Browse the Kodansha Gift Guide for winning holiday gift recommendations

Posted on Nov 25, 2025Feb 18, 2026 | Creator Spotlight

Get the perfect gift for the manga fan in your life with the Kodansha Holiday Gift Guide

The holiday shopping time is upon us once again and Kodansha is taking the guesswork out of finding that perfect gift for the manga lovers on your list!

From astounding action adventures, to heart-warming (and heart-wrenching) romance stories, haunting horror tales, sweet and spicy BL, charming yuri, sprawling fantasy epics and more—Kodansha has a perfect manga for any reader on your list.

Keep returning to this blog post as we will update our recommendations daily until November 26, 2025. Get the manga suggestions sure to make you this holiday’s best manga gift giver!

Only looking for particular kinds of manga? Check out our list of contents below to navigate to specific recommendations:

Gift Guide Categories

Gifts for all Blue Lock Fans

Blue Lock
By Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura

What’s the vibe?: Soccer-centric “game of death”
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $12.99
What’s it rated: 16+

After Japan’s crushing World Cup defeat, the Football Union launches Blue Lock—a radical program to create the ultimate Ace Striker. 300 elite youth players enter, but only one will outplay—and out-ego—the rest to lead Japan to victory.

Read a FREE preview of Blue Lock

Blue Lock: Episode Nagi
By Kota Sannomiya, Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura

What’s the vibe?: Best soccer boy spin-off series
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $13.99
What’s it rated: 16+

The prequel to the smash-hit Blue Lock! How does a listless slacker become one of Japan’s top scorers? See how Reo Mikage sparks the ambition of future soccer prodigy Seishiro Nagi in Blue Lock: Episode Nagi!

Read a FREE preview of Blue Lock: Episode Nagi

Blue Lock: Episode Nagi 1 + Exclusive Q Posket Figure
By Kota Sannomiya, Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura

What’s the vibe?: Manga plus a fashionable figure for the ultimate Nagi fans
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $49.99
What’s it rated: 16+

Score big with this bundle, including volume 1 of the manga spinoff Blue Lock: Episode Nagi, plus an exclusive Q Posket figure of the reluctant prodigy Seishiro Nagi himself. The perfect gift for the Blue Lock fanatic in your life–especially if that’s yourself!

Read a FREE preview of Blue Lock: Episode Nagi

Blue Lock Coloring Book
By Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura

What’s the vibe?: Color aura farming moments across Blue Lock
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $14.99
What’s it rated: All-ages

The official Blue Lock coloring book! Celebrate the new season with 60 pages of soccer survival action, perfect for fans of all ages.

Blue Lock Manga Box Set
By Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura

What’s the vibe?: Blue Lock starter kit with special extras
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $77.94
What’s it rated: 16+

The ultimate Blue Lock box set! Includes volumes 1–6 of the hit soccer manga and an exclusive double-sided poster—let the battle for Japan’s top striker begin.

Give the Gift of Kodansha Classics

Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow
By Asao Takamori and Tetsuya Chiba

What’s the vibe?: Jab, jab, punch with one of manga’s greatest underdogs
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $59.99
What’s it rated: 16+

A legendary manga and anime phenomenon, Ashita no Joe is finally coming to English—one of the most influential series of all time.

Read a FREE preview of Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow

The Magnificent Bastard
By Keiichiro Ryu, Tetsuo Hara, and Mio Aso

What’s the vibe?: Fist of the North Star, but make it historical in feudal Japan
When is it available?: December 9, 2025
How much is it?: $59.99
What’s it rated: 16+

Keiji Maeda, tall, fearless, and free-spirited, navigates a world of ruthless politics and deadly battles. When his scouts encounter a mysterious beast, Keiji sets out to tame it—but the powerful Hojo Clan and their ninja master have other plans.

Read a FREE preview of The Magnificent Bastard

Dragon Head Omnibus
By Minetaro Mochizuki

What’s the vibe?: Head-trip disaster horror with dark depth
When is it available?: December 16, 2025
How much is it?: $29.95
What’s it rated: 16+

Teru is on his way home from a field trip when a catastrophic something derails his class’s train, killing almost everyone on board and burying him beneath tons of rubble. Trapped in unending darkness, he and the only two other survivors must find a way to escape and make it home—if home still exists.

Read a FREE preview of Dragon Head Omnibus

Paradise Kiss 20th Anniversary Edition
By Ai Yazawa

What’s the vibe?: A fashion designer’s dream manga by the author of Nana
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $29.95
What’s it rated: 16+

Ai Yazawa, one of the world’s most beloved comic artists, returns with a 20th anniversary edition of her fashion-inspired hit, Paradise Kiss. This edition collects the original three volumes into a single, stunning package.

AKIRA (Hardcover Collection)
By Katsuhiro Otomo

What’s the vibe?: Apocalyptic action, jaw-dropping art, legendary for a reason
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $29.95
What’s it rated: 16+

The iconic manga that inspired the legendary anime AKIRA returns in a new hardcover edition, featuring Otomo’s original right-to-left format and hand-drawn sound effects in a stunning, large-sized collectible.

Manga Gifts for Anime Fans

Gachiakuta
By Kei Urana and Hideyoshi Andou

What’s the vibe?: Thrown into a life-threatening abyss and still he fights back
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $12.99
What’s it rated: 16+

Rudo, falsely accused of murder, is exiled from his floating city into a wasteland of monstrous trash. To survive and seek revenge, he must master new powers and join the Cleaners who fight the deadly beasts below.

Read a FREE preview of Gachiakuta

The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
By Saka Mikami

What’s the vibe?: The definition of “kicking your feet” kind of romance
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $13.99
What’s it rated: 13+

Two rival schools—one for elite girls, one for troublemaking boys—become the setting for an unlikely romance. A chivalrous boy and an open-minded girl may just bridge the divide in this charming, twisty manga

Read a FREE preview of The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity

WIND BREAKER
By Satoru Nii

What’s the vibe?: Angry teen finds a supportive delinquent family
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $12.99
What’s it rated: 16+

A high-octane manga set in a delinquent high school where students now protect their town. When a fierce new student arrives aiming to be the strongest, chaos—and action—ensues. Perfect for fans of Tokyo Revengers!

Read a FREE preview of WIND BREAKER

Fire Force
By Atsushi Ohkubo

What’s the vibe?: Demon-fighting fire fighters fighting with fire
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $10.99
What’s it rated: 16+

Tokyo is under threat from spontaneous human combustion, and only the Fire Force can stop it! Shinra, a boy who runs at rocket speed—leaving “devil’s footprints” in his wake—joins Special Fire Cathedral 8. Can he and the team uncover the source before the city goes up in flames?

Read a FREE preview of Fire Force

CITY
By Keiichi Arawi

What’s the vibe?: An odd interconnected city where every day is a laugh riot
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $10.99
What’s it rated: 13+

From Keiichi Arawi, the adored creator of nichijou, this surreal-slapstick series revolves around a penniless college student, Midori Nagumo, who lives in an ordinary city filled with not-quite-ordinary people. And as this reckless girl runs about, she sets the city in motion.

Read a FREE preview of CITY

Gifts for Manga Readers of
All Ages

Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir Complete Manga Omnibus
By Koma Warita, Riku Tsuchida, ZAG and Toei Animation

What’s the vibe?: Popular kid-friendly hero adventure in one complete volume!
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $24.99
What’s it rated: 10+

Marinette is a cheerful, clumsy high schooler with a secret—she’s the superhero Ladybug! Alongside Cat Noir, who’s actually her classmate and crush Adrian, she protects Paris from supervillains. Teen life and crime-fighting collide in this action-packed, heart-fluttering adventure.

Read a FREE preview of Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir

Sheeta’s Little Big World
By Yuki Kamba

What’s the vibe?: Exploration starts early with this manga that feels like The Borrowers meets The Secret of NIMH
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $11.99
What’s it rated: 10+

A charming new adventure manga for readers young and old! 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…

Read a FREE preview of Sheeta’s Little Big World

The Complete Chi’s Sweet Home
By Konami Kanata

What’s the vibe?: Cute cat. Cozy and cheerful stories
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $24.95
What’s it rated: 10+

Chi, a mischievous newborn kitten, gets lost during a stroll and is rescued by little Yohei and his mother. They secretly bring her home to the Yamada apartment…where pets aren’t allowed. Let the adorable chaos begin!

Read a FREE preview of Chi’s Sweet Home

Beyond the Clouds
By Nicke

What’s the vibe?: Heartfelt fantasy adventure for fans of Ghibli films
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $12.99
What’s it rated: 13+

A mechanically gifted boy and a mysterious, winged girl he’s helped repair embark on a journey beyond the ordinary. Young Theo works as a mechanic, putting his knack for machines to use in the industrialized city where he lives. But when he finds an injured, amnesiac girl with wings, his life changes forever.

Read a FREE preview of Beyond the Clouds

Penguin & House
By Akiho Ieda

What’s the vibe?: Odd but helpful penguin becomes man’s best roommate
When is it available?: NOW!
How much is it?: $12.99
What’s it rated: 10+

Pen is a penguin who loves pancakes and keeping a spotless home. He lives in the city with his human friend Hayakawa, and since they can’t speak the same language, Pen shows his affection through laundry, cleaning, and snagging supermarket bargains.

Read a FREE preview of Penguin & House

Gifts with More Bang for Your Buck

Attack on Titan Colossal Edition
By Hajime Isayama

What’s the vibe?: Epic story, BIG book, you will feel the weight of things
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $59.99
What’s it rated: 16+

This oversized omnibus collects Attack on Titan Vol. 1–5 in a 7×10.5″ edition with 15 never-before-seen color pages! Revisit the beginning of humanity’s fight for survival as a Titan breaches the walls and Eren’s world is shattered forever.

Read a FREE preview of Attack on Titan

Initial D Omnibus
By Shuichi Shigeno

What’s the vibe?: Gas! Gas! Gas! (Eurobeats play in the background)
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $22.99
What’s it rated: 13+

Experience Initial D like never before in this large-format 2-in-1 edition. Takumi’s tofu deliveries have secretly made him a racing prodigy—and when elite racers challenge Mt. Akina, the legend of the mysterious Eight-Six is born.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Omnibus
By Fuse, Taiki Kawakami and Mitz Vah

What’s the vibe?: An isekai classic, with action, laughs, and adventure
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $22.99
What’s it rated: 16+

Can a single slime build the ideal society? Find the answer in this hit manga tie-in to the two-season streaming anime sensation. This large-sized omnibus edition includes Vol. 1-3.

Read a FREE preview of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

Issak Omnibus
By Shinji Makari and DOUBLE-S

What’s the vibe?: 360 no scope, plus swords, and revenge
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $22.99
What’s it rated: 16+

The acclaimed digital samurai epic arrives in print as a 2-in-1 omnibus! Follow Japanese warrior Issak across war-torn Europe in the Thirty Years’ War, seeking vengeance for his slain master. Includes Vols. 1–2 of the original Japanese release.

Read a FREE preview of Issak

Noragami: Stray God Omnibus
By Shinji Makari and DOUBLE-S

What’s the vibe?: An unemployed stray god concocts a get rich quick scheme
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $19.99
What’s it rated: 16+

Five yen for your wish to come true? Revisit the Far Shore in new edition of the beloved supernatural action series that collects all the stray volumes in 600-page 3-in-1 omnibuses, all in a larger size than the regular version! Includes Vol. 1-3 of Noragami: Stray God

Read a FREE preview of Noragami: Stray God

One-and-Done Manga Gifts

Confession
By Nobuyuki Fukumoto and Kaiji Kawaguchi

What’s the vibe?: Twists, and more twists while stranded on an icy mountain
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $16.95
What’s it rated: 16+

Stranded in a blizzard and near death, Ishikura confesses a dark secret to his companion Asai. But when Asai discovers their shelter, he realizes the revelation may be deadlier than the storm itself.

Read a FREE preview of Confession

Sayuri
By Rensuke Oshikiri

What’s the vibe?: One by one they die…OR DO THEY?!
When is it available? January 27, 2026
How much is it?: $24.95
What’s it rated: 16+

Norio and his family move into their first home, but after their father’s sudden death, the rest start dying or vanishing—leaving only Norio and his grandmother to face a vengeful spirit.

Read a FREE preview of Sayuri

Nude Model and Other Stories
By Tsubasa Yamaguchi

What’s the vibe?: Provocatives shorts featuring vampires, art modeling and more
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $12.95
What’s it rated: 18+

In three darkly captivating stories, Tsubasa Yamaguchi (Blue Period) explores desire, fear, and self-discovery. From a delinquent undone by his own game, to a boy’s dangerous quest for attention, to a blood-phobic doctor facing vampires, these tales twist the ordinary into something strange, erotic, and unforgettable.

Read a FREE preview of Nude Model and Other Stories

River’s Edge
By Kyoko Okazaki

What’s the vibe?: Messy friends, dangerous secrets, and a dead body
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $14.95
What’s it rated: 16+

From acclaimed author Kyoko Okazaki (Helter Skelter, Pink) comes a gripping tale of adolescence, friendship, and tangled relationships. In a goldenrod field by a stagnant river, six high school friends uncover buried secrets, face betrayal, and confront life and death in ways both tragic and extraordinary.

Read a FREE preview of River’s Edge

Is Love the Answer
By Uta Isaki

What’s the vibe?: Romance theses form a asexual prespective
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $14.95
What’s it rated: 16+

A coming-of-age story about Chika, a young woman discovering she’s aromantic and asexual. From high school to college, she learns to embrace her identity and finds that not seeking romance or intimacy is perfectly okay.

Read a FREE preview of Is Love the Answer

Premium Manga Gifts

Vinland Saga Deluxe Edition
By Makoto Yukimura

What’s the vibe?: One mans adventure for peace and freedom in a violent world (ax, jewels, gold, and lumber not included)
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $54.99
What’s it rated: 16+

The beloved manga action epic that inspired the hit anime returns in this premium collector’s hardcover, including volumes 1-3 of the Japanese edition and original bonus content!

Read a FREE preview of Vinland Saga

Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN Deluxe Series
By Yoshikazu Yasuhiko, Yoshiyuki Tomino and Hajime Yatate

What’s the vibe?: The origin of the mecha phenomenon in a deluxe edition manga
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $54.99
What’s it rated: 16+

The classic Gundam series returns in a Deluxe Edition hardcover! This oversized six-volume set collects the original 12-installment English release, preserving all the color pages and showcasing the masterful artwork like never before.

Read a FREE preview of Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN Deluxe Series

Akira 35th Anniversary Box Set
By Katsuhiro Otomo

What’s the vibe?: An all-in-one premium gift of a must have manga classic
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $219.99
What’s it rated: 16+

Get the 35th anniversary hardcover box set of one of the most influential comics of all time, with the original Japanese art and right-to-left reading format for the first time! With six beautiful hardcover volumes, plus the hardcover Akira Club art book, and an exclusive patch with the iconic pill design.

Sailor Moon (Naoko Takeuchi Collection) Manga Box Set
By Naoko Takeuchi

What’s the vibe?: A magical box set for the best magical girl!
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $77.94
What’s it rated: 13+

The Sailor Guardians awaken! This box set of the classic Sailor Moon manga includes volumes 1–6, 16 exclusive art cards, and a premium holographic box with magnetic closure.

Twilight Out of Focus Box Set
By Jyanome

What’s the vibe?: Cinematic and spicy BL of the highest caliber
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $54.95
What’s it rated: 18+

For the first time ever, volumes one through four of this cinematic series are now available in a beautiful collector’s edition box set! As an added bonus, each box set comes with a special booklet featuring exclusive cover art, never-before-translated manga pages, and gorgeous full-color illustrations!

Read a FREE preview of Twilight Out of Focus

Gifts for Manga Art Lovers

CLAMP Official Artbook COLOR SHIRO
By CLAMP

What’s the vibe?: Like Shojo? Check out this vibrant art book for one of manga’s most prolific creative teams.
When is it available? November 25, 2025
How much is it?: $55.00
What’s it rated: 13+

The definitive CLAMP artbook, SHIRO, is now in English! Showcasing stunning artwork from RG Veda to Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card, it’s a must-have for fans of the legendary manga collective.

The Art of Witch Hat Atelier
By Kamome Shirahama

What’s the vibe?: The cutest witches in full color and stunning detail!
When is it available? December 23, 2025
How much is it?: $29.99
What’s it rated: 10+

Soar into the world of Witch Hat Atelier with this beautiful, large-sized hardcover packed with full-color artwork by creator Kamome Shirahama. The 184 pages of this archival-quality, gold-stamped keepsake are packed with illustrations that have never been published in English before!

Magnolia: Fairy Tail Illustrations
By Hiro Mashima

What’s the vibe?: Discover art of your favorite guild members in full color and large format!
When is it available? December 16, 2025
How much is it?: $39.99
What’s it rated: 13+

The first-ever Fairy Tail Art Book is here! This 256-page hardcover features full-color artwork from Hiro Mashima spanning the entire series. Includes the Japanese art books Fantasia and Harvest, never before published in English, plus even more exclusive art.

Wotakoi: Love is Hard for Otaku Official Art Works
By Fujita

What’s the vibe?: Discover art of your favorite guild members in full color and large format!
When is it available? December 16, 2025
How much is it?: $39.99
What’s it rated: 16+

The official Wotakoi: Love Is Hard for Otaku art book! Over 100 pages of exclusive color artwork, concept art, and behind-the-scenes details, plus interviews with author Fujita on creating the beloved characters and story.

AKIRA: Art of Wall
By Katsuhiro Otomo, Kosuke Kawamura and TAKAMURADAISUKE

What’s the vibe?: A unique and MASSIVE piece of AKIRA art that belongs in a museum
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $129.99
What’s it rated: 13+

In 2017–2019, Katsuhiro Otomo teamed with Kosuke Kawamura to transform Tokyo city blocks into massive collages of iconic moments from AKIRA. Now, these three electrifying compilations of Otomo’s art are available to bring home.

Scary Good Gifts

Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu Collector’s Edition
By Junji Ito

What’s the vibe?: A true-to-life story of Junji Ito facing his fears
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $24.99
What’s it rated: 13+

Horror master Junji Ito turns his twisted eye on cat ownership in this comedic graphic memoir, now in a deluxe hardcover with a glow-in-the-dark cover and an exclusive interview—perfect for slightly twisted cat lovers.

Read a FREE preview of Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu

Hauntress
By Minetaro Mochizuki

What’s the vibe?: A stranger, a stalker, or a curse? Either way, don’t let her in.
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $13.95
What’s it rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of Hauntress

Blood on the Tracks
By Shuzo Oshimi

What’s the vibe?: An ever-expanding psychological horror, full of mommy issues and shocking twists
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $13.95
What’s it rated: 16+

From the creator who brought you notable works such as The Flowers of Evil, Happiness, and Inside Mari, comes a new suspense drama centering on the theme of a toxic parent. Dive into this latest thriller by master storyteller, Shuzo Oshimi. Series now fully complete!

Read a FREE preview of Blood on the Tracks

Be Very Afraid of Kanako Inuki!
By Kanako Inuki

What’s the vibe?: Girly-pop scares and screams from the “Queen of Horror Manga”
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $12.99
What’s it rated: 16+

The six hair-raising stories selected for this collection feature an array of unnerving characters and scenarios brought to life in Inuki’s signature art style, in the tradition of Junji Ito, Kazuo Umezu, Shintaro Kago, and Junko Mizuno.

Read a FREE preview of Be Very Afraid of Kanako Inuki!

PTSD Radio Omnibus
By Masaaki Nakayama

What’s the vibe?: This world is more haunted than you could ever imagine
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $19.99
What’s it rated: 16+

Carried into modern Japan from a forgotten past, the being known as Ogushi haunts and tortures humans of all kinds. Little is know about Ogushi’s curse, except that it resides in an unexpected place: human hair.

Read a FREE preview of PTSD Radio

Gifts for BL Fans

Omega Megaera
By Maki Marukido

What’s the vibe?: Succession by way of the omegaverse. BL with intrigue.
When is it available? NEW DEBUT!
How much is it?: $13.99
What’s it rated: 16+

In a world ruled by alphas, omegas struggle to survive. Shunned omega Saimon finds the hidden omega Mamiya and hatches a bold plan: pass him off as an alpha heir to regain his status in the powerful Hanabusa family.

Read a FREE preview of Omega Megaera

Shoot Juliet Down
By Komachi Katsura

What’s the vibe?: Hidden agendas blur the line between rivals and lovers
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $13.95
What’s it rated: 18+

At the glamorous host club Velvet Kiss, top host Juri—aka Juliet—rules with an iron grip. Determined to dethrone him, newcomer Akatsuki sets out to uncover Juliet’s secrets. But getting close proves intoxicating, and he may soon learn that some hearts—and secrets—come with a dangerous price…

Read a FREE preview of Shoot Juliet Down

My Instructor Won’t Yield
By Deme Kingyobachi

What’s the vibe?: Who knew driving instruction could be this romantic?
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $13.95
What’s it rated: 16+

A fun and moving one-shot BL romance that’ll have you hugging the turns! An elite driving instructor who’s sworn off love and a handsome client with a secret get behind the wheel. But will they go the distance?

Read a FREE preview of My Instructor Won’t Yield

Light of My Life
By Takiba and Fuuko Minami

What’s the vibe?: “I volunteer to be your first!”
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $14.99
What’s it rated: 18+

Once inseparable in high school, Aki and Minagi have drifted apart—Aki now runs his grandfather’s hair salon, while Minagi works at a host club instead of pursuing medicine. When Minagi asks for a place to stay, old tensions resurface. Can they confront their past and rebuild their future together?

Read a FREE preview of Light of My Life

My Summer of You
By Nagisa Furuya

What’s the vibe?: Two high school boy’s shared love of film blooms to something more
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $14.99
What’s it rated: 16+

Chiharu Saeki and Wataru Toda are two high school students who share a common hobby: They love to watch movies. After they meet, they become fast friends, until one day, when Chiharu confesses his love for Wataru.

Read a FREE preview of My Summer of You

Gifts for Yuri Lovers

The Moon on a Rainy Night
By Kuzushiro

What’s the vibe?: One act of kindness opens the door to a slow-burn romance
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $12.99
What’s it rated: 16+

A high school girl’s chance encounter with an enigmatic female classmate whose musical aspirations were complicated when an accident almost completely took her hearing leads to the slow blossoming of love. Perfect for fans of yuri series like Whisper Me a Love Song and sweet, sophisticated romances like A Sign of Affection.

Read a FREE preview of The Moon on a Rainy Night

I Want to Love You ‘Till Your Dying Day
By Nachi Aono

What’s the vibe?: Can love bloom on the magical battlefield?
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $13.99
What’s it rated: 16+

There’s an orphanage that’s actually a boot camp, turning out magical child soldiers for a gruesome war. Yet love finds a way to blossom amid bloodshed, in this dramatic, much-anticipated yuri manga that is spiritually kin to the likes of Revolutionary Girl Utena, Otherside Picnic, and Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch From Mercury.

Read a FREE preview of I Want to Love You ‘Till Your Dying Day

Run Away With Me, Girl
By Battan

What’s the vibe?: Years after an intensely close “friendship” ends, two women reconnect as adults in high-drama romantic fever dream
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $12.99
What’s it rated: 16+

A heartfelt yuri romance about two women learning that sometimes you must run away to discover where you truly belong—perfect for fans of coming-out stories and adult drama.

Read a FREE preview of Run Away With Me, Girl

I Can’t Say No to the Lonely Girl
By Kashikaze

What’s the vibe?: Ah! The classic trope of blackmail to lovers
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $13.99
What’s it rated: 13+

In this juicy yuri manga, the goody-goody high school girl Sakurai meets a lonely girl–and ends up entangled in a web of blackmail that might just lead to romance. It’s hard to keep up with school when you can never say no to a devious classmate!

Read a FREE preview of I Can’t Say No to the Lonely Girl

Whisper Me a Love Song
By Eku Takeshima

What’s the vibe?: Falling in love at first musical note
When is it available? NOW!
How much is it?: $12.99
What’s it rated: 13+

An adorable new yuri manga for fans of Kase-san and Yamada and Bloom Into You. One day, high school girl Himari sees a girl, Yori, sing in a band, and it awakens feelings she doesn’t understand… but Yori does!

Read a FREE preview of Whisper Me a Love Song

Be sure to check-in on this blog post tomorrow for even more gift-giving ideas for any manga reader!

Totto-chan Is Back! Long-Awaited Sequel Announced, NYC Event Schedule

Posted on Nov 17, 2025Feb 19, 2026 | Creator Spotlight | Events | New Release

Totto-chan Is Back! Announcing the Sequel to Japan’s All-Time Bestseller

This November, Kodansha USA is bringing the world the eagerly-awaited continuation of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s bestselling memoir—Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel—plus a whole host of commemorative events in NYC!

A Special Message from Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (Author)

A Special Audio Excerpt from Yuki Tejima (Translator)

Event Details

Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel goes on sale at bookstores everywhere November 18, 2025. To commemorate this long-awaited release, Kodansha USA will be sponsoring the following book-launch events in New York City:

Book talk with Translator Yuki Tejima at the New York Public Library 53rd Street Branch
- Date/Time: 11:30am-12:30pm, Saturday, November 22, 2025
- Location: 18 West 53rd Street, New York
- Admission: Free
- More Info: https://www.nypl.org/events/programs/2025/11/22/person-author-talk-yuki-nejima-totto-chan-little-girl-window
Book signing with Translator Yuki Tejima at Kinokuniya Bookstore
- Date/Time: 6:00-8:00pm ET, Monday, November 24, 2025
- Location: 1073 Avenue of the Americas, New York
- Admission: Free
- More Info: https://usa.kinokuniya.com/event/2025/11/24-translator-yuki-tejima
Screening of Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window feature anime, panel discussion and signing at the Japan Society
- Featuring:
  - Yuki Tejima, translator
  - Alexandra McCullough-Garcia, editor
  - Nathan Shockey, Associate Professor of Japanese at Bard College
- Date/Time: Tuesday, November 25, 2025
- Time: Doors 6:00pm ET, Screening 7:00pm ET.
- Location: 333 E 47th Street, New York
- Admission:
  - $16 general admission
  - $12 students/seniors/persons with disabilities
  - $8 members
- More Info: https://japansociety.org/events/totto-chan-the-little-girl-at-the-window/

Kodansha USA to Release Long-Awaited Sequel to Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s Bestselling Memoir

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Japanese pop-culture icon Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, whose bestselling autobiography Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window, first published in 1981, did as much as any book to set the tone for Japan’s postwar culture, has now published her long-awaited sequel to that memoir. The original installment, Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window, which chronicled the writer’s Tokyo childhood and eclectic school life in the run-up to World War II, quickly soared past all previous publishing records in Japan; by the end of 1982, it had become the bestselling book in the country’s history, a distinction it maintains with over 8 million domestic sales to date. A true international phenomenon, it has gone on to sell an astounding, Guinness World Record-breaking 26 million copies worldwide in dozens of languages. Now, over four decades later, Kodansha USA will release the first-ever English translation of Kuroyanagi’s recently published and eagerly anticipated follow-up, Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel, translated by Yuki Tejima.

“I’m excited to share that my memoir, Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel, will soon be released in English,” said author and cultural icon, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi. “It has been over forty years in the making and I put my whole heart and soul into it. I hope you all enjoy it.”

Kuroyanagi ended her original, seminal memoir with a heartbreaking scene in which her beloved elementary school, Tomoe Gakuen, burned down amidst the air raids of World War II. Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel begins with her family’s frantic effort to escape Tokyo and the worst horrors of the war. In it, Kuroyanagi details how little Totto persevered through starvation and suffering to become a trailblazing actress, a champion for the deaf and children the world over, and one of the most successful entertainers in Japanese history. Now in her nineties, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi has said of her motivation for penning The Sequel,“I wanted to write about the war while I still remember it.”

Already an established literary classic, Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window reached a new generation in 2023 with the release of an anime film adaptation of the story. The critically lauded picture was produced and animated by Shin-Ei Animation, distributed by TOHO, and directed by Shinnosuke Yakuwa, Yuta Kanbe, and Kunio Kato, with Liliana Ono in the leading role as Totto-chan. Kodansha USA has arranged a screening of the acclaimed film at the Japan Society in New York on November 25, 2025.

To commemorate this long-awaited release, Kodansha USA will also be sponsoring book-launch events in New York City at the New York Public Library 53rd Street Branch and Kinokuniya Bookstore.

“Told with the same disarming charm as the original memoir, the anime connected Totto-chan’s story with a new audience,” said Kodansha USA Publishing President & CEO Alvin Lu. “Now the English-language publication of Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel picks up where that story left off and allows readers to discover the full life story of one of the most influential and inspiring women in Japanese history.”

Today, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi remains one of Japan’s most popular and celebrated media personalities. Her enduring presence is best represented by the success of her long-running television show, Tetsuko’s Room (Tetsuko no Heya), which began airing almost fifty years ago in 1976. In 2011, the program earned a Guinness World Record for the highest number of talk show broadcasts by the same host, a record which it continues to break with every new episode.

An inspirational philanthropist, Kuroyanagi was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF—the first from Asia—in 1984 and has visited 40 countries in that capacity. She is also on the board of the World Wide Fund for Nature Japan and provides professional training to deaf actors through The Totto Foundation, which is financed with her book royalties. She has written over twenty books, including co-authored works.

Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel was originally published in Japan on October 3, 2023 and will be published by Kodansha USA Publishing on November 18, 2025. Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window remains in print with Kodansha USA Publishing.

For more information, follow Kodansha USA on social media: Facebook; Instagram; TikTok; Tumblr; X; and YouTube.

About Tetsuko Kuroyanagi
Born in Tokyo, Tetsuko Kuroyanagi is an actor, television host, and essayist. She graduated from the Toyo Conservatory of Music (currently Tokyo College of Music) vocal arts department and became the first television actress for national broadcaster NHK. Japan’s first talk show, Tetsuko’s Room (which began airing in February 1976 on TV Asahi) has run for over 12, 000 episodes and continues to break the world record for the longest-running single-host television program. Her bestselling 1981 memoir Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window (Kodansha) has sold over eight million copies in Japan and twenty-six million copies around the world.

Devoted to welfare and conservation, Kuroyanagi was appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1984, in which capacity she has visited forty countries in support of children suffering from starvation, conflict, and disease. She also serves on the board of the Worldwide Fund for Nature Japan. The Totto Foundation—financed with her book royalties—opperates a theater of deaf actors, with whom Kuroyanagi has often appeared. Kuroyanagi has brought America’s National Theater of the Deaf to Japan. She is the author of over twenty books, including co-authored works.

Kuroyanagi has won numerous awards for her work in radio and television and received some of Japan’s highest honors, including membership in the prestigious Japan Art Academy, official recognition from the Japanese government as a Person of Cultural Merit, and the Order of the Sacred Treasure for long-term contribution to public service.

About Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
A subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher, Kodansha USA Publishing is the English-language publisher of some of the world’s most recognizable manga properties, including Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA and Naoko Takeuchi’s Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, along with a robust catalog of English-language Japanese novels, cookbooks, craft guides, historical and cultural literature, and more. Today, thanks to recent fan-favorite and critically acclaimed hits like Attack on Titan, Battle Angel Alita, Witch Hat Atelier, and the popular MONOGATARI novels, Kodansha USA Publishing is one of the best-selling manga publishers in the United States. Kodansha USA Publishing’s print offerings are distributed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services, and their digital manga and select digital books are available across a number of digital comics, manga, and book vendors. For more information visit kodansha.localhost/

Celebrate two of the most beloved Josei manga magazines with 50% off during the Kiss & BE LOVE Magazine Spotlight Sale!

Posted on Nov 11, 2025Feb 19, 2026 | Sales

Experience series from Kiss & BE LOVE Magazine with 50% off the digital series

Discover the world of beloved josei manga magazines Kiss and BE LOVE—known for heartfelt, character-driven stories that explore love, ambition, and self-discovery. Enjoy standout titles like Nina the Starry Bride from BE LOVE and Princess Jellyfish from Kiss, plus many more—all 50% off during our Kiss & BE LOVE Magazine Spotlight Digital Manga Sale!

Sale Ends Monday, November 24th, 2025!

Take advantage of these amazing discounts by purchasing on kodansha.localhost/ or by visiting any of our participating digital manga vendors:

Amazon Kindle
Barnes and Noble Nook
Bookwalker
Google Play
MyAnimeList
Mangamo
and more!

Curious to learn more about which series are discounted during the Kiss & BE LOVE Magazine Spotlight? Take a look below for details on three recommended series from both Kiss Magazine and BE LOVE Magazine!

Kiss Magazine:

Princess Jellyfish
By Akiko Higashimura

Tsukimi Kurashita has a strange fascination with jellyfish. She’s loved them from a young age and has carried that love with her to her new life in the big city of Tokyo. There, she resides in Amamizukan, a safe haven for girl geeks who regularly gush over a range of things from trains to Japanese dolls. However, a chance meeting at a pet shop has Tsukimi crossing paths with one of the things that the residents of Amamizukan have been desperately trying to avoid—a beautiful and fashionable woman! But there’s much more to this woman than her trendy clothes! This odd encounter is only the beginning of a new and unexpected path for Tsukimi and her friends.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Princess Jellyfish

Perfect World
By Rie Aruga

The moving, provocative manga about the struggles and triumphs in love of a woman and a man who uses a wheelchair comes to print! Fans of tumultuous manga romance—like A Silent Voice and Your Lie in April—don’t miss this! An office party reunites Tsugumi with her high school crush Itsuki. He’s realized his dream of becoming an architect, but along the way, he experienced a spinal injury that put him in a wheelchair. Now Tsumugi’s rekindled feelings will butt up against prejudices she never considered — and Itsuki will have to decide if he’s ready to let someone into his heart … Yet they may soon discover that, without each other, the world feels imperfect.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Perfect World

Tokyo Tarareba Girls
By Akiko Higashimura

Rinko has done everything right. She hustled her way through her 20s to make it as a screenwriter, renting her own office in a trendy Tokyo neighborhood. Everything should have gone according to plan … So at 33, she can’t help but lament the fact that her career’s plateaued, she’s still painfully single, and she spends most of her nights drinking with her two best friends in their favorite pub. One night, drunk and delusional, Rinko swears to get married by the time the Tokyo Olympics roll around in 2020. But finding a man—and love—may be a cutthroat, dirty job for a romantic at heart.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Tokyo Tarareba Girls

BE LOVE Magazine:

Nina the Starry Bride
By RIKACHI

Nina had a rough start to life, orphaned and stealing to survive, only to be abducted for her unusual lapis lazuli eyes. But to her surprise, her captor, Prince Azure, ordained that she would live the life of a princess…specifically, that of the recently deceased princess-priestess, Alisha, who had her same eyes. Despite her changing fortune, Nina won’t give up her old life without a fight. Azure might just be the one to finally match her wits, but how much can she trust him? And can she stop the feelings budding in her heart, knowing she must eventually marry another…?

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Nina the Starry Bride

Something’s Wrong With Us
By Natsumi Ando

A spine-chilling and steamy romance between a Japanese sweets maker and the man who framed her mother for murder — Something’s Wrong With Us is the dark, psychological, sexy shojo series readers have been waiting for! Following in her mother’s footsteps, Nao became a traditional Japanese sweets maker, and at 21, she’s about to take the industry by storm. With unparalleled artistry and a bright attitude, she gets an offer to work at a world-class confectionary company. But when she meets the young, handsome owner, she recognizes his cold stare… It’s none other than Tsubaki, her childhood friend and first crush-the same boy who stood over his father’s bloodied body 15 years ago, and framed Nao’s mother for the murder. As the only witness of that fateful night, Nao is eager to chase down the truth and confirm her suspicions. Since Tsubaki has no clue who she is, she seizes her chance to get close to him, but instead of finding any answers, she begins falling deeper for Tsubaki’s allure…

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Something’s Wrong With Us

Searching for My Perfect Brother
By Satoshi Morie

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 terrifying secret, her whole world will be turned helter-skelter in this dark romantic thriller.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Searching for My Perfect Brother

See below for the full list of Kiss & BE LOVE Magazine Spotlight series on sale now until 11/24/25:

Continue where the anime left off with 50% off during the Read Beyond the Anime Sale!

Posted on Nov 4, 2025Feb 19, 2026 | Sales

For a limited time, experience the original manga that started it all, with 50% off digital series like Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!, WIND BREAKER, To Your Eternity & more!

Your favorite anime is just the beginning—now experience the full story straight from the source! Explore deeper worlds, untold arcs, and the original visions that inspired the shows you love during our Read Beyond the Anime digital manga sale!

For a limited time, get 50% off digital volumes of series like:

Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!: A fun and flavorful fantasy romp that mixes adventure, humor, and mouthwatering magic. With its charming cast and inventive world, it serves up equal parts action and culinary delight.

A Couple of Cuckoos: A lively, twist-filled romantic comedy bursting with chaos and charm! It juggles mistaken identities, unexpected fiancées, and hilarious family drama—all while exploring what it really means to fall in love. It’s messy, heartfelt, and totally addictive!

Shangri-La Frontier: A high-octane adventure that dives into the world of gaming like never before. With stunning battles, clever strategy, and a hero who thrives on impossible challenges, it’s a thrilling journey through the ultimate next-gen fantasy game.

Tying the Knot with an Amagami Sister: A heartwarming and chaotic romantic comedy filled with charm, humor, and unexpected bonds. Blending family warmth with romantic tension, it’s a story about love, growth, and finding connection in the most surprising places.

The Blue Wolves of Mibu (Blue Miburo): A gripping historical drama that brings the legendary Shinsengumi to life with striking artwork and emotional depth. Full of loyalty, ambition, and the clash between idealism and duty, it’s a powerful tale of warriors fighting for honor in a turbulent era.

Sale Ends Monday, November 10th, 2025!

Take advantage of these amazing discounts by purchasing on kodansha.localhost/ or by visiting any of our participating digital manga vendors:

Amazon Kindle
Barnes and Noble Nook
Bookwalker
Google Play
MyAnimeList
Mangamo
and more!

Curious to learn more about which series are discounted during the Read Beyond the Anime digital manga sale? Take a look below for details on five recommended series!

Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!
By Chika Mizube, Peperon and Kanata Hoshi

Like any proper noble lady, one must have certain acquired tastes. For Melphiera Marchalrayd, she just happens to crave a rather exotic protein—monsters! But do not judge! Despite its bad reputation, monster meat can be used in exquisite cuisine, and Melphiera is determined to change the kingdom’s opinion of it! Unfortunately, since debuting in society, Melphiera has been struggling to find her perfect match…until she meets the fearless “Blood-Mad Duke” of Galbraith!

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!

To Your Eternity
By Yoshitoki Oima

A new manga from the creator of the acclaimed A Silent Voice, featuring intimate, emotional drama and an epic story spanning time and space…A lonely boy wandering the Arctic regions of North America meets a wolf, and the two become fast friends, depending on each other to survive the harsh environment. But the boy has a history, and the wolf is more than meets the eye as well… To Your Eternity is a totally unique and moving manga about death, life, reincarnation, and the nature of love.

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of To Your Eternity

CITY
By Keiichi Arawi

From the creator of nichijou, this surreal-slapstick series revolves around a penniless college student, Midori Nagumo, who lives in an ordinary city filled with not-quite-ordinary people. And as this reckless girl runs about, she sets the city in motion. Midori is in a bit of a bind. She is in debt, and her landlady is trying to shake her down for unpaid rent. Her best friend refuses to loan her cash since she’s wised up to her tricks. Maybe some bullying would help. Or a bit of petty theft? Neither is sustainable. Maybe getting a job would settle things… But working means less time for fun adventures in the big city…

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of CITY

Rent-A-Girlfriend
By Reiji Miyajima

Anime coming July 2020! You can rent a girlfriend, but can you buy love? Reeling from a bad breakup, Kazuya rents the beautiful, polite Chizuru for a date. But rock bottom might be so much lower than he thought! Chizuru is much more than the pretty face and sweet demeanor he thought he’d bargained for… In today’s Japan,“rental” services can deliver an afternoon with a “friend,” a “parent,” even a fake girlfriend! After a staggering betrayal by his girlfriend, hapless freshman Kazuya gets just desperate enough to give it a try. But he quickly discovers how complicated it can be to “rent” an emotional connection, and his new “girlfriend,” who’s trying to keep her side hustle secret, will panic when she finds out her real life and Kazuya’s are intertwined in surprising ways! Family, school, and life all start to go wrong, too… It’s sweet but naïve boy meets cute but ruthless girl in this 21st-century manga rom-com!

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Rent-A-Girlfriend

FAIRY TAIL: 100 Years Quest
By Hiro Mashima and Atsuo Ueda

A wizard’s job is never done! Get fired up for the official sequel to Fairy Tail, with story and layouts by original creator Hiro Mashima himself.

Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Erza, and the whole Fairy Tail guild are back in action! And they’ve decided to tackle the “100 Years Quest” – a job no one’s dared take on since the founding of the guild more than a century ago. A mysterious town, a baffling spirit, a ghastly new enemy… and a brand new continent to explore. When you’re with real friends, the adventures never stop!

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of FAIRY TAIL: 100 Years Quest

See below for the full list of Read Beyond the Anime series on sale now until 11/10/25:

Kodansha

Month: November 2025

Browse the Kodansha Gift Guide for winning holiday gift recommendations

Get the perfect gift for the manga fan in your life with the Kodansha Holiday Gift Guide

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Totto-chan Is Back! Long-Awaited Sequel Announced, NYC Event Schedule

Totto-chan Is Back! Announcing the Sequel to Japan’s All-Time Bestseller

Contents

A Special Message from Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (Author)

A Special Audio Excerpt from Yuki Tejima (Translator)

Event Details

Book talk with Translator Yuki Tejima at the New York Public Library 53rd Street Branch

Book signing with Translator Yuki Tejima at Kinokuniya Bookstore

Screening of Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window feature anime, panel discussion and signing at the Japan Society

Kodansha USA to Release Long-Awaited Sequel to Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s Bestselling Memoir

Celebrate two of the most beloved Josei manga magazines with 50% off during the Kiss & BE LOVE Magazine Spotlight Sale!

Continue where the anime left off with 50% off during the Read Beyond the Anime Sale!

Company

Resources

Get the perfect gift for the manga fan in your life with the Kodansha Holiday Gift Guide

Gift Guide Categories

Gifts for all Blue Lock Fans

Give the Gift of Kodansha Classics

Manga Gifts for Anime Fans

Gifts for Manga Readers of All Ages

Gifts with More Bang for Your Buck

One-and-Done Manga Gifts

Premium Manga Gifts

Gifts for Manga Art Lovers

Scary Good Gifts

Gifts for BL Fans

Gifts for Yuri Lovers

Totto-chan Is Back! Announcing the Sequel to Japan’s All-Time Bestseller

Contents

A Special Message from Tetsuko Kuroyanagi (Author)

A Special Audio Excerpt from Yuki Tejima (Translator)

Event Details

Book talk with Translator Yuki Tejima at the New York Public Library 53rd Street Branch

Book signing with Translator Yuki Tejima at Kinokuniya Bookstore

Screening of Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window feature anime, panel discussion and signing at the Japan Society

Kodansha USA to Release Long-Awaited Sequel to Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s Bestselling Memoir

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