Kodansha News & Updates for Direct Market Retailers
NEW UPDATES FOR COMICSPRO 2025:
Hello comic shop and direct market retailer friends! The ComicsPRO retailer event is here and if you've had a chance to watch our presentation or if you've had to chance to speak with us during the round tables you know that we are very excited for manga in 2025 and beyond.
To help share that excitement with those we met at ComicsPRO and also any retailer who's received this link from a trusted partner or sales rep, we are recaping some of our key takeaways from this year's ComicsPRO for your convenience.
For your convenience, you can find an Edelweiss catalog list of most of the featured manga on this page and mentioned at ComicsPRO below:
Be sure to bookmark this link as we'll be updating information periodically with updated anime schedules, title lists, recommendations discount announcements, and more! You can also sign up to the Kodansha email newsletter here.
DISCOUNTS FOR RETAILERS ORDERING THROUGH
PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE:
For a limited time Kodansha and Penguin Random House are offering retailers a special discount of 10% off select print Kodansha manga. The discount list below captures a mix of perenial favorites & best sellers, series with upcoming anime adaptations, and more.
Place your order on PRHComics.com with RHP043 as "Promo Code" and EDZ as "Reason Code" until March 7, 2025 to take advantage of this limited-time discount! This promotion is available for Canada and International DM accounts as well.
| ISBN | Title - Long (no articles) |
| 9781935429005 | Akira 1 |
| 9781646516544 | Blue Lock 1 |
| 9781646516551 | Blue Lock 2 |
| 9781942993162 | Complete Chi's Sweet Home 1 |
| 9781646515479 | Fire Force Omnibus 1 (Vol. 1-3) |
| 9798888771389 | Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity 1 |
| 9798888770207 | Gachiakuta 1 |
| 9798888770948 | Gachiakuta 2 |
| 9781646516315 | Ghost in the Shell: Fully Compiled (Complete Hardcover Collection) |
| 9781646515097 | Go! Go! Loser Ranger! 1 |
| 9798888770986 | Initial D Omnibus 1 (Vol. 1-2) |
| 9781647293901 | MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM THE ORIGIN MSD Cucuruz Doan's Island 1 |
| 9781646516391 | Parasyte Full Color Collection 1 |
| 9781646512010 | Sailor Moon 1 (Naoko Takeuchi Collection) |
| 9781646512140 | Sailor Moon 2 (Naoko Takeuchi Collection) |
| 9798888771938 | Sign of Affection Omnibus 1 (Vol. 1-3) |
| 9781647294045 | Suzume 1 |
| 9781612624204 | Vinland Saga 1 |
| 9781632367709 | Witch Hat Atelier 1 |
| 9781632368041 | Witch Hat Atelier 2 |
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL ITEMS FOR RETAILERS:
First announced at ComicsPRO! Kodansha is producing a seires of special promotional items including posters, bookmarks, samplers and more, to share the excitement of two hotly anticpated anime set to premiere in 2025, Witch Hat Atelier and Gachiakuta.
Witch Hat Atelier Welcome Kit: This kit comes with a stylized folder containing a manga sampler and activity book, poster, and character book marks. Retailers can get this marketing kit with purchase of 5 (or more) volumes of Witch Hat Atelier volumes 1 and/or 2 by March 7, 2025.
Gachiakuta 20x25" Series Poster*: In celebration of the anime premiering later this year, Kodansha is offering a special poster features stunning series art by the original creator Kei Urana. Retailers can get this poster with purchase of 3 (or more) volumes of Gachiakuta volumes 1 and/or 2 by March 7, 2025.
WINTER & SPRING '25 SEASON ANIME FOR KODANSHA MANGA:
In 2025 we at Kodansh continue to see the "Anime effect" of streaming anime as a huge driver of interest in manga not only at the publisher level but in mass market stores, independent book stores and even comic shops across the U.S. and around the world. So to help identify which of our titles will see an upcoming anime we have updated the list anime premires for the current Winter and upcoming Spring 2025 anime seasons.
Winter 2025 Anime Inspired by Kodansha Manga (Currently Airing)
- Anyway, I'm Falling in Love with You.
- The Blue Wolves of Mibu (Blue Miburo)
- Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms
- Medalist
- Shangri-La Frontier
- Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister
Spring 2025 Anime Inspired by Kodansha Manga (Starts airing in April)
NEWLY ANNOUNCED PRINT MANGA FOR FALL 2025:
At ComicsPRO we highlighted a number of newly announced premium editions, box sets, and new licenses that we consider New Classics for 2025, including a hardcover edition of the evergreen post-acpocalyptic epic AKIRA, a stunning second Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Box set—completing the series and giving fans exclusive extras, the return of the fan-favorite supernatural fantasy series Mushishi and much more!
And though we've spotlighted some select series below, retailers can visit our Fall 2025 New Manga Licenses announcement for even more details on Kodansha's upcoming debuts.
AKIRA Hardcover Collection
By Katsuhiro Otomo
Debut Date: Fall 2025
ISBN: 9781646511341 (Order Link)
The AKIRA Hardcover Collection features the updated translation and lettering of the 35th Anniversary Edition box set, now collectible one book at a time.
- A DYNAMIC CLASSIC: Like a perpetual motion machine captured on paper, AKIRA has lost none of its raw, kinetic energy since its debut.
- FREED FROM THE BOX: This new, six-book edition is identical to that which appears in the six-volume 35th Anniversary Box Set, featuring updated translation and lettering.
- RIGHT-TO-LEFT FORMAT: This is the first time librarians, booksellers, and readers who didn't want the box set will be able to access AKIRA in English in the original Japanese, right-to-left format.
Rated: 16+
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Sailor Moon Naoko Takeuchi Collection Manga Box Set 2
By Naoko Takeuchi
Debut Date: Fall 2025
ISBN: 9798888773406
The Sailor Guardians awaken in this box set of the everlasting masterpiece, featuring 6 volumes of manga, 16 art cards, exclusive stickers, and a premium holographic box!
- PERFECT GIFT FOR NEW AND OLD FANS: Premium box contains volumes 7-10 of the Sailor Moon manga and both volumes of the Codename Sailor V manga.
- COLLECTIBLE BONUS ITEM: The art cards and stickers included in the box set feature artwork not available in this format elsewhere!
- GORGEOUS HOLOGRAPHIC BOX: Metallic gold box sealed by a premium magnetic enclosure.
Rated: 16+
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Dragon Head
By Minetaro Mochizuki
Debut Date: Fall 2025
ISBN: 9781647294946
The end of everyone was just the beginning…
Minetaro Mochizuki’s award-winning 90s head-trip disaster manga is returning to print with a brand-new translation, and will be available in four 2.5-in-1 omnibuses.
- This gripping story of mysterious catastrophe and what it means to be alive and human amidst apocalyptic ruin won the 21st Kodansha Manga Award for the general category in 1997.
- One of the cornerstone manga series of the 90's, along with Initial D, that has always performed well in digital formats.
- This masterpiece from the same author as Hauntress will get updated translation and lettering.
- Packaged as an omnibus edition from the original editions with 2.5 volumes in one; 4 volumes total.
Rated: 16+
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Mushishi Collector's Edition
By Yuki Urushibara
Debut Date: Fall 2025
ISBN: 9798888776346
Before life as we know it, there existed entities that don't obey the laws of our reality—primordial beings known as mushi. In Japan, a man named Ginko wanders the land, investigating incursions by mushi into the human world—and by us into theirs. He is a mushi master…a mushishi.
- POETIC FANTASY WITH A TOUCH OF HORROR: Delicate linework, awe-inspiring and spine-tingling creature designs, and startlingly emotional episodic storytelling
- PRESTIGE PROPERTY: Three anime from 2006-2014 and a live-action film directed by AKIRA creator Katsuhiro Otomo
- A FANTASY CLASSIC FINALLY RETURNS: Mushishi is one of the most-demanded licenses by fans.
- BOOKS WORTHY OF A MASTER: Five hardcover, 2-in-1 omnibus books will feature a large size (comparable to the Parasyte Full Color Collection); new, from-scratch translation and lettering; beautiful color pages; and cover illustrations new to English.
Rated: 16+
COMICSPRO HIGHLIGHTS OF UPCOMING SERIES:
Senpai Is an Otokonoko: My Crossdressing Classmate
By Pom
Debut Date: Spring 2025
ISBN: 9798888773611 (Order Link)
A cheerful high school girl, Saki, confesses her love to a pretty upperclassman only to find out her senpai's actually a cross-dressing boy. But Saki has competition for the heart of her daring classmate in the form of Hanaoka's devoted best friend...
- KODANSHA’S FIRST WEBTOON!: A major hit in digital, with an anime streaming now on Crunchyroll, this series is among Kodansha’s most anticipated.
- HEARTWARMING STORY OF GENDER NONCONFORMITY: This cast of loveable dorks will have readers rooting for the happiness of each and every one of them.
- Full-color paperback
Rated: 13+
Sheeta’s Little Big World
By Yuki Kamba
Debut Date: Fall 2025
ISBN: 9798888775479 (Order Link)
The very little Sheeta lives in a town inside a hollowed-out log. His neighbors are friendly, supportive, and above all, careful. But soon, Sheeta's longing to explore is going to bring him face to face with dangers he never imagined…
Taking inspiration from The Borrowers and children's classics like Treasure Island, Sheeta's Little Big World is a beautifully-illustrated, exciting manga that will enthrall any age.
- THREE-VOLUME KIDS-TO-ADULTS MANGA: At just three volumes, and rated Kids to Adults (8+), this is the ideal manga for young readers to read alone or for parents to read with kids. A great follow-up to Beyond the Clouds and Magus of the Library.
- STUDIO GHIBLI–STYLE ART AND STORY: Those who enjoyed the films of Studio Ghibli, especially Castle in the Sky and The Secret World of Arietty, and readers who loved Hayao Miyazaki's children's book Shuna's Journey will adore Sheeta.
Rated: 8+
Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun: IruMafia Edition
By Hiroja
Original Series by Osamu Nishi
Debut Date: Fall 2025
ISBN: 9781647294670 (Order Link)
Welcome back to Hell—but this time with gangsters!
In this brand-new spinoff of the runaway hit series, Iruma is a dirt-poor but unfailingly cheerful young boy who grows up in a ruthless city slum. One day, Iruma gives an injured old man his last loaf of bread and nurses the stranger back to health—only to find out that the elder gent is none other than Don Sullivan, head of the Babyl Mafia! Soon after, Don Sullivan comes back, whisks Iruma away, and begs the boy to become his grandson. And just like that, Iruma begins his new life as the next in line to lead a gigantic gang of—dare we say—demonic mafiosos!
Rated: 13+
Issak
Story by Shinji Makari, Art by DOUBLE-S
Debut Date: Spring 2025
ISBN: 9798888774953 (Order Link)
A Japanese warrior's journeys to Europe in search of vengeance at the height of the Thirty Years' War. Vinland Saga meets Shogun in this American Manga Awards-nominated masterwork.
- EPIC ACTION MANGA DEVOTEES: Fans of mature historical fiction manga with a gritty twist, such as Berserk and Blade of the Immortal.
- DIGITAL FANS: Readers of the digital edition eager to collect a fan-favorite series in 2-in-1 print omnibuses, allowing to complete their print collection of the series as quickly as possible.
“Backed by assiduous research, this is an epic spectacle that is nonetheless easy to follow and full of mass appeal… One perceives an uncommon talent behind the panel composition and character art, and the battle scenes evoke the unmistakable feeling of watching a Hollywood action film.” –Ryoichi Ikegami (Crying Freeman, Spider-Man: The Manga)
Rated: 16+
Last Samurai Standing
By TATSUZ and Shogo Imamura
Debut Date: Summer 2025
ISBN: 9798888775165 (Order Link)
As the 19th century comes to a bloody end, a sinister game of life-or-death brutally culls Japan’s fading warrior class. Who is rounding up the few who still cling to their swords and forcing them to fight?
Who will be the last samurai standing?
- UPCOMING NETFLIX ADAPTATION: Viewers intrigued by the Netflix live-action series, releasing in 2025, can collect the story as it was meant to be experienced.
- SHOGUN MEETS SQUID GAME: No Tom Cruise here!
- ENSEMBLE WITH UNIQUE ABILITIES: Like Blade of the Immortal and Golden Kamuy, this is a bloody historical manga with a strong ensemble cast, each brandishing unique, almost otherworldly weapons and abilities to keep the action exciting.
Rated: 16+
Spacewalking With You
By Inuhiko Doronoda
Debut Date: Spring 2025
ISBN: 9798888774380 (Order Link)
One’s an apathetic loner, one has his head in the stars… And they have no idea how much they need each other. The coming-of-age buddy comedy that became a surprise hit in Japan!
- SLEEPER HIT IN JAPAN: This hilarious and inspiring manga series from debut artist Inuhiko Doronoda was nominated for the 17th Manga Taisho Award and broke 600,000 readers in Japan!
- A HIGH SCHOOL BUDDY COMEDY: Two total opposites become besties--it's a classic formula for high school drama, but updated for the 2020s with modern problems and cute character designs.
- No. 1 Selection in the Kono Manga Ga Sugoi! industry poll!
Rated: 13
Tower Dungeon
By Tsutomu Nihei
Debut Date: Spring 2025
ISBN: 9781647294540 (Order Link)
The Royal Guard is rebuffed in their attempt to rescue her, and to replace the wounded, a young farmhand named Yuva is called up into service. With only a potlid for a shield and a strong back to carry supplies, Yuva joins the soldiers on the perilous quest to climb the tower and rescue the princess. But the Dragon Tower houses untold horrors...!
- Tsutomu Nihei's first fantasy series after his scifi success with Blame!, Knights of Sidonia, etc.
- Stunning artwork, showcasing Nihei's architectural background to full effect
- Dark, gritty isekai
- Strong fan base with BLAME! volume 1 continuing to sell
Rated: 13+
Nezumi's First Love
By Riku Oseto
Debut Date: Fall 2025
ISBN: 9781647294717 (Order Link)
The sweet, brutal yakuza love story you’ve been waiting for!
Nezumi was raised by the mob to be an emotionless killing machine, but a chance encounter in an arcade leads to a romance at total odds with everything she's known. Equal parts ultraviolence and kawaii, Nezumi's First Love turns both the hitman and love comedy genres on their heads!
- Author won the prestigious Tetsuya Chiba Newcomer Prize at the age of 16
- Kono Manga Ga Sugoi! industry poll selection
- Recommended by Katsuhisa Minami, creator of The Fable
Rated: 16+
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The Magnificient Bastard: The Legend of Keiji
Art by Tetsuo Hara, Original Story by Keiichiro Ryu, Adapted by Mio Aso
Debut Date: Fall 2025
ISBN: 9781647295004
Tetsuo Hara’s masterful follow-up to the generation-defining Fist of the North Star—a rollicking samurai epic inspired by a real-life legend.
Japan was once riven by a century of war between hundreds of feudal lords. Standing astride this most chaotic and storied era in Japanese history was a samurai unlike any other—courageous, free-spirited, and peerless on the battlefield, Keiji Maeda had a bombastic style and a penchant for outrageous antics as well as incredible feats of daring. Beloved by his friends, admired by his enemies, and utterly confounding to authority figures, he went out of his way to break every rule but one—his warrior’s code. Adapted from a classic historical novel by the iconic artist of Fist of the North Star, there’s never been a more thrilling way to experience the golden age of the shogun, samurai, and ninja than this larger-than-life legend of the wildest samurai who ever lived!
Rated: 16+
You Can’t Bluff the Sharp-Eyed Sister
Story by Natsu Hyuuga
Art by Yo Asami
Character Designs by Chiho Shinishi
Debut Date: Fall 2025
ISBN: 9798888775844 (Order Link)
A shrewd, young priestess-in-training is set a murder to solve in this new mystery manga from the creator of The Apothecary Diaries!
By day, Chloe lives at a convent. By night, she's such a card shark, a holy knight ends up believing she has a rare, magical gift. What he doesn't know is, she just has sharp eyes and a quick wit--which she'll need when she's uprooted and dropped in the middle of a round of deadly palace intrigue!
Rated: 13+
BL & OMEGAVERSE SPOTLIGHTS:
At the ComicsPRO presentation we mentioned that one of the contiuously growing categories of manga sales and fan base is BL. Frome one-shots to ongoing series Kodansha has been investing in this popular category and so we wanted to highlight some upcoming and newly announced BL & Omegaverse manga.
| ISBN | Title - Long (no articles) |
| 9798888774083 | The Dashing Zaddy and His Icy Protégé 1 |
| 9798888774274 | How to Deal When Your Intimidating Neighbor is Actually an Omega |
| 9798888774281 | A Vampire in the Bathhouse |
| 9798888775202 | You're All Mine Tonight |
| 9798888775035 | Light of My Life |
| 9798888775059 | My Instructor Won't Yield |
| 9798888775721 | Flip Flip Slowly |
| 9781647294823 | In the Key of Love, Reprised |
| 9798888775912 | Omega Megaera |
TRAILERS FOR UPCOMING KODANSHA MANGA-INSPIRED ANIME:
We've mentioned the power of the anime effect to excite fans about the origanal manga series that inspired them. So we wanted to showcase three trailers for upcoming anime series we are sure will inspire customers to enter your shops and ask for these manga: Witch Hat Atelier, Gachiakuta, and The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity.
Direct market retailers looking to get the latest info on Kodansha manga need only to sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date on new releases & upcoming new license announcements.