Kodansha Reveals New Manga Licenses for April 2024, Fall 2024 & Spring 2025
As announced today at Sakura-Con 2024, Kodansha revealed a wide-ranging slate of new print and digital licenses that span imminent and future releases from this April to Fall 2024 and Spring 2025.
Coming to print fall 2024: This fall sees a number of exciting print manga debuts including the multiverse spanning science fiction epic, Thunder 3 by Yuki Ikeda; the secret high school bodyguard action series, Honeko Akabane’s Bodyguards by Masamitsu Nigatsu; new box sets for series like Blue Lock, Fire Force and Hitorijime my Hero; and even more detailed below.
Also arriving in print spring 2025: The announcements kept coming as Kodansha unveiled print manga debuts for spring with the sweet gender-expansive rom-com, Senpai Is an Otokonoko: My Crossdressing Classmate by Pom, the dystopian yuri soldier chronicle, I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day by Nachi Aono, and more.
Debuting digitally April 2024: New Kodansha manga is also immediately on the horizon with the April digital debut of You Must Be This Tall to Propose!, the hilarious awkward romance by Fumi Mifuyu. This upcoming debut is perfect for fans of other charmingly awkward Kodansha romances like Aho-Girl and Doing His Best to Confess.
Print titles announced will be available starting fall 2024 and spring 2025 at physical and online book vendors like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, and more, while April’s digital manga debut will be available upon release across all our participating digital vendors, including Bookwalker, Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Nook, Kobo, MyAnimeList, and more! Fans can also purchase and read all our digital manga directly on kodansha.localhost/.
Take a look below at the full roster of debuts coming soon in print and digital from Kodansha.
FALL 2024 NEW PRINT LICENSES:
Thunder 3
By Yuki Ikeda
Debut Date: November 2024
Three ordinary schoolboys come into possession of a DVD that supposedly opens a gateway to a parallel universe, but when their backs are turned Pyontaro’s little sister Futaba passes through and gets kidnapped by the aliens that have overrun that version of Earth! Discovering that their cartoonish bodies make them supermen in the hyper-realistic parallel universe, the boys set out to rescue Futaba.
Rated: 13+
Mobile Suit Gundam: Cucuruz Doan’s Island
By Junji Ohno, Yatate Hajime & Yoshiyuki Tomino
Debut Date: October 2024
Former Zeon mobile suit squad leader Cucuruz Doan has deserted, taking up residence on a small island where he helped to raise a number of orphaned children. But what about the other members of his squad? While the original story was told from federation pilot Amuro Ray’s perspective, Ohno’s limited series goes beyond the original television episode to explore the ramifications of Doan’s actions on his own troops, bringing us a multilayered and emotionally complex view of the events from Zeon’s perspective.
Rated: 13+
Honeko Akabane’s Bodyguards
By Masamitsu Nigatsu
Debut Date: January 2025
An exciting and new school action comedy perfect for fans of Assassination Classroom!
They have only one goal – to kill Honeko Akabane! One day, Arakuni Ibuki learns that his childhood friend, Honeko Akabane, is being targeted by assassins! Both of them are in Class 3-4 at Sosoji High School, and Ibuki is ordered to protect Akabane for one year. His goal is to ensure that she graduates safely, but he must do so without her realizing it. And so begins his secret life as a bodyguard at school! However, there seems to be more secrets within the so-called “Class 3-4”…?!
Rated: 13+
Dra-Q
By Chiyo
Debut Date: January 2025
An action-packed, forbidden bloodsucking romance between a vampire girl and her delinquent classmate, perfect for fans of Sankarea!
Amelie Kurosaki is your typical high school student—or so she seems. She tries to stay quiet and abide by the rules; she has a crush on her delinquent classmate, Paco, who she’s always fighting with. But her secret crush isn’t the only thing Amelie is hiding—she’s actually a vampire who’s forbidden to fall in love with humans. But after a series of events, Amelie’s hidden identity is revealed—right in front of Paco.
Rated: 16+
Dogs and Punchings Bags
By Kaori Ozaki
Debut Date: January 2025
From Kaori Ozaki, author of the gods lie. and The Golden Sheep, comes another touching exploration of love, family, and belonging.
After leaving her isolating life in Tokyo, 34-year-old Nichiko returns to her remote island hometown for her estranged alcoholic father’s final days. There she meets Chimaki, an eccentric young man who stirs up old memories and feelings Nichiko had all but decided she no longer deserved. But despite his puppy-like enthusiasm for life, Chimaki’s almost obsessive need to rescue people and animals seems to be compensating for an unspeakable past.
Rated: 16+
Love on the Horizon
By Machi Yamashita
Debut Date: January 2025
A sweet and poignant BL series about a college student falling for his music club senpai, who also happens to be his next door neighbor, perfect for fans of My Summer of You and The White and Blue Between Us.
Art university student Nagi Kitagawa is hopelessly in love with Yuu Yamasaki, his senpai in the folk song club who also happens to be his next door neighbor. Yuu seems to have it all—good looks, a great personality, and he’s also super popular—so Nagi can’t help but think he’d never fall for a shy, innocent country bumpkin like him. One night, after drinking too much at one of their club get-togethers, Nagi helps a drunk Yuu get home safe—but before he can go back to his own apartment, Yuu wraps Nagi in his arms and falls asleep, trapping Nagi in his embrace. Nagi sneaks out the next morning, careful to not wake Yuu up, and vows to keep the incident a secret. But when Nagi finds himself growing closer and closer to Yuu, his unrequited feelings only grow stronger… And could it be that his love isn’t as one-sided as he thinks it is…?
Rated: 16+
Confession
By Kaiji Kawaguchi and Nobuyuki Fukumoto
Debut Date: December 2024
Live-action motion picture coming May 2024!
Two miles up in the unforgiving heights of Mt. Owari, hikers and friends Asai and Ishikura are hit by a blizzard and lose their way. Injured and sure of his imminent death, Ishikura confesses to killing a member of their university hiking club five years ago. However, Asai then stumbles upon shelter and carries them both to safety, only to realize that the confession has forever changed their relationship—and that the brutal elements may no longer be the most deadly threat around.
Rated: 16+
Shimazaki in the Land of Peace
By Gouten Hamada; Illustrated by Takeshi Seshimo
Debut Date: November 2024
After surviving a terrorist incident as a child, Shingo Shimazaki was forced to join the League for Economic Liberations’ revolutionary army. Now, thirty years later, he’s back in Japan and trying to assimilate to a normal life. His Japanese may be awkward, and his grasp of ordinary tasks a little weak, but he has all the combat and surveillance training of a green beret. There are many kindhearted souls who want to help him – and a few not so kind ones who will do anything to stop him.
Rated: 16+
Suzume
By Makoto Shinkai; Adapted by Denki Amashima
Debut Date: September 2024
All-new adaptation of the Golden Globes-nominated worldwide hit directed by Makoto Shinkai, creator of Your Name and Weathering with You!
High school junior Suzume has no idea why the beautiful stranger she meets is looking for ruins, for a certain door. Soon after pointing the stranger, Souta, in the direction of an abandoned resort, she thinks better of it and goes to try and stop him. But before she can find Souta, Suzume unknowingly opens a decrepit door to a world beyond time and place—and stumbles into an adventure of seismic proportions.
Rated: 13+
Blue Lock Season 1, Part 1 Manga Box Set
Story by Muneyuki Kaneshiro; Art by Yusuke Nomura
Debut Date: October 2024
The cutthroat battle to become Japan’s top striker kicks off in this premium box set of the hit soccer manga that inspired the anime!
Includes volumes 1-6 of the Blue Lock manga and an exclusive double-sided poster.
Rated: 16+
Blue Lock: Episode Nagi 1 + Exclusive Q Posket Figure
By Kota Sannomiya; Created by Muneyuki Kaneshiro; Character designs by Yusuke Nomura
Debut Date: October 2024
Score big with this bundle of volume 1 of the spin-off of epic soccer manga Blue Lock and an exclusive Q Posket figure of reluctant prodigy Seishiro Nagi, all in a special box perfect for gifting!
Includes volume 1 of Blue Lock: Episode Nagi and a full-size Q Posket figure of Seishiro Nagi based on the Blue Lock: Episode Nagi anime film.
Rated: 16+
Fire Force Manga Box Set 2
By Atsushi Ohkubo
Debut Date: December 2024
Dive feet-first into the world of devil-fighting firefighters with this box set edition of the hit manga from the creator of Soul Eater! You loved the anime—now blaze through the manga that inspired it all!
Includes Vol. 7-11 of the Fire Force manga and an exclusive double-sided poster.
Rated: 16+
Hitorijime My Hero Manga Box Set 2
By Memeco Arii
Debut Date: October 2024
Collect the BL manga that inspired the hit anime in a premium, six-volume box set, including an exclusive bonus booklet featuring newly-translated manga and illustrations!
This rigid, collector-quality box set, featuring exclusive box art that lines up with box set #1 on the shelf, includes Vol. 7-12 of the Hitorijime My Hero manga, plus a 100-page bonus booklet featuring exclusive color art, a Japanese color art gallery, and newly-translated short stories.
Rated: 18+
Ajin Complete
By Gamon Sakurai
Debut Date: October 2024
New 3-in-1 omnibus edition!
High school student Kei Nagai is killed in a traffic accident, but immediately revives to learn that he may not be human at all. Instead, he may be a Demi-Human, a mysterious almost immortal being blessed with amazing super-human abilities. Scared, he runs away, and is aided in his escape from society by his friend Kai. Unfortunately for Kei, the manhunt is on and he will soon be caught within a conflict between mankind and other Demi-Humans as they prepare to fight for global supremacy.
Rated: 16+
S (paperback edition)
By Koji Suzuki
Debut Date: October 2024
Now in a modern age of computers and the internet, the Sadako virus is revitalized and is potentially even more dangerous. Combining classic Japanese horror and modern themes, S is Koji Suzuki’s powerful return to the J-Horror field! Now in paperback!
Rated: 18+
SPRING 2025 NEW PRINT LICENSES:
Senpai Is an Otokonoko: My Crossdressing Classmate
By Pom
Debut Date: April 2025
A poignant, sweet romantic comedy about gender nonconformity and the love triangle between a ditzy girl, the cross-dressing boy she likes, and his best friend! The manga that inspired the anime coming this July!
First-year high school student Saki Aoi can’t help but find herself head-over-heels for her senpai, Makoto Hanaoka. After all, Hanaoka-senpai is tall, beautiful, and oh-so-cool—who wouldn’t fall for a girl like her? Saki, with her bright and bubbly personality, doesn’t hesitate to confess her feelings. However, Makoto turns her down, saying that they’re not the person Saki thinks they are—because Makoto isn’t a girl, but rather a cross-dressing boy!
Second-year Makoto Hanaoka is used to the negatives that come with his love of cross-dressing—including the harsh gossip from his classmates, as well as the disapproval from his mother at home. After revealing his well-known secret to Saki, he expects her to be disgusted. But Saki’s feelings only grow stronger, and she doesn’t care what Makoto’s gender is—in fact, she’s determined to win him over!
Ryuji Taiga hears what his other classmates have to say about his cross-dressing best friend, Makoto—and has no problem coming to his defense. So when Ryuji finds out a first-year has a crush on him, he can’t help but be wary of her intentions. Not only that, but Ryuji has his own conflicting feelings about Makoto, which may run deeper than friendship…
Rated: 13+
Fall In Love, You False Angels
By Coco Uzuki
Debut Date: February 2025
A beautifully illustrated, hilarious rom-com perfect for fans of Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight, Horimiya, and Spoil Me Plzzz, Hinamori-san! about a seemingly perfect pair of high schoolers who bond over a shared secret—they’re not as perfect as they seem!
All sugar, no spice, and everything nice… that’s the impression the beautiful first-year high schooler and “heartthrob angel” class president Otogi Katsura gives to those around her. In reality, Otogi is brash, assertive, and has no problem calling out a jerk when she sees one—the complete opposite of her soft spoken vice presidential counterpart, the equally beautiful and seemingly perfect Toki Ninomae. One day, when a group of boys try to hit on her at the train station, Otogi doesn’t hold back and gives them a piece of her mind—and, to her surprise, Toki enjoys seeing this side of her. Not only that, it turns out the seemingly polite, put-together vice president has a hidden side of his own… and Otogi now finds him more attractive than ever! Now “partners-in-crime,” Otogi and Toki agree to keep their hidden sides a secret from the rest of their classmates—but could this shared, dark secret also bring them closer together…?!
Rated: 13+
I Want to Love You Till Your Dying Day
By Nachi Aono
Debut Date: February 2025
An action-packed new dystopian yuri series about a gruesome war, a mysterious orphanage, and the girls who live there, perfect for fans of Girls Last Tour and Otherside Picnic!
At the mysterious orphanage where Sheena lives, death is nothing new to its residents—girls who no longer have families of their own, who are raised as weapons of war, taught to kill and take the lives of others without batting an eye. Everyone, that is, except Sheena, who wishes for nothing more than the growing conflict around her to end. On the night of her roommate’s death, Sheena meets a strange girl covered in blood, who smiles despite the turmoil surrounding them. The next day, the girl appears as a new student in Sheena’s class and introduces herself as Mimi. Initially thought to be a school myth, there are now whispers in the orphanage’s halls that Mimi is their secret weapon—an immortal who cannot die. When Mimi is later assigned as Sheena’s new roommate, Sheena’s world grows even more complicated when she begins living with someone who loves and welcomes death, when all Sheena wants to do is stop it…
Rated: 16+
APRIL 2024 NEW DIGITAL LICENSE:
You Must Be This Tall to Propose!
By Fumi Mifuyu
Debut Date: April 9, 2024
Chitose Oki has a huge crush on his nextdoor neighbor Tomo, but there’s one small problem—his height. Back as kids, when his dream girl said she wouldn’t marry him until he grew up, poor Chitose took that quite literally. These days, it’s not just height—one embarrassing misunderstanding after another keeps them from seeing eye to eye. The truth is, they’re both head over heels for each other, but it’s a tall order to confess your feelings to the one you love.
Rated: 13+
Read the FREE Chapter 1 of You Must Be This Tall to Propose!
