October 2023 New Digital Licensing Announcement

Learn about all the new digital manga series debuting soon!

This October, Kodansha debuts a trio of cozy, complicated, and killer digital manga series. This includes the meditation on leaving it all behind for the country life, That Time the Manga Editor Started a New Life in the Countryside; the budding romance story with a deadly twist, Searching for My Perfect Brother; and the action/comedy about Earth’s only alien (and secret government assassin), Rocopon.

October’s digital debuts will be available upon release across all our participating digital vendors, including BookwalkerAmazon KindleApple BooksGoogle PlayNookKoboMyAnimeList, and more. Fans can also purchase and read all our digital manga on the new kodansha.localhost/.

Take a look below for full details and links to chapter 1 previews of the October Kodansha digital manga debuts coming soon.

 


OCTOBER 2023 NEW DIGITAL LICENSES:

 

That Time the Manga Editor Started a New Life in the Countryside
By Kumagae & Hishiwo Miyazawa

Release Date: October 3, 2023

Sick of his job and the city, Yohei “Kuma” Sakuma has a grand plan—to start anew in the countryside and live off the land. Thing is, he hasn’t told his wife yet, nor does he know the first thing about growing rice. Between crooked houses, swarms of bugs, and grueling work under the sun, the city slicker Kuma and his wife Miyu get a crash course in country life. But at the end of the day, with beer in hand as they take in the sights, they begin to understand that country life can be real hard, but real good.

Rated: 13+

Read Chapter 1 Now


 

Searching for My Perfect Brother
By Satoshi Morie

Release Date: October 17, 2023

There’s nothing in the world Rize likes more than to curl up in her warm bed and doze away—just like she used to with her big brother when they were kids, before they were separated by their parents’ divorce. Working late shifts at a supermarket while attending university, she dreams of someday finding and reconnecting with her lost—and now grown-up—big brother. Her penchant for being able to nap in the break room draws the attention of Kairi, a co-worker who struggles with insomnia. Something about him reminds her of her big brother, and she finds herself growing closer to him…but when she discovers his secret, her whole world will be turned helter-skelter.

Rated: 16+

Read Chapter 1 Now


 

Rocopon
By Nadainishi & Chicchi Yukinaga

Release Date: October 31, 2023

As far as the public is concerned, Rocopon—earth’s only alien—hasn’t done much but loaf around in the 8 years since he crash-landed in Tokyo with no memory of his past. Granted, that is what he likes to do, and he does spend a lot of time playing video games. But as an alien to whom earth laws technically do not apply, he’s been hard at work in a top-secret capacity: government-sanctioned extrajudicial assassin, cleaning up the worst of society that the law is either too slow or too powerless to confront. After years of dispatching hapless crime lords and their goons, things have gotten comfortable. But Rocopon is about to meet his match in more ways than one—fed up with his sloppy ways, headquarters has assigned him a straight-laced partner, and the criminal underground has enlisted the help of those who are a little more than human…

Rated: 16+

Read Chapter 1 Now

Kodansha Presents Makoto Yukimura & Keito Gaku at Upcoming Events This Fall 2023

Kodansha Presents Makoto Yukimura & Keito Gaku at Upcoming Events This Fall 2023 

This fall, Kodansha brings you rare opportunities to meet the creators of your favorite manga series—perhaps at an upcoming event near you!! 

Even better, some of these events are completely free! So you won’t have to break the bank just to be there. 

You can check the details of those upcoming events below: 

 

Makoto Yukimura at Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) 2023

Makoto Yukimura (creator of Vinland Saga) was invited to make his first Canadian appearance at the annual Toronto International Festival of Authors—Canada’s largest literary festival in Toronto, Ontario. 

This is a great honor and a sign of recognition for Vinland Saga, Yukimura’s artistic work detailing the history of those who traveled across the sea from Europe to find a land of peace and landed on the east coast of Canada.

Yukimura will be making a guest appearance for talk events and signings at both TIFA and The Japan Foundation, Toronto. And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out the Vinland Saga Manga Gallery.

  • The Pursuit of Purpose: Charting Vinland with YUKIMURA Makoto @ The Japan Foundation, Toronto 
    Free Event / Registration Required 
    When: September 22, 2023 at 6:00pm ET
    Where:  Japan Foundation Toronto  [Google Maps]
    2 Bloor St E #300, Toronto, ON
    Details: JFT website
  • Makoto Yukimura Book Signing @ TIFA 
    When: September 23, 2023 at 3pm ET 
    Where: Main Loft
    Details:  TIFA website
  • Visions of Vinland With Makoto Yukimura @ TIFA
    When: September 23, 2023 at 1:30pm ET
    Where: Harbourfront Center Theatre [Google Maps]
    235 Queens Quay W, Toronto, ON
    Details:  TIFA website 

Makoto Yukimura is one of Japan’s most respected manga artists. His works include the Viking epic Vinland Saga (published in English by Kodansha), which won the Japan Media Arts Grand Prize and was adapted into an anime streaming worldwide on Netflix, as well as the hard science fiction series Planetes (published in English by Dark Horse).

 

 

Keito Gaku at Cartoon Crossroads Columbus (CXC) 2023

Keito Gaku (creator of Boys Run the Riot) has been invited to make his first appearance in the US at Cartoon Crossroads Columbus in Columbus, OH.

His debut series, Boys Run the Riot, serves as an example of how creators of all genders and LGBTQIA+ identities can tell their authentic narratives through manga.

At the event, Keito Gaku will share his experience working on this groundbreaking manga series.

  • Keynote: Keito Gaku Interviewed by Justin Hall
    Free Event / Registration Required 
    When: September 30, 2023 at 8pm ET
    Where: Canzani Center Auditorium – Columbus College of Art & Design [Google Maps]
    60 Cleveland Ave, Columbus, OH
    Details: CXC Website 
  • Keito Gaku Book Signing
    When: October 1, 2023, from 1:30pm–3pm ET
    Where: The Columbus Metropolitan Library – Main Branch [Google Maps]
    96 S Grant Ave, Columbus, OH
    Details: CXC Website 

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 to mark this very special occasion, for 4 days during the event, you can read Boys Run the Riot volumes 1 & 2 for free and get the additional volumes (volumes 3 & 4) for up to 50% off on the Kodansha Reader Portal (kodansha.localhost/). This promotion will run from 9/28-10/1 (Thur-Sun) and ends on 10/2 (Mon), so make sure you don’t miss out.

 

Come join us at these once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to be up close and personal with the creative minds behind hit Kodansha manga series and fan favorites! We’ll see you there!