NEW YORK, NY – July 25, 2025 – Kodansha House 2025, the highly anticipated return of Kodansha’s immersive fan experience, is set to return to SoHo this October. Kodansha, Japan’s largest publisher and the creative force behind iconic stories like Akira, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Attack on Titan, and Blue Lock, invites fans to discover an even bigger and more expansive experience with the world of manga. Opening October 4th at 210 Lafayette Street in SoHo, the pop-up will be open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 12pm-9pm, through October 19th.
This year, Kodansha House unlocks a new chapter of immersive fan experiences with expanded space, more interactive exhibits and fresh programming designed to celebrate the manga community. Kodansha House offers a dynamic space for fans to connect, create, and celebrate the stories they love. From interactive exhibits and hands-on workshops to date nights and movie screenings, this experiential event is the perfect spot for manga lovers and culture vultures to meet, mingle, and dive deeper into the magic of manga like never before.
Kodansha is also thrilled to announce KODANSHA Mochikomi Fresh Ink 2025, a rare opportunity for aspiring creators who are planning to visit Kodansha House to engage with Japan’s legendary editorial team. Selected Mochikomi finalists will have the chance to sit down with one of Kodansha’s editors at Kodansha House for a 1:1 portfolio review. Submissions are open from August 1st to August 15th at 11:59PM EST.
The month-long programming includes a diverse lineup of exhibits featuring fan favorites like Attack on Titan, Ghost in The Shell, Blue Lock and many more! Three major manga creators, to be announced, will make rare U.S. appearances with Q&A sessions and signings.
For more information, visit https://www.kodanshahouse.com. Sign up for exclusive updates including early access to House sneak peaks, ticket drops, and find out about other exciting RSVP-only events at Kodansha House to be announced in the coming weeks.
Get ready to discover your next favorite series with Volume 1s starting at $0.99
Celebrate Monthly Shonen Sirius—Kodansha’s famed manga magazine that first started in the early 2000s, and debuted such fan-favorites That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, APOSIMZ and more—by browsing recent magazine hits with volume 1s starting at $0.99! Browse a number of Sirius series with high-octane action, grand adventures, deep mysteries, and compelling characters that will keep you on the edge of your seat with our Sirius Magazine Sale Digital Sale!
Sale Ends Monday, August 11th, 2025!
For a limited time get volume 1s for just $0.99 and additional volumes up to 50% off for amazing manga stories like:
Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!: A quirky fantasy comedy where a gluttonous princess, renowned for her beauty but secretly obsessed with monster cuisine, embarks on adventures to hunt and savor fantastical creatures.
Cells at Work!: A unique and educational action-comedy manga that anthropomorphizes the cells within the human body, following a clumsy Red Blood Cell and a stoic White Blood Cell as they battle germs, viruses, and other threats to maintain the body’s health.
Altair: A Record of Battles: An epic historical fantasy manga set in a vibrant, pseudo-Ottoman Empire, following Mahmut, a young and idealistic pasha, as he navigates complex political intrigue and leads his nation’s armies against powerful rival empires to prevent war and shape the future of his world.
Take advantage of these amazing discounts by purchasing on kodansha.localhost/ or by visiting any of our participating digital manga vendors:
Want to learn more about thrilling new series featured in the Sirius Magazine Sale digital sale Take a look below for details on five recommended series!
Because I, the True Saint, was Banished, that Country is Done For! By Shikiso Utsuzawa, Mokuba Matsu and Pukyunosuke
Ever since she was a child, Eliane has been the saint and protector of the Kingdom of Belkheim, warding off monsters and ensuring bountiful harvests with her prayers. But when a pretender saint beguiles the foolish prince—to whom she is engaged—into believing she is nothing but a fraud, he calls off the marriage and banishes her from the kingdom. Homeless and penniless but free to chart her own course for the first time in her life, Eliane decides to make for the neighboring kingdom, where she hopes to blend in as a commoner and lead a quiet life…but a chance encounter on the road will totally upend her modest plans.
Pass the Monster Meat, Milady! By Chika Mizube, Peperon and Kanata Hoshi
A fantasy romance about a voracious lady who delights in monster meat and a mad-blooded duke who is swept off his feet by her curious charms. If you loved Delicious in Dungeon and Drifting Dragons, you will be salivating for some grilled moodle and burning hot love in this series!
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!
The Slime Diaries: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime By Fuse, Shiba and Mitz Vah
“Dear diary… I got reincarnated as a slime.”
Even in another world, lives aren’t always on the line. There’s plenty of work to be done, from feeding the community and forging the items the community needs; as well as plenty of play…and hijinks throughout! Join Rimuru and friends as they kick back and enjoy their daily lives.
How to Treat a Lady Knight Right By Kengo Matsumoto
Leo Cornelia has dedicated her entire life to the battlefield. There is no demon she can’t slay, no challenge she can’t handle—at least, not until that confounding halfwit mage Foolie Dent confesses his love to her. Nothing feels farther from her than long-discarded notions of femininity and romance, but this annoying but dependable new friend might just be the key to opening the heart she closed long ago.
From acclaimed mangaka Tsutomu Nihei, the creator and artist behind BLAME! and Knights of Sidonia, comes his newest science-fiction epic.
This story takes place on the frigid, massive artificial planet known as Aposimz. Eo, Biko and Etherow, residents of the White Diamond Beam, are in the middle of combat training when suddenly a girl appears, Rebedoan Empire soldiers in hot pursuit. The girl asks for their help in keeping safe a “code” and seven mysterious “bullets.” This chance encounter marks a major shift in the fate of the entire planet…
Kodansha Announces New Print Manga Licenses for Spring 2026
Just announced at Comic-Con International San Diego 2025—Kodansha revealed to manga fans in-person and online updates to the Kodansha Print Club program as well as more print manga licenses arriving Spring 2026.
Kodansha kicked off their announcements with a surprise update on the Kodansha Print Club program, where they announced that volumes 2 of Blade Girl, Teppu, and Love, That’s an Understatement will be available for purchase in print starting August 2025.
Then, moving onto the Spring 2026 slate of new print manga licenses, Kodansha unveiled new premium editions of fan-favorite series Witch Hat Atelier and Attack on Titan. Also announced were all-new series, ranging from action-packed apocalypse fighting sagas like DRAGON CIRCUS, to taut thrillers about relationships that are too-good-to-be-true, like Whoever You Are, I Love You, and even a new chapter in the perennial cozy kitten series with Chi’s Sweet France.
All this and more mark today’s print title announcements, which will be available starting Spring 2026 at physical and online book vendors like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, and more, while digital editions will be available upon release across all our participating vendors, including Bookwalker, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Nook, Kobo, MyAnimeList, and more! Fans can also purchase and read all Kodansha digital manga directly on kodansha.localhost/.
See below for details on the full slate of debuts coming soon in print and digital from Kodansha.
KODANSHA PRINT CLUB UPDATE:
With many thanks to the patience of fans eagerly waiting for more information on this experimental program, Kodansha is proud to announce that volumes 2 of Blade Girl, Teppu, and Love, That’s an Understatement, will be available to purchase online and through select physical retailers on August 5, 2025. Pre-orders will begin as soon as next week, so check with your favorite retailer or bookstore for availability.
PREMIUM EDITIONS:
Witch Hat Atelier: Grimoire Edition By Kamome Shirahama
JP Title: とんがり帽子のアトリエ
Debut Date: Spring 2026
This deluxe, keepsake-quality hardcover edition includes three volumes of the acclaimed fantasy manga on which the enchanting anime was based. Experience the beautiful tale of a young witch who discovers her creativity and faces down a dangerous and thrilling world with her friends by her side in these extra-large books, printed on premium paper with intricate gold foil covers and exclusive bonus content.
Includes Witch Hat Atelier Vols. 1–3.
In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream…until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem!
The new Grimoire Edition is a gold-foiled hardcover of nearly 600 pages each, including color pages and bonus content and presenting this magical epic in a special large size.
Rated: 10+
Blue Lock Omnibus Story by Muneyuki Kaneshiro Illustrated by Yusuke Nomura
JP Title: ブルーロック
Debut Date: Spring 2026
The manga that became a worldwide sports action phenomenon returns in a new 3-in-1 omnibus edition featuring sculpted embossed covers!
A mad young coach gathers soccer players from across the country to compete in a series of bizarre challenges in a high-tech colosseum he calls Blue Lock. It’s a no-balls-barred battle to become Japan’s next top striker, in this Squid Game–meets–World Cup manga, now a global hit anime with two explosive seasons!
Rated: 16+
Attack on Titan Definitive Hardcover Collection By Hajime Isayama
JP Title: 進撃の巨人 特装合本版
Debut Date: Spring 2026
The global manga hit returns in a massive new deluxe edition, including three volumes in one hardcover book featuring faux leather cover, gold foil stamping, library-style binding, and color pages that aren’t even included in the Japanese edition!
For eons, humans ruled the natural world. But a century ago, everything changed when the Titans appeared. Giant, grotesque parodies of the human form, these monsters consumed all but a few thousand human beings, who took refuge behind giant walls. Today, the threat of the Titans is a distant memory, and a boy named Eren yearns to explore the world beyond the wall. But what began as a childish dream will become an all-too-real nightmare when a Titan finally knocks a hole in the wall, and humanity is once again on the brink of extinction.
Rated: 16+
ACTION & ADVENTURE:
DRAGON CIRCUS Story by Eiichi Shimizu Illustrated by Tomohiro Shimoguchi
JP Title: DRAGON CIRCUS
Debut Date: Spring 2026
DEATH TO ALL DRAGONS!
The sudden appearance of massive monsters known as “Dragons” throws the world into chaos. The New United Nations, created as a response to the threat, puts together a team known as the Dragonslayers, including (among others) a vampire, an android, a witch, the animated remains of the legendary ogre Shuten Doji, and….a little girl?! Ace pilot Momo may still be in grade school, but she just might have the skills to save humankind.
Taut action, propulsive storytelling, and sly humor take this seinen action series to new heights and unexpected places!
On the fateful day the dragons first appeared, Dr. Abe’s beloved died in the initial onslaught. Now he has created an android in his own image: the DS-08 “Shikigami,” part of the NUN (New United Nations)’s top secret project to counter this monstrous invasion. In addition to the Shikigami, this team of “Dragonslayers” is comprised of members of the many races that have up till now lived in obscurity: elves, dwarves, witches, vampires, and more… As the team assembles to fight off the massive and mysterious creatures that now menace humanity, however, one member stands apart from the rest: Momo Agatsuma, the young daughter of an NUN scientist and ace pilot par excellence. Together this motley crew must fend off the greatest threat the world has ever faced…!
Rated: 13+
Stella Must Die Story by Yasunori Mitsunaga Illustrated by Ine Ohtaka
JP Title: 絶対死なないステラ姫
Debut Date: Spring 2026
From the acclaimed creator of Princess Resurrection and Time Stop Hero comes the darkly comical tale of a princess with a most curious self-defense mechanism… Parasyte meets Cinderella in this zany fantasy manga about a princess who just won’t seem to die!
After losing her father, the king of Hillvalley, Princess Stella is thrown into the middle of a succession crisis. Her stepsister Illusia wastes no time in trying to assassinate Stella and seize the throne, but all her attempts mysteriously go awry. Little does anyone know that the young princess has a hidden protector…in the most unlikely of places!
Rated: 16+
Magical Karina By Coyuri Tono
JP Title: まじかるカリナ
Debut Date: Spring 2026
A funny and heartfelt action manga that puts a poignant new spin on the magical girl formula, perfect for fans of Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura.
Karina never asked to be a magical girl! In fact, not even a few hours have passed since her dear grandmother’s sudden death when a boy meets her in the street and calls on her to transform. But how can a sarcastic teenager from a working-class family juggle her grief, her schoolwork, her waitressing job, and fighting death itself?
Just this morning, Karina was sitting at the breakfast table, cleaning up the miso soup her grandmother dropped on the floor. Now, she’s being called out to class to go to the hospital and see her grandma’s body…with a piece of seaweed still stuck to her uniform. She still finds time to make it to her hourly job at a family restaurant, but on the way home, she sees a glittering, elephant-like creature floating in the sky… And a teenage boy appears to push her out of the way of its attack! Death is stalking Karina’s town in a form that only she can see, and this boy gives her two choices: Die or transform and fight! She can scarcely follow what he’s saying, but her clothes do change, and the staff she finds herself holding has enough heft to do some serious damage… But is there space in Karina’s life for getting revenge for her grandma and fighting magical monsters when she’s already stretched to her limit?
Rated: 13+
CRIME & DRAMA:
Whoever You Are, I Love You By Keiku Hagiwara
JP Title: きみが誰でも愛してる
Debut Date: Spring 2026
Evil lurks beneath the most beautiful surfaces…
Temp worker Yuki Sato is ready to settle down with the perfect man she met on a dating app—until she discovers her fiancé may not be who he seems. When the beguiling Shun Majima confronts her with the details of the mysterious death of his brother Kosuke, Yuki finds herself torn between the man she thinks she loves and the handsome stranger whose revelations threaten to upend her life completely.
A world of digital deceit gives way to very real danger in this tense romantic crime thriller.
Despite being unmarried at 32, Yuki Sato is happy—she enjoys temping as a greeter, and more importantly, she’s engaged to a handsome, successful man she met on a dating app…until Shun Majima walks into her life and blows it up.
Does her fiancé seem too good to be true because he is? And was he really involved in the death of Shun’s brother? As Yuki’s life slowly starts to unravel, she finds herself drawn into the seedy underbelly of Tokyo, caught in a web of lies and manipulation. She and Shun join forces to uncover the truth, but will they be able to do so before it’s too late…?
Rated: 16+
That’s Not Love By Peko Watanabe
JP Title: 恋じゃねえから
Debut Date: Spring 2026
Two female friends from middle school reunite as adults in this hard-hitting and personal drama manga. What begins as idle reminiscing leads to painful revelations as they heal the reopened wounds of their past in this highly-anticipated first print release from the creator of 1122: For a Happy Marriage.
Drawing on real events and the Japanese #MeToo movement and Watanabe’s own reflections on friendship and womanhood, That’s Not Love won a place on the industry insider poll Kono Manga ga Sugoi! as one of the best manga of the year.
Forty-year-old Akane attends the opening of a new art exhibit by her former cram school teacher, Mr. Imai, who has now become a sculptor. Akane notices that Mr. Imai’s new sculpture bears a striking resemblance to her middle school best friend, Yukari, who she remembers suddenly transferred out of the school. It even has a distinct scar that Yukari shared with Akane privately. Wondering what this could mean, Akane reaches out to her old friend, and learns that there was something else going on when they were children that she only partly understood. Was Yukari just a muse? Or something with more upsetting implications?
Rated: 18+
Lonely Deaths Lie Thick as Snow Story by Hajime Inoryu Illustrated by Shota Ito
JP Title: 降り積もれ孤独な死よ
Debut Date: Spring 2026
The shocking, gritty new seinen crime thriller from the team behind bestselling manga My Dearest Self With Malice Aforethought. A unique blend of cinematic art and realistic storytelling undergirds the terrifying mysteries and wild reversals of this dark police procedural, which will appeal to older readers of crime novels and graphic fiction far beyond the usual manga audience.
A routine call regarding a burglary at an empty mansion leads cocky young police detective Jin Saeki to a gruesome and shocking discovery. The corpses of 13 children, along with the presence of a strange symbol, spur a manhunt for Juzo Haikawa, the mysterious absentee owner of the house. So begins an investigation (and an obsession) that will take Jin all over Japan and into the darkest recesses of both the past and the human soul.
Rated: 16+
COZY & COMFORTING:
Cat-Life Balance By Akari Otokawa
JP Title: 黒根さんはニャーと鳴かない
Debut Date: Spring 2026
In this office romance manga with a feline twist, a people-pleaser teetering on the edge of burnout discovers his antisocial coworker’s secret: She only smiles when she’s playing with stray cats! Now he’s got a choice: Keep up the façade and keep saying “yes” to every extra task and happy hour, or risk his perfect work image to sneak off for some simple, frisky fun?
Fans of Sweat & Soap and Smoking Behind the Supermarket With You will love this new series from the creator of Cells at Work! Lady.
Everyone at work loves Mamoru, because Mamoru never says no. Replacing lightbulbs, carrying boxes, taking over an impossible client from a retiring colleague… He’ll do it all, and it’s earned him the nickname “Prince of the Office.” This glittering extrovert’s opposite at work is Kurone, a quiet woman in another department who soaks up her boss’s senseless mood swings with a blank stoicism. After one particularly long day, Mamoru is thrilled to be walking home alone, sipping a beer (because all his colleagues went drinking and left him to work overtime), when he encounters something strange: The usually glum Kurone is in the park, gleefully playing with stray cats. This secret seems silly, but it brings Kurone joy. It’s the start of an unlikely relationship that will lead Mamoru to start reflecting on his life and who he really wants to share it with. Is work really all there is, or can he strike a balance with the help of these fluffy new friends–and a human who might become something more?
Rated: 16+
Chi’s Sweet France Story by Konami Kanata Illustrated by Catherine Bouvier
JP Title: ＣＨＩ ＥＮ ＦＲＡＮＣＥ ～『チーズスイートホーム』フランス版～
Debut Date: Spring 2026
A coda that picks up exactly where the main series left off: with Chi & Family in Paris.
Chi & her human family have moved to Paris but, even before the boxes are unpacked, relocate to ‘burbs just so the cat may still venture outdoors.
WIND BREAKER and The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity Creators team-up for a unique illustration & interview
With another season of the WIND BREAKER anime completed and the debut season of The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity anime just beginning, Kodansha thought it a perfect time to check-in with both manga creators Satoru Nii and Saka Mikami for a collaborative interview!
Not only that but both series creators have teamed up for a fun and cute crossover illustration with series stars Haruka Sakura and Kotoha Tachibana from WIND BREAKER, locking arms in friendship with Rintaro Tsumugi and Kaoruko Waguri from The Fragrant Flowers Blooms with Dignity.
Fans of both series can read the interview conducted by the Kodansha English manga editors from both series below with answers by both creators imagining how the characters from each series would meet and more!
Conversation with Satoru Nii, author of WIND BREAKER:
Kodansha: The story of WIND BREAKER has a lot to do with strength and the fighting ability of all the rival gangs — but beyond the action, what would you say that WIND BREAKER is about?
Satoru Nii: I believe that it is a work about the importance of being with another person, and the communication needed to maintain that bond.
Kodansha: How did you feel when approached about this collaboration promotion with fellow mangaka Saka Mikami-sensei?
Satoru Nii: I felt incredibly grateful. It’s actually my first time doing a collaboration illustration in general, so it was a new challenge for me—one that I enjoyed doing.
Kodansha: Is there anyone from The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity that you think would be friends with Sakura and the rest of Bofurin?
Satoru Nii: All the characters in The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity are good kids, so I think they would get along with Sakura and everyone in Bofurin. I think they’d become good friends, actually—as long as the Fragrant Flower characters aren’t too intimidated by the guys.
Conversation with Saka Mikami, author of The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity:
Kodansha: The bad relationship between Chidori High School and Kikyo Academy forms an important basis for the story. What inspired you to build a story around this concept of feuding schools?
Saka Mikami: Since this is essentially a shonen manga in terms of genre, I thought that having an obvious conflicting relationship would make it retain more of that shonen manga feel, in addition to making the story easier to understand. I decided how intense to make that conflict through discussions with my supervising editor.
Kodansha: The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity explores different types of human relationships: romantic, friendly, and familial. Were you always planning to explore all these types of relationships? Or did some themes get added as the story developed?
Saka Mikami: I did intend to explore them all along. Although the romantic relationship between Rintaro and Kaoruko is the catalyst for the story, one’s range of emotion broadens the more one interacts with others, and it didn’t feel right to ignore that fact.
Of course, being able to explore these elements to this depth is made possible by the support of the readers, for which I’m very grateful.
Kodansha: Rintaro and Kaoruko make a cute pair, and we see how much they care for each other as the story unfolds. What do you find most interesting about developing their romance?
Saka Mikami: While there are moments when it feels like I’m watching from a distance, there are plenty of times I find myself so drawn into their feelings that I cry or get embarrassed—it’s quite a strange sensation.
Moreover, I have nothing but respect for them and how they make me want to be someone who can care for and cherish another person like that.
Kodansha: The anime adaptation is just around the corner. For fans discovering this series for the first time, what do you hope will get them hooked?
Saka Mikami: I think the number one thing I want them to notice is the importance of communicating things to other people. After all, even if you understand that concept mentally, actually doing it isn’t so easy—enough that it’s an act of courage.
Meeting someone you want to know more about and care for is such a precious thing. It would be nice if this series could help people see that, remind them of it, or inspire them to seek it out.
Kodansha: Regarding this latest collaboration with WIND BREAKER, which characters from Furin High School do you think would get along with Rintaro, Kaoruko, or their friends?
Saka Mikami: Putting Rintaro and Kaoruko anywhere near Sakura would activate his romance sensor like crazy, which I think would be a lot of fun to see. Overall, though, all the main WIND BREAKER characters are good people as well, so I can picture everyone getting along with each other.
Own the Kinokuniya-Exclusive Art
If you’d like to own this crossover illustration for yourself, as well as replica shikishi featuring recently created art by both mangaka, you need only visit a Kinokuniya store and online:
How to get these Kinokuniya-exclusive shikishi and poster:
Purchase any volume of WIND BREAKER or The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity in English in store or online to receive a shikishi from the purchased series.
Purchase at least one volume each from both series, and receive both shikishi boards and a mini poster with the exclusive collaboration art.
*Please note that each shikishi and mini poster are limited to one per person. // Only applies to English book purchases. // Available while supplies last.
Interview answers from each creator were translated from the original Japanese to English with Kodansha’s thanks by The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity translation contributor Lindsey Clifford.
Get ready to discover your next favorite series with Volume 1s starting at $0.99
Now is your chance to jumpstart your manga collection whether your looking for gripping sci-fi stories, intense action and horror or heartwarming romance, comedy and adventures, we have you covered during the Kodansha Manga Starter Packs digital sale! Whether you’re a manga veteran or a newbie looking to dive in, there’s always a volume 1 ready to be your new favorite series.
Sale Ends Monday, July 28th, 2025!
For a limited time get volume 1s for just $0.99 and additional volumes up to 50% off for amazing manga starter stories like:
Witch Hat Atelier, a beautifully drawn fantasy adventure manga that explores a world where magic is a secret, guarded art performed by drawing intricate symbols.
Ajin: Demi-Human, A high-octane thriller centered on immortal beings with horrifying powers and the ethical conflicts surrounding their existance.
Land of the Lustrous: A visually stunning manga about gemstone-like beings struggling with identity and existence while batting constant monstrous threats.
Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro: A comedy manga centered on the playful, teasing dynamic between a high school girl and her shy upperclassman.
Take advantage of these amazing discounts by purchasing on kodansha.localhost/ or by visiting any of our participating digital manga vendors:
Want to learn more about the varied and exciting series featured in the Kodansha Manga Starter Packs digital sale Take a look below for details on five recommended series!
Witch Hat Atelier By Kamome Shirahama
In a world where everyone takes wonders like magic spells and dragons for granted, Coco is a girl with a simple dream: She wants to be a witch. But everybody knows magicians are born, not made, and Coco was not born with a gift for magic. Resigned to her un-magical life, Coco is about to give up on her dream to become a witch…until the day she meets Qifrey, a mysterious, traveling magician. After secretly seeing Qifrey perform magic in a way she’s never seen before, Coco soon learns what everybody “knows” might not be the truth, and discovers that her magical dream may not be as far away as it may seem…
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…?
Fourteen-year-old Yukio Tanaka is one heck of a boring guy. He has no hobbies, a weak taste in music, and only a small vestige of a personality. His shy and somewhat neurotic personality makes him his own worst enemy. Little does he know that his life will be forever changed when he meets rocker Ryusuke Minami, an unpredictable sixteen-year-old with a cool dog named Beck. Ryusuke has just returned to Japan from America, and when he inspires Yukio to get into music, the two begin a journey through the world of rock ‘n’ roll dreams! Lace up your Docs and head to the mosh pit—Harold Sakuishi’s highly addictive manga series that spawned the hit anime is back at last!
Shamans possess mysterious powers that allow them to commune with gods, spirits, and even the dead…and Manta Oyamada’s about to learn all about them, because his class just welcomed a new transfer student: Yoh Asakura, a boy from way off in Izumo…and a shaman in training!
Nothing interesting is happening in Makoto Ozaki’s first year of high school. His life is a series of quiet humiliations: low-grade bullies, unreliable friends, and the constant frustration of his adolescent lust. But one night, a pale, thin girl knocks him to the ground in an alley and offers him a choice. Now everything is different. Daylight is searingly bright. Food tastes awful. And worse than anything is the terrible, consuming thirst. The tiny shames of his old life have been replaced by two towering horrors: the truth of what will slake his awful craving, and high school itself.
San Diego, Prepare to Dive! This summer, Kodansha is bringing you the ultimate shopping experience and a chance to discover featured manga like The Ghost in the Shell, Mushishi, and Witch Hat Atelier at the biggest pop culture event of the year, San Diego Comic-Con (July 24-27, 2025 at San Diego Convention Center)
With the support of Kinokuniya USA, the Kodansha booth will feature unique offerings, including pre-release sales of the hottest manga of the summer and an exclusive gift with preorders of upcoming products.
On a tight budget? Not a problem! Sign up for a Kodansha Reader account (or show us that you already have an account, and we’ll send you home with an exclusive Kodansha sticker pack, totally free!
And don’t forget to check out the mini-gallery featuring sketches and messages from legendary Kodansha creators like Masamune Shirow (The Ghost in the Shell), Tetsuya Chiba (Ashita no Joe), and Saka Mikami (The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity). You can even get a miniature replica of these pieces when you purchase a copy of these manga at the booth.
So come and check out the Kodansha Booth #5542 at SDCC Exhibitor Hall (near Entrance C).
2025 Eisner Nominations from Kodansha
This year, Kodansha is excited to have the legendary and culturally relevant manga series in the running for the prestigious Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards. Happening Friday, July 25, 2025, starting at 8:00 PM PDT in the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Indigo Ballroom, fans and professionals can get the chance to attend the event as long as they have a Comic-Con International badge.
See below for the Kodansha titles and creators up for awards:
Come and check out the programming by Kodansha at this year’s Comic-Con!
New & Upcoming Kodansha Manga Revealed! Thursday, July 24, 2025 2:00PM – 3:00PM Room: 28DE Programing link: https://sched.co/26whp
Kodansha—purveyors of some of the most exciting & heartfelt manga published today like Blue Lock, Gachiakuta, Witch Hat Atelier, and A Sign of Affection—invites new and veteran fans of manga to an exclusive sneak peek of new and upcoming manga licenses! From print books, to digital manga, premium editions, box sets, and more, get a glimpse of amazing manga series coming soon to a bookshelf near you! Join Kodansha manga experts and super fans Ivan Salazar, Ben Applegate, and Misaki Kido for an exciting look at new and upcoming releases, and even a few surprises.
Manga Publishing Industry Roundtable Thursday, July 24, 2025 5:00PM – 6:00PM Room: 29AB Programing link: https://sched.co/26wlV
Manga is one of the top-selling book categories in North America. Today, there are more manga and webtoons available in print and digital than ever, and more companies are entering the scene. But what are the opportunities and obstacles facing publishers today? Get a taste of what’s hot, what’s not, and what’s next from top publishing industry pros, including Hope Donovan (editorial director, VIZ Media), Sullivan Rouaud (founder, Mangetsu), Shuichi Mochida (COAMIX, Silent Manga Audition), Ben Applegate (director, publishing services, Penguin Random House), Morgan Perry (marketing manager, book publishing, Square Enix America), Ed Chavez (president and editor-in-chief, Denpa Books), and Michael Gombos (senior director of licensed publications, Dark Horse). Moderated by Deb Aoki (Mangasplaining).
More Programming Revealed Soon!
Stay tuned to this blog and use the hashtag #SDCC25_Kodansha on our social media for more updates from Kodansha during San Diego Comic-Con (July 24-27, 2025).
For a limited time, get 50% off digital volumes of cozy series like CITY, A Condition Called Love, Magus of the Library& more!
Still recovering from Anime Expo? Or in the middle of an exhausting summer work schedule? Then, catch your breath, rest your feet, and let these stories carry you away. Whether you’re craving the chaotic laughs, tender feels or beautiful adventures we got you covered with our Con Hangover digital manga sale!
For a limited time, get 50% off digital volumes from series to help you recover with titles like:
CITY: a fast-paced, absurdist comedy that turns everyday life into complete chaos. With his signature sharp art and offbeat humor as seen in Nichijou. It’s unpredictable, hilarious, and totally unhinged—in the best way possible.
A Condition Called Love: a tender, emotionally layered romance that explores what it really means to care for someone—and be cared for in return with gentle pacing and beautifully expressive art.
Mushishi: a quiet, atmospheric masterpiece that blends folklore, philosophy, and the mysteries of nature into a deeply introspective journey centered on the wandering “Mushi Master” Ginko, the series explores encounters with mushi.
Sweetness and Lightning: a heartwarming slice-of-life story that serves up equal parts comfort food and emotional warmth. After the loss of his wife, a single father begins cooking homemade meals for his young daughter.
Drifting Dragons, a visually stunning fantasy adventure that mixes high-flying airship action with mouthwatering culinary detail. Set in a world where sky-faring crews hunt massive dragons
Sale Ends Monday, July 14th, 2025!
Take advantage of these amazing discounts by purchasing on kodansha.localhost/ or by visiting any of our participating digital manga vendors:
Curious to learn more about which series are discounted during the Con Hangoverdigital manga sale? Take a look below for details on five recommended series!
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…
Hotaru is a 16-year-old high school first-year who has always been ambivalent about love, preferring instead to have a lively life with her family and friends. So when she sees her schoolmate, Hananoi-kun, sitting in the snow after a messy, public breakup, she thinks nothing of offering to share her umbrella. But when he asks her out in the middle of her classroom the next day, she can’t help but feel that her life is about to change in a big way…
A story about a poor boy swept away by a kind library mage and the (literal) magic of reading, Magus of the Library is a beautifully-drawn, spirited fantasy adventure, like a Fullmetal Alchemist for all ages! The Magic of the Written Word In the small village of Amun lives a poor boy named Theo. Theo adores books, but because of his pointed ears and impoverished life, he isn’t allowed to use the village library. As he endures the prejudice and hatred of the village, he dreams of going where such things don’t exist: Aftzaak, City of Books. But one day, Theo chances to meet a Kafna–a librarian who works for the great library of Aftzaak–and his life changes forever…
Some live in the deep darkness behind your eyelids. Some eat silence. Some thoughtlessly kill. Some simply drive men mad. They are known as mushi—creatures that came into being shortly after life emerged from the primordial ooze. They still exist parallel to our own lives and can only be seen by a select few. As a mushishi, Ginko is one of the few who are aware of their existense, and this young man with a sardonic smile roams from place to place with the knowledge and skill to aid those unwittingly affected by mushi.
Shikimori seems like the perfect girlfriend: cute, fun to be around, sweet when she wants to be…but she has a cool dark side that comes out under the right circumstances. And her boyfriend Izumi loves to be around when that happens! A fun and funny high school romance with a sassy twist perfect for fans of Nagatoro-san and Komi Can’t Communicate!
Kodansha Reveals New Manga Licenses for Spring 2026
Just announced at Anime Expo 2025—Kodansha unveiled a tremendous roster of their latest print licenses arriving in stores and online, Spring 2026. These new debuts include brand new series like Omori, the dark yet dreamy adventure based on the popular video game, Wicked Spot, a modern magical fantasy about a witch influencer, Kirio’s Fan Club, the odd ball romantic rivalry comedy, as well as fan-requested modern manga classics like MARS 30th Anniversary Edition, Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition, and even a premium The Ghost in the Shell Legacy Edition Manga Box Set.
All this and more mark today’s print title announcements, which will be available starting Spring 2026 at physical and online book vendors like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, and more, while digital editions will be available upon release across all our participating vendors, including Bookwalker, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Nook, Kobo, MyAnimeList, and more! Fans can also purchase and read all Kodansha digital manga directly on kodansha.localhost/.
See below for details on the full slate of debuts coming soon in print and digital from Kodansha.
CELEBRATING CREATORS AT AX 2025:
Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition By PEACH-PIT
Debut Date: Spring 2026
Relive the magic of self-discovery with Amu Hinamori and friends in a refreshed edition of this classic magical-girl manga, featuring new covers, updated translation, and a beautiful color art gallery.
Amu Hinamori is known among her fellow elementary students as a “cool girl” with a spiky personality, but behind closed doors, she’s actually extremely shy and wishes she could be brave enough to embrace her feminine, cutesy side. Her wish is granted in the form of three character eggs that hatch into Guardian Characters—mysterious entities that not only encourage her to achieve her potential but can even power her up by granting special abilities. Together with the student council, Amu must use her newfound powers to stop the evil forces feeding on the darkness in people’s hearts…
Rated: 13+
Shugo Chara! Jewel Joker By PEACH-PIT
Debut Date: Spring 2026
The magical girl classic finally continues with this sequel manga to Shugo Chara! Amu Hinamori, the Joker Guardian, is a middle schooler now—back with friends and rivals old and new.
Sugar and spice, and everything nice—that may be what girls are made of, but Amu Hinamori is so much cooler, especially now that she’s left behind her days at Seiyo Elementary and became a middle schooler! After transferring to Arcana Academy on a special assignment, her role as the Joker Guardian is to intervene in a crisis that is causing students to lose hope and confidence in themselves. But she has another, more important secret mission: to retrieve the all-powerful, mysterious Arcana Jewels.
Rated: 8+
BOX SETS & PREMIUM EDITIONS:
MARS 30th Anniversary Edition By Fuyumi Soryo
Debut Date: Spring 2026
The unforgettable classic shojo manga about two young people against the world who overcome their pain by relying on each other returns, in a glittering metallic hardcover with all-new cover illustrations and translation!
Kira’s life has been marked by pain. Gang violence took her father when she was young, and her mother’s remarriage only inflicted even more appalling scars. She has no trust left to offer the world, so when a ravishingly handsome boy asks her for directions one day, she draws a map and hands it to him without a word. On the other side of the map is one of her drawings, which catches the eye of the boy, a motorcyclist and professional model named Rei. When the two end up in the same class, an outrageous incident will bind them together—Rei promising to model for Kira, in exchange for more of her art. But Rei has also suffered a family tragedy that has worn down his temper to a short, flashing fuse. Can these two damaged souls with nowhere else to turn heal each other, or will they burn themselves out first?
Upon its release in English in 2002, MARS quickly became one of the best-selling shojo manga of all time, on par with Nana. But this beloved classic has been out of print for decades—until now. Kodansha is bringing MARS back for its 35th anniversary with an all-new translation in collectible, 2-in-1 hardcovers featuring glittering metallic covers and new cover illustrations from creator Fuyumi Soryo.
The new edition will be complete in 8 volumes.
Rated: 16+
The Ghost in the Shell Legacy Edition Manga Box Set By Shirow Masamune
Debut Date: Spring 2026
Every page of the defining work of modern cyberpunk returns in an ultimate, uncensored edition that matches the final Japanese manga, packaged in a box set featuring two brand-new illustrations by creator Shirow Masamune, 11 exclusive posters, and a set of multicolored Fuchikoma robot stickers.
Since debuting in Japan in 1989 and in the West as a monthly comics series in 1995, Shirow Masamune’s manga The Ghost in the Shell has become the type species of cyberpunk, with its brain jacks, neural chips, military drones, and optical camo setting the visual standard that would be followed by The Matrix, while its blend of white-hot procedural action and eager intellectual curiosity about the shape of the near future bridged the noir-tinged, American cyberpunk of the 1980s and the globalized, metaphysical stimulation overload that would characterize much of the science fiction of the 21st century.
For decades, the English and Japanese editions of this masterpiece have never quite matched each other. That finally changes with the Legacy Edition, which restores the pages that had been edited in the original The Ghost in the Shell manga. The set also includes the acclaimed Deluxe Edition localization of The Ghost in the Shell 1.5: Human Error Processor and The Ghost in the Shell 2.0: Man-Machine Interface. All three are reproduced in a high-quality hardcover, right-to-left manga format, with all the pages included in the latest version currently in print in Japan.
Also included:
A premium slipcase featuring two brand-new illustrations by original author Shirow Masamune, created specifically for this box.
One new piece and ten posters from the rare, limited-edition 1997 Cyberdelics box set, never before released in English, reproduced in new versions featuring a staggering range of special print effects, including etched metallic paper, vinyl stock, and holographic spot gloss.
The new, 10-inch-wide posters come rolled (not folded) and packed in a rigid box inside the slipcase for added protection.
A set of multicolored Fuchikoma robot stickers, also from Cyberdelics.
A double-sided poster with Shirow-sensei’s explanation of his artistic process and the poster art, never before translated into English.
Rated: 18+
ACTION / ADVENTURE:
GALAXIAS By Ao Hatesaka
Debut Date: Spring 2026
A country girl longing for adventure and a kid with a dragon tail set off on a rip-roaring adventure in this hot new fantasy shonen manga perfect for fans of One Piece, Soul Eater, Fairy Tail, and Gachiakuta.
In a distant corner of the Laniakea Kingdom, humans live alongside powerful beings with strange tails known as dragonfolk. A girl named Jio, whose father has forbidden her from leaving the remote island where they live, yearns to escape the confines of this quiet countryside and explore the world. Everything changes in the moment when Jio meets the mysterious Nereid, who claims to have lost all his memories. The revelations keep coming, as Jio realizes that her father kept her hidden because the whole world is hunting her, setting Jio and Nereid on a path to find the world’s most intrepid explorer, Yuri Holst. Could this living legend be the solution to Jio’s problems? Strange lands and uncharted waters await… Let the grand adventure begin!
Rated: 13+
OMORI By OMOCAT and Nui Konoito
Debut Date: Spring 2026
Teenage Sunny, a nonverbal shut-in (or hikikomori) dealing with the death of his older sister, leaves the house for the first time in years when his old friend Kel appears suddenly on his doorstep. At the same time, Sunny’s dream-world alter ego Omori embarks on a quest with Kel and their friends Aubrey and Hero to search for Basil, a missing member of their group. Together the party must navigate the perils of this strange world, as well as their complicated feelings and repressed memories, to move forward and find what they’ve lost…!
Rated: 13+
Fruit of the Underworld By Aya Kanno
Debut Date: Spring 2026
One Bite and You Can Never Go Back
Ever since the day Seiji climbed down a creepy dark well as a kid to retrieve a wayward ball and picked up an odd-looking pomegranate, he’s had to dodge an unending stream of near-fatal “accidents” that push everyone around him away—except for his best friend Haru. But all that changes when their high school bus crashes, killing everybody on board but Seiji. Suddenly, rumors from his childhood about that fateful well reaching into the depths of the underworld take on a whole new light, and Seiji is launched into an epic adventure to save his friend—and his own soul.
The journey into the underworld of Greek legend as never seen before begins in this darkly thrilling action-adventure, perfect for fans of Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, Attack on Titan, Chainsaw Man, and Bleach!
Rated: 13+
Wicked Spot By Sal Jiang
Debut Date: Spring 2026
Selfies + Spells = Wickedly Sweet Seduction!
After spending over a century hiding in the shadows, powerful sorceress Sadako stumbles upon the dazzling world of social media and decides to post her way into her first real contact with humanity. She soon becomes an internet sensation, attracting a huge following of doting fans—and shocks them all by announcing she is a witch. The big reveal turns one follower called Hanako, a lonely young woman with seemingly inhuman strength and a curious resistance to magic, into a dedicated hater, and inadvertently sends them both on a whirlwind adventure beyond their wildest dreams!
From popular yuri author Sal Jiang comes a fun, sexy, and free-spirited tale of modern-day magic!
Rated: 16+
Drawing From Your Memory By Shiki Kawabata
Debut Date: Spring 2026
A poignant and funny time-skip manga about grief, art, and love, like Orange meets Monthly Girls’ Nozaki-kun, from the creator behind the Netflix miniseries Switched. Complete in five volumes.
Mahoro Haruta is a manga artist whose first series became a huge bestseller. Her publisher expects her sophomore effort to be even better. There’s just one problem: Mahoro has no idea what to draw next, because she plagiarized the story that skyrocketed her to stardom from a high school classmate named Yukishima, who shared a few precious months with Mahoro in the school’s manga club before passing away and leaving her his notebook filled with all his story ideas. When, after a strange encounter, Mahoro wakes up ten years in the past—around the time of her first meeting with Yukishima—she realizes this could be her chance to redeem herself, erase her regrets, and maybe even save Yukishima’s life…
Rated: 13+
ROMANCE & COMEDIES:
Love at First Memory By Narumi Hasegaki
Debut Date: Spring 2026
An heiress battling amnesia must piece together which of her four suitors ultimately stole her heart in this upbeat, self-aware reverse harem romcom manga from the creator of Boss Bride Days!
Mia Takanashi, heiress to the famed Takanashi Group, has had the world at her feet since birth. With the future of the company to think about, deciding on a marriage partner early would have its advantages. However, just as Mia set her heart on one of several charming suitors, amnesia from a freak car accident sets her back to square one! Four wildly different boys appear before her, claiming to be her intended fiancé, but which one of them did Mia ultimately choose? She may just have to fall in love all over again to find out!
Rated: 16+
Kirio Fan Club By Chikyuu no Sakana Ponchan
Debut Date: Spring 2026
What would you do if your crush had ear-splitting farts?
For Aimi and Nami, the answer is to cry tears of joy for being able to pinpoint at a distance the object of their affections, Kirio, from a single toot. These are the kinds of deep, philosophical questions the two friends/rivals in romance pose to each other to prove their love for this boy who hardly seems to know they exist. That won’t stop them from conducting nightly rituals to entice him into their dreams, though, or listing out what exactly they like about him, down to the very last organ. But when push comes to shove, will they choose their hilarious friendship over a shot at love?
Get ready for a rip-roaring romcom about the friendship behind what is fair in love and war! A must-read for fans of Nichijou and City!
Rated: 13+
Hitting Rewind With You By Hanamaru Kira
Debut Date: Spring 2026
Two college students desperate to live out the high school glory days they never had fall for each other in this silly and sweet romcom manga! This fun and escapist (non-)age gap romance is brimming with youthful nostalgia and perfect for fans of My Love Story With Yamada-kun at Lv 999 and In the Clear Moonlit Dusk.
Wakaba Kayano is a 20-year-old college student who was too busy studying in high school to experience the quintessential personal milestones of her teenage years, like going on an afterschool date. In a moment of desperation, she goes out on Halloween in her old high school uniform in an effort to take back some of those heart-fluttering experiences she never had, and in doing encounters Fumito, a boy clad in the quintessential high school boy uniform. Whisked away on the date of her dreams, she panics when forced to reveal her true age–only to find out that Fumito is in college, too!
Rated: 13+
Love Out on a Limb By Yoko Nogiri
Debut Date: Spring 2026
From the acclaimed shojo creator of Those Not-So-Sweet Boys, Love in Focus, and That Wolf-Boy Is Mine! comes a new high school manga filled with taboo thoughts and curiosities. This love triangle is not so simple!
After her divorced parents remarry, Yui returns to her hometown for the first time in eight years. She has not seen her older brother, Hayato, during that time, so she is amazed to see how popular and grown-up he has become. She also bumps into her childhood friend, Ritsu, who she remembers as a crybaby, and almost doesn’t recognize him. Now living with her brother again, she can’t help but notice her heart fluttering with each interaction. Does this mean she might like him?! Knowing how taboo these thoughts are, Ritsu suggests he and Yui date as a way to nip her feelings for Hayato in the bud. Yet this family tree may not actually be as simple as it seems…
Rated: 16+
Perfectly Fine on My Own, So My Fiancé Can Twist in the Wind By Jun Hareta, Original Story by Yahiro Arase
Debut Date: Spring 2026
Who needs love? I’m perfectly fine on my own!
Noble young lady Nicole has had her heart broken more times than she can count. Her fiancé Keios is so devoted to Princess Caroline, his childhood friend and the unrivalled belle of their aristocratic academy, that he seems to forget Nicole even exists. But no longer. Tired of waiting around and conforming to Keios’ needs, Nicole makes a most liberating decision: I’ll give up on love and go it alone. Her arranged marriage may be unavoidable, but that doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy her own life, right? Emboldened and excited, Nicole begins to shine as she never had before—so brightly, in fact, that even the clueless Keios can’t help but notice…
Rated: 16+
Yuri & BL:
Marrying the Dark Knight (For Her Money) By Sometime Suoh
Debut Date: Spring 2026
How far would you go to save your family? Clarice is of noble birth, but her father is choking on debts, and her sick sister needs treatment or she’ll die. There’s only one thing to do: marry the Dark Knight, a terrifying beast-like warrior who always appears in armor. But could it be that, underneath the Dark Knight’s armor, she (!!) is really something very different? Don’t miss this new enemies-to-lovers(?) dark fantasy rom-com yuri manga!
Clarice’s younger sister is her whole world. In a world of monsters, born into a noble family that’s gone broke, there’s nothing Clarice wouldn’t do for her. So when she gets sick, and there’s only one way to save her, Clarice doesn’t blink! She agrees to an arranged marriage with the Dark Knight, a ferocious warrior who goes everywhere in magical armor—even their wedding! Afterward, Clarice is ready to consummate the marriage and charm her new spouse into paying to save her sister’s life. There’s just one problem: The Dark Knight won’t let her into the bedroom! And Clarice finally finds out why…she’s secretly a woman! With female knights forbidden, the Knight seriously lacking in social graces, a household full of servants scared out of their wits, and monster fights breaking out constantly, Clarice realizes that this wedding of convenience is going to be more inconvenient than she bargained for!
Rated: 16+
Voices in the Sea Foam By Kotaro
Debut Date: Spring 2026
Can true love break a curse crossing lifetimes?
For years, Aito thought he was just a normal kid—until the day he fell in love with a boy at school. Suddenly, a flood of memories come rushing back, reminding him of his first life as the tragic little mermaid who risked everything for her prince, only to fade away into foam. But memories aren’t all that Aito inherits, as a mysterious power wrenches away his ability to speak or stand before his crush without agonizing pain. Ever since, Aito has sworn off love in self-defense, but a fateful encounter with his charming college classmate Toru might just irrevocably shake up his world…
Rated: 16+
Blue Summer Haze By Dondon
Debut Date: Spring 2026
A baseball diamond, a love triangle, and two catchers with their eyes on the same pitcher bring the heat in this baseball BL perfect for fans of Nagisa Furuya and Ema Toyama!
Makoto’s favorite childhood memories are of playing baseball with his best friend and former teammate Shuusuke, the catcher of his baseball team. When Shuusuke suddenly moves away, Makoto is left devastated, but clings to the promise of the two of them someday reuniting at Koshien Stadium. Now in high school, Makoto is the star pitcher of his high school’s baseball team, and he and Hokuto, the team’s catcher, are an all-star duo. But one day, Shuusuke suddenly transfers to Makoto’s school, and now baseball isn’t the only thing on the boys’ minds under the scorching heat of the baseball diamond…
Rated: 16+
What If I Said,”I Love You”? By Kumosoku
Debut Date: Spring 2026
A friends to lovers, first love BL, perfect for fans of My Summer of You, My Ultramarine Sky, and Love on the Horizon!
Kazuho and Tokio have been best friends since elementary school. As the years went on, Kazuho realized his feelings for Tokio were more than just friends, and he began pulling away from Tokio, desperate to keep his feelings a secret. While once close enough to give each other piggyback rides, the two boys, now high school students, pass each other in the hallway as the distance grows between them. But when Kazuho can’t keep his feelings hidden from Tokio any longer, will the two friends only continue to drift apart, or will it be the start to them experiencing the feelings of first love together?
Rated: 16+
Smells Like Green Spirit By Saburo Nagai
Debut Date: Spring 2026
Peeking in Pandora’s box is not for the faint of heart.
Viciously bullied for being gay, junior high schooler Mishima struggles to belong in his hopelessly rural hometown. In fact, the only time he really feels alive is when he dolls himself up with a stolen tube of his single-mother’s lipstick. But that pocket of joy is forever changed when he loses the lipstick, only to find soccer team ace Kirino, one of Mishima’s worst tormenters, trying it on in secret on their school roof. So begins a bittersweet summer of searching for a place where the two can be their true selves, but Pandora’s box is not always so easily opened…
Rated: 16+
Honey Bee & Lemon Balm By Jil Hashikura
Debut Date: Spring 2026
A former yakuza falls fast and hard for the delicate florist who sets him on the right path in this quirky and heartfelt BL manga!
Kaoru Mitsuya has all but given up on living a meaningful life. Ensnared at a young age by the temptations of organized crime, he has neither a penny to his name nor anything he holds truly dear. It is at this lowest point that he encounters Yuichiro Shirouzu—a delicately beautiful florist with a secret or two hidden beneath his kind demeanor. When Yuichiro offers Kaoru a job at his nighttime flower shop, it marks a turning point for Kaoru, both in how he lives his life, and whom he wishes to spend it with…
This is your opportunity to share your Twilight Out of Focus pride with the world. What makes you the number one Twilight Out of Focus fan? What do you love about the series? What does it mean to you? Who are your favorite characters? What’s the fanfic reimagining that lives rent free in your head?
Tell us with an original video, photo, or comment. Get creative and have fun with it!
Step 1: Share your love! Take a picture or a video or write a comment to express your love for Twilight Out of Focus. Tell us what the series means to you!
Step 2: Spread the word Post it on X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky or TikTok with the hashtag #Kodansha_TwilightOutOfFocus
Step 3: Complete the entry form Fill out this entry form by 11:59 PM PDT on July 18th, 2025 and include the link to your post.
One lucky fan will be selected and contacted via the email provided in the form.
Note: All contestants must be at least 18 years old or have permission from their guardian to participate.
And remember to pick up your very own copy of the US-exclusive collector’s Twilight Out of Focus Box Set, complete with a bonus booklet featuring original art, extra manga pages, and gorgeous full color illustrations!
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!
Go back to the dorm room where it all began…
Film enthusiast Mao Tsuchiya and his lone wolf roommate 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 approach Mao “in that way,” and ③ That they’ll respect each other’s “private time.”
The second-years’ ground rules should ensure a peaceful life together in their dorm, but reality is never as simple as it seems in the movies, and some things are not so easily promised…
And don’t forget, you can still download the special Twilight Out of Focus digital wallpapers—based on the box set artwork—for your mobile device and computer by visiting the exclusive digital wallpaper page.
KODANSHA Ltd. and Concacaf Join Forces for Landmark BLUE LOCK Collaboration Bridging the Worlds of Anime and Football.
KODANSHA Ltd., the iconic Japanese publishing house behind globally beloved manga and anime titles, and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf), are proud to announce a first-of-its-kind collaboration featuring the critically acclaimed manga and anime series BLUE LOCK.
This marks Concacaf’s inaugural partnership with a Japanese Manga (Comic) and Anime (Animated Series), uniting two global passions through a shared spirit of competition, ambition, and teamwork. Through this distinct alliance, fans across the Americas will experience exclusive original content, limited-edition merchandise, and crossover activations that blend the intensity of international football with the storytelling power of Japanese animation. BLUE LOCK, based on the award-winning manga created by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura, follows the intense journey of Japan’s top strikers as they battle in a high-stakes training program to become the ultimate forward. With themes of ambition, competition, and teamwork, BLUE LOCK resonates deeply with global football culture, making it the perfect fit for this groundbreaking collaboration.
“This is a thrilling moment for us” said Yohei Takami, Managing Director, Global Business Development Division of KODANSHA Ltd. “BLUE LOCK has already captured the hearts of anime and sports fans alike, and partnering with CONCACAF allows us to reach an even wider audience in a way that’s never been done before. It’s more than a marketing collaboration; it’s a cultural exchange between the worlds of anime and international football.”
CONCACAF echoed the excitement,“This collaboration with KODANSHA and BLUE LOCK is a unique and innovative way to engage new generations of football fans in our region” said Philippe Moggio, Concacaf General Secretary. “Anime is a powerful storytelling medium, and this project helps us build bridges between communities, cultures, and fans through the shared love of the game.”
Launching in mid-2025 and running through 2026 leading up to the World Cup, the multi-phase collaboration will include:
Special events during key CONCACAF tournaments
Limited edition BLUE LOCK x CONCACAF merchandise
Cross-platform campaigns across anime, manga, and football fan communities
Artworks Entertainment, a key licensing and brand strategy partner, is overseeing implementation of the project across the Americas and other key markets. All licensing inquiries for BLUE LOCK x CONCACAF opportunities should be directed to:
Further updates and exclusive announcements will be shared as the collaboration continues to unfold.
About KODANSHA Ltd.:
KODANSHA is a leading Japanese publishing company known worldwide for its iconic manga titles such as Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, and BLUE LOCK. KODANSHA continues to shape global pop culture through its innovative storytelling and commitment to creative excellence. https://www.kodansha.com/index.html
About BLUE LOCK:
Written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and illustrated by Yusuke Nomura, BLUE LOCK has captivated audiences since its debut in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine in August 2018, and it has now surpassed 45 million copies in circulation worldwide. The English edition is published by Kodansha USA Publishing, with up to Volume 31 available [https://kodansha.us/series/bluelock/], while the Spanish edition is released by Editorial Planeta, currently up to Volume 26 [https://www.planetadelibros.com/serie-blue-lock/16543].
The anime adaptation of BLUE LOCK began in 2022 and currently includes two seasons and a spin-off movie, BLUE LOCK: Episode Nagi. All are available exclusively on Crunchyroll in North America and Latin America. For more information, visit: https://bluelock-anime-en.com/
About CONCACAF:
The Confederation of North, Central America, and Caribbean Association Football (Concacaf) is one of FIFA’s six continental confederations, servicing 41 Member Associations, from Canada in the north to Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana in the south. Concacaf means football first. Our members are united by a shared vision: Love For Our Game, as well as a unique mission, to develop, promote and manage football throughout the region with integrity, transparency, and passion in order to inspire participation in the game.
Experience series from Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine and Bessatsu Shonen Magazine with Volume 1s atarting at $0.99
Straight from the pages of Weekly Shonen Magazine & Bessatsu Shonen Magazine! The legendary magazines that brought you such exciting and heartfelt series like Blue Lock, Shangri-la Frontier, O Maidens In Your Savage Season, EDENS ZERO, and more are on deep discount for a limited time during the Shonen Magazine digital manga!
Sale Ends Monday, July 07st, 2025!
For a limited time get volume 1s for just $0.99 and additional volumes up to 50% off for select Weekly Shonen Magazine & Bessatsu Shonen Magazine series like:
Blue Lock, a high-stakes sports thriller that turns soccer into psychological warfare. With only one spot available to become Japan’s top striker, hundreds of elite players are thrown into an intense, cutthroat training program
Shangri-La Frontier, a fast-paced, game-obsessed adventure where the real challenge begins after the final boss. Follow a “trash game” pro as he takes on the most polished VR game on the market—and pushes it to its absolute limits
Ace of the Diamond, a gripping, character-driven baseball manga that captures the sweat, spirit, and strategy of the game.
The Shadows of Who We Once Were, a dark, suspenseful psychological thriller that explores the unraveling of trust, innocence, and morality
Take advantage of these amazing discounts by purchasing on kodansha.localhost/ or by visiting any of our participating digital manga vendors:
Want to learn more about the varied and exciting series featured in the Shonen Magazine digital manga sale? Take a look below for details on five recommended series!
Blue Lock By Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura
After a disastrous defeat at the 2018 World Cup, Japan’s team struggles to regroup. But what’s missing? An absolute Ace Striker, who can guide them to the win. The Japan Football Union is hell-bent on creating a striker who hungers for goals and thirsts for victory, and who can be the decisive instrument in turning around a losing match…and to do so, they’ve gathered 300 of Japan’s best and brightest youth players. Who will emerge to lead the team…and will they be able to out-muscle and out-ego everyone who stands in their way?
Second-year high school student Rakuro Hizutome loves nothing more than finding so-called “trash games” and beating the crap out of them. When he decides to change things up by playing a new,“god-tier” VR game known as Shangri-La Frontier (a.k.a. SLF), he does what he does best: min-maxes, skips the prologue, and jumps straight into action! Rakuro may be a seasoned gamer, but a meeting with an old rival will change the fate of every SLF player forever.
Clad in nothing but shorts and a bird mask, Rakuro (player name: Sunraku) launches into the world of SLF. Things are going well at first as he takes down a goblin, a bunny, and even a python. But then Sunraku comes up against a huge, hard-hitting wolf known as Lycagon the Nightslayer. Will Sunraku’s years of “trash game” experience be enough, or is he about to suffer a rude awakening just a few hours into his SLF adventure?
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.
A team-up made in manga heaven! The wildly popular Monogatari novel series by renowned bestselling author NISIOISIN has now been reimagined into a knockout manga adapation by none other than legendary artist Oh!Great (Tenjo Tenghe, Air Gear)!
One day, high-school student Koyomi Araragi catches a girl named Hitagi Senjougahara when she trips. But—much to his surprise—she doesn’t weigh anything. At all. She says an encounter with a so-called “crab” took away all her weight …
Monsters have been here since the beginning. Always. Everywhere.
O Maidens In Your Savage Season By Nao Emoto and Mari Okada
As a teen, how do you start thinking about sex? This debut manga from anime legend Mari Okada (Maquia) follows five girls and their five moving, funny, and mortifying answers. Join their bittersweet (and a little spicy) journey from girlhood to… whatever comes next! One of Japan’s top female screenwriters, Okada hones her knack for aching drama and wry humor that became her trademark with anime like anohana and Maquia. Amid an explosion of graphic novels about girls’ teenage years, like Lumberjanes and That One Summer, O Maidens brings a diverse, fresh, and hilarious perspective on how it feels to leave childhood behind. Anime coming soon!
Kazusa’s first high school literature club meeting starts with five girls being asked,“What’s one thing you want to do before you die?” When one of them blurts out,“Sex,” it launches these new friends down a raucous, embarrassing, all-too-relatable path.
Visit booth #2053 for Manga recommendations, giveaways & more!
Are you an educator or librarian going to the 2025 American Library Association Annual event? Here’s your chance to learn more about manga and chat with the experts from Kodansha—purveyors of some of the most exciting manga published today like Gachiakuta, Witch Hat Atelier, Blue Lock, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon and more.
Stop by the Kodansha booth #2053 to get manga recommendations for any age or grade, informational giveaways and chat with the Kodansha team! Or or catch one of our panel conversations during the event. Kodansha will be there to offer knowledge on what manga is right for your library or school!
Kodansha Booth Giveaways:
For attendees stopping by our booth #2053 you’ll be able to pickup special bookmarks, posters, info sheets, and more! With all our goodies featuring stunning artwork from some of Kodansha’s most popular titles.
Panel Schedule: Catch us in conversation offering up manga recommendations and suggesting the perfect series for your readers!
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Manga Talk: How Best to Curate Your Growing Manga Collection When: 12:30PM – 1:00PM EDT Where: Pensylvania Convention Center – GNCRT Comics Lounge (Booth 2566) What: There’s more manga than ever being released, and it can be tough to know exactly how to build a strong, diverse, high-interest collection in your library! Join Christopher Woodrow-Butcher (Mangasplaining podcast, Editor) and Ben Applegate (Translator, Editor) to gain the tools you need to know what deserves a place on your shelves!
Manga Power Hour with Yen Press and Kodansha Programming Link:https://cdmcd.co/B8X7ax When: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM EDT Where:Pensylvania Convention Center – Book Buzz (Booth 138) What: Want to know what are the best manga titles to add to your libraries? What are some upcoming titles you should keep your eye on? Well we have all the answers! Talk manga with the two publishing powerhouses, Yen Press and Kodansha!
Won’t be attending the 2025 ALA Annual Conference? You can always access details on Kodansha manga, and even free previews specifically tailered for educators and librarians at kodansha.localhost/librarians.
And for the most up-to-date info on on weekly new releases, new licensing announcements and more, follw us across our social media channels on X (previously Twitter), Instagram, TikTok, BlueSky, and Facebook.
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