their hilarious life on Earth, Saint Young Men; the light-hearted and lackadaisical take on human body maintenance, Cells NOT at Work!; the fan-favorite identical sibling rom-com, The Quintessential Quintuplets; the wholesome anime-inspiring high school romance; Shikimori’s Not Just a Cutie; and more!
Take advantage of the amazing Manga Matsuri: Friendly Hangouts digital sale giving you a number of light-hearted friend forward hangout manga with volumes of select series up to 50% off! To see where you can save, visit one of our participating digital vendors: Bookwalker, Kindle, Google Play, Kobo, Nook, izneo and MyAnimeList!
Sale ends Monday, July 11th!
Curious about this sale but want to see more? Read the first chapter of spiritually silly best friend manga, Saint Young Men, FREE or click on any of the titles shown below to read a first chapter preview!
Kodansha USA Publishing announced today at Anime Expo their latest in new print licenses for manga and light novels arriving Spring 2023, as well as debuting digital series launching every week in July 2022!
Spring 2023 sees the release of all-new-in-English manga series like the yakuza/idol rom-com, The Yakuza’s Bias; more exciting light novels like the isekai comedy, 80, 000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement; as well as digital-first series coming to to print, including A Condition Called Love, The Great Cleric, Twilight Out of Focus, and more.
In the realm of digital debuts, July 2022 sees the launch of Desert Eagle, a thrilling revenge saga from Ken Wakui, the creator of Tokyo Revengers; as well as a poignant story about struggling with dyslexia, My Wonderful World; a creepy and heartwarming monster detective series, Hella Chill Monsters; and more.
Print titles announced will be available Spring 2023 at local and online book vendors like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, and more! And all July 2022 digital debuts will be available upon release across all our participating digital vendors, including Bookwalker, Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Nook, Kobo, izneo, MyAnimeList and more!
See the full list of all-new licenses announced for print and digital below or on kodansha.localhost/.
SPRING 2023 PRINT LICENSES:
The Yakuza’s Bias By Teki Yatsuda
A yakuza enforcer becomes the gang world’s biggest K-pop stan in this cult comedy manga that went from webcomic to sleeper hit in Japan! Perfect for fans of Way of the Househusband, Phantom of the Idol, or Spy x Family.
Rated: 16+
Lovely Muco! By Takayuki Mizushina
Lovely Muco is a story that depicts the lovely everyday life of Komatsu-san, a glassmith, and his pet dog Muco. Muco’s wish is that Komatsu-san could become a Shiba breed dog!
Rated: 8+
Seraph of the End: Guren Ichinose: Catastrophe at Sixteen By Yo Asami & Takaya Kagami
A short while before the apocalypse, 15-year-old Guren Ichinose enrolls at Daiichi Shibuya High, a magical training school.
Witness his trials as he must hide his true strength even as he is trampled on at a school for the insufferably privileged. Previously released light novels, now in manga format.
Rated: 13+
Saving 80, 000 Gold in Another World for My Retirement (Light Novel) By FUNA
One day, Mitsuha falls off a cliff and is transported to a medieval Europe–type world! After a near-death encounter with a pack of wolves, she then realizes that she’s able to transport between two worlds—this one and her own. Taking advantage of this ability, Mitsuha decides to live in both worlds and calculates that she’ll need 80, 000 gold coins to be able to retire! Mitsuha now has to come up with different ways to collect her gold coins!
Rated: 13+
Prophecy Omnibus Edition By Tetsuya Tsutsui
A newspaper-masked vigilante who broadcasts his acts of vengeance before committing them. A newly-formed police division tackling the new frontier of internet-based crime. As the Sun rises on the Era of Information, can a group of people who found themselves at the bottom of the food chain rattle society through the web and avenge a fallen friend?
Rated: 16+
I (♂) Crossed-Dressed for the IRL (♀) Meetup By Kurano
“Cocoa” has made three best friends in her online game, and she’s excited to meet them in real life at a dessert café for the first time. The only problem: She’s actually a man who’s been lying to them. What begins as a tense manga about online life quickly turns into a lighthearted comedy about friendship, gender, and forgiving yourself and others.
Rated: 16+
Tsugumi Project By ippatu
In the far future, a soldier named Leon is taken from his family on a trumped-up charge and dropped into a suicide mission: Recover a dangerous weapon from a deadly place — a place ruled by huge, irradiated, mutated monsters —a place once known, 200 years ago, as Japan. He and his teammates aren’t expected to survive this place. One of the scant pieces of information they have is the weapon’s name: Tsugumi.
Rated: 16+
The Surgery Room (Novel) By Kyoka Izumi Ilustrated By Honojiro Towoji
“But you couldn’t have known!” A mysterious encounter in the surgery room leads back down the paths of memory, after a young woman refuses anesthetics to protect her secret… Kyoka Izumi’s 1895 classic is a mysterious, wrenching tale of doomed love.
Rated: 16+
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun By Osamu Nishi
Iruma Suzuki has always been eager to please, even at the cost of his well-being. Worst yet, he’s the son of two selfish parents who end up selling him to a demon. Thanks to their totally irresponsible actions, Iruma has found himself living in the Netherworld, where he must live and attend school as the grandson of an older demon. Luckily, his new, doting grandfather is there to help, but Iruma will have to figure out how to blend in with his demonic classmates or risk getting eaten. All he needs to do is subjugate rival classmates, summon familiars, and do other typical demon things while never revealing that he’s human… Piece of cake, right?
Rated: 13+
Medaka Kuroiwa Is Impervious to My Charms By Ran Kuze
Mona is the cutest girl in school, and she knows it. In fact, she’s worked hard to make her high school debut successful. But no matter what she does, she can’t seem to catch the eye of stone-cold stoic Medaka Kuroiwa — still, she’s not about to give up that easy. Medaka, on the other hand, has been raised at a temple and was told to never become close to women. Who will win in this heated battle of wills? Coming to PRINT!
Rated: 13+
Twilight Out of Focus By Jyanome
Second-years Mao Tsuchiya and Hisashi Otomo make three promises: 1) That Mao will never tell anyone that Hisashi is gay and has a boyfriend, 2) That Hisashi will never think of Mao “in that way,” and 3) That they’ll always knock before entering, in case someone is having some “private time.” The two’s ground rules should ensure a peaceful life together in their dorm, but life is never as simple as it should be, and some things are not so easily promised…Coming to PRINT!
Rated: 18+
A Condition Called Love By Megumi Morino
Hotaru doesn’t need a boyfriend. But an act of kindness to a classmate going through a breakup opens a door she never thought to step through, in and everything begins to change… A sweet new shojo romance manga from the creator of Wake Up, Sleeping Beauty!
Rated: 13+
The Great Cleric Original story by Broccoli Lion Art by Hiiro Akikaze Character design by sime
One man’s story of turning blood, sweat, and tears into a successful living—literally! After his untimely death as the hardest-working salary man in Japan, Luciel is reincarnated into the magical fantasy world Galdardia. Always the man with a plan, he recreates himself as a healer and sets about making his way in the world. But while Luciel knows a thing or two about making money, he knows absolutely nothing about Galdardia. Will his good heart and great work ethic be enough to make him…The Great Cleric?
Rated: 13+
Am I Actually the Strongest? Original story by Sai Sumimori Art by Ai Takahashi
This fast and funny action isekai manga about a newborn whose power is literally unfathomable is perfect for fans of My Unique Skill Makes Me OP Even at Level 1, The Abandoned Reincarnation Sage, and The Strongest Sage with the Weakest Crest. Already a digital hit, the fan favorite comes to print!
Rated: 16+
Quality Assurance in Another World By Masamichi Sato
You think you’re living a quiet life in the countryside. Then, one day, a dragon threatens your home, and everything changes — not because of the fire-breathing serpent, but because of Haga, the man who shows up and “debugs” the situation. Can it be that your life is nothing like what you thought? And what, exactly, is “QA?”
Rated: 13+
JULY 2022 DIGITAL DEBUTS
Desert Eagle By Ken Wakui
Release Date: July 5, 2022
Ichigo Washio is a young man with a bright future—a bright future, that is, within the gangs of Shinjuku. When he meets Ringo Takamizawa, a fellow student hell-bent on revenge on those who took everything from his mother, the gregarious Ichigo doesn’t think twice about helping Ringo—even when it means it’ll pit Ichigo against men he’s looked up to his whole life. But Ichigo knows he’s in the right, and with his new friends and a healthy dose of stupidity to guide him, he’s ready to return justice to Shinjuku’s streets! From the author of Tokyo Revengers!
Shinobu Asakura has never been able to read or write—and not for lack of trying. It’s made getting and holding down jobs difficult, and he’s constantly berated by people who think he’s simply slacking off when he’s just trying to keep up. But a chance meeting with a café worker who introduces a new word to Shinobu’s vocabulary—dyslexia—may just change the course of Shinobu’s life forever.
Kiichiro Hayase has a reputation as the wealthiest, hottest, most eligible bachelor in town. But as they say…behind every successful man is the maid who keeps him from tripping over his own two feet! Enter Miss Kishi, the most competent, professional maid around—and the only thing keeping from Kiichiro quite literally crashing and burning. He owes it all to her, but can he ever make it up to her? He’s sworn to try…no matter how many things must get broken, scattered, or lost to do so!
Not everyone wishes for a peaceful afterlife… least of all Bonzo Scalobania, whose dearest wish is to find a case for a skeleton detective like him to solve! Along with his unreliable assistant, Vampy Vinegret, and zombie frenemy/bounty hunter Nero Lichman, Bonzo swears to solve the problems of Limbo City! But does it still count if the problems he’s solving are ones of his and his friends’ own making?? A wacky, weird, heartwarming tale for the undead in us all.
Our protagonist awakes in a house he doesn’t know—in fact, not only does he not know where he is, he doesn’t know who he is. What he does know is that this unfamiliar house is empty, save for the body (and head) of a decapitated woman—a stranger, he thinks. He’s rescued by a woman, Shio, who calls him “Iori”…but is that who he really is? And when she helps him hide the body without batting an eye, telling him to trust her…can he? Should he?
Hear from Series Creator Fujita on all things Wotakoi!
We’re continuing the celebration of Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku, kicked off at Anime Expo 2022, by giving fans a glimpse into the creative mind of series creator, Fujita, as they recount the ideas and experienced that inspired them to create the geeky fan-favorite rom-com, Wotakoi. Read below for part one of a two-part interview and also be sure to check out a very special sketch video at the end!
Big thanks to our interview translator, Sawa Matsueda Savage. And English-language series editor, Vanessa Tenazas for their help on this interview.
(Please note that since we transcribed an audio recording of an interview with Fujita-sensei, some comments come from Wotakoi’s Editor, Suzuki are mixed into the answers.)
On the Beginning: Tell us how Wotakoi started.
Fujita: I started by posting one page at a time on Pixiv for fun, and people said they liked it in the comments. That made me so happy that I kept at it until Ichijinsha contacted me one day and it became a series. Back then, looking for undiscovered amateur content on Pixiv that you personally enjoyed was just starting to become a trend. The free platform provided easy access to that kind of content, and it was kind of like uncovering a lucky find or buried treasure. Nowadays, there are professional artists on Pixiv and people know they can find good content there, so I think the expectations are much higher than before. I think it really helped that I was posting back when people were just starting to realize that there was some surprisingly fun manga to be found there.
On the Concept: What gave you the idea of Wotakoi?
Fujita: It came from a conversation I was having with a friend while working on art stuff. We started discussing “what if” scenarios about a guy and a girl we thought would be cute together, and what kind of things they might talk about. That idea grew and I thought it was neat, but I couldn’t explain it that well in words. So I put pen to paper because I wanted to give shape to the idea, and the resulting rough sketches was how it started. Even in today’s day and age where it’s much easier being an otaku in life, I still think there are a lot of people who are like Narumi and hide that part of themselves. Even though times have changed and it may not seem necessary to hide it, that’s a separate issue, and one of the things I wanted to do was to acknowledge that feeling of reluctance. So I think the final volume provided a sense of closure in that regard by focusing on that issue.
On Characters: Are they based on real life people?
Fujita: There are no real-life people I can point to and say,“This is who that character is based on.” But I imagined there were people out there similar to these characters. Rather, I think I was totally convinced there must be as I drew them. Take Kabakura, for instance. I drew him thinking that was exactly what a guy would be like if he had a big ego and an image to uphold but actually loved anime and couldn’t resist his cravings. I did find it hard to believe when a reader told me they knew a person who was just like Naoya. Even with Hirotaka, whose personality is meant to be a boiled down, extreme version of a bunch of otaku traits, I occasionally hear about reported sightings of guys just like him, so I think it’s definitely possible that he exists. When people tell me they’ve seen people like the characters, I’m relieved to know they aren’t completely a figment of my imagination. I get the sense that readers enjoyed seeing familiar bits of themselves and people they knew in the characters.
On Comedy: Who’s your comedic influence?
Fujita: I’ve liked comedic stuff from when I was little and liked making people laugh, so I did kind of incorporate some classic comedy tropes and formulas. Also, this was not a direct inspiration for Wotakoi, but the type of comedy I enjoy is work like Gag Manga Biyori (A Good Day for Comedy Manga). I like that absurd style, but I couldn’t create that kind of humor with my drawings, so I aimed for the kind of vibe you find in Gintama. Rumiko Takahashi’s Ranma 1/2 and Maison Ikkoku are also examples of my idea of the ideal energy I wanted to create. I took care when developing the feel of the characters so that readers would find them endearing and want to see more of their everyday lives. I also tried to keep things light and not too serious.
On Manga: How did you get into drawing manga?
Fujita: In terms of just casual drawing, I started when I was in elementary school. I would draw four-panel manga with no dialogue in my notebook and show them to my friends. When I grew up, I still had this vague notion that I wanted to be a manga artist and went to a vocational school. Stuff happened, and I had a period of difficulty where I lost sight of what made manga enjoyable, so I decided to take a break and just draw manga for my own enjoyment. That’s when I turned to Pixiv and the result is Wotakoi. So I guess it started as a hobby I played around with that turned into a career. I feel like by the time I realized, it was the only path for me.
On Manga: What kind of tools do you use?
Fujita: I work with analog tools up to the inking stage. Before the inking stage, drawing with the analog tools I’m used to makes the page look more convincing, plus it’s faster. But for the background art, I definitely prefer working digitally given how challenging it is to have to put a ruler to paper and draw each individual line, making sure none of them go out of the panels. I hope to hit a sweet spot of balancing digital and analog processes, and I’m still figuring that out.
Working in analog, the lines I draw will be printed just as they are, so I have an idea of what the finished product will look like. But working digitally means being able to zoom in indefinitely and draw infinitely thin lines. I hate that when I work on fine details until I’m satisfied, there’s too much detail in the final print and the page looks cluttered. I personally don’t enjoy reading pages with too much detail, and I want to produce the look of the manga I grew up with. I like lines that are relatively thick and easy to see, and a drawing style that depicts depth of field with just the use of lines. When I draw digitally, I don’t get a sense of the finished product, and trying to get it closer to where I want ends up being a time-consuming process.
On Anime: What was it like to see your manga become an anime?
Fujita: Everyone involved worked so hard to create it, and it made me so happy to see how passionate everyone was.
Suzuki (Editor): I feel like a lot of people discovered Wotakoi through the anime, including overseas fans. I think the anime played a big part in how it reached such a global audience.
Fujita: I love watching overseas reaction video series, and in a scene where Hirotaka sees Narumi crying over anime and says,“What’s the point of crying over anime at this age?” there are these two overseas otaku guys who tell him off and say something like,“Hey! You just turned everyone against you!” But then Hirotaka cries as well right afterwards and the guys are like “Yeah, that’s right!” It was good to see that they approved of how that played out. People from overseas have much more candid reactions and it’s cute.
Suzuki: Even after the TV series was over, we released several OVAs, and they sold in a way that’s unimaginable with most usual OVAs. I really felt that it’s indicative of just how many people loved the anime.
Fujita: Those involved put so much work into it, as well. The anime was a good learning opportunity for me.
On Anime: Would there be a new season of anime?
Suzuki: I do want to see them do the events surrounding Kabakura and Hanako’s wedding and the book-only episodes from [Japanese] volumes nine to eleven.
Fujita: I want that as much as anybody, so there’s no point asking me about it. [laughs]
Suzuki: It would certainly make a lot of people happy if they animated the full series.
On Theatre: Is it true that Wotakoi is becoming a theatrical play?
Fujita: Yes. The stage adaptation has a distinctive theatrical vibe of being a live show, and I think people will be glad they watched it. I think the choice of doing Wotakoi in live action is kind of a gamble. It can make some people die from embarrassment by feeling “seen.” I’m one of those people, actually.
It’s bad enough in manga form, but producing it with actual people honestly makes me worry that some viewers might explode from embarrassment.
Suzuki: To tell you the truth, the person who came with the play proposal had an abnormal amount of passion. Be it the anime or the live action film or the play, I felt that the people involved had completely different personalities depending on the genre. I have no idea what the stage adaptation will be like until we see it, so it’s something to look forward to.
Fujita: It is! It’s completely unknown territory, so I can’t wait to see how it’s developing!
This concludes part one of Kodanansh’s exclusive interview with Wotakoi series creator Fujita detailing their thoughts and feelings around the manga, adaptation, it’s finale and more. Stay tuned for the upcoming conclusion to be released soon!
Can’t get enough of Wotakoi? Check out our exclusive Fujita sketch video as they draw the exclusive Anime Expo 2022 Wotakoi Art
