10 Biggest Nerd-Out Moments at the Summer Cons for Kodansha Fans
This has been a super epic summer for us here at Kodansha USA. We’ve been on the road meeting the fans and creators of Kodansha manga, celebrating the fandom together at the biggest conventions of the season like Anime Expo and San Diego Comic-Con 2023.
Here are the 10 biggest nerd-out moments that had happened so far this summer:
1. The Biggest Manga Ever
If you are a true manga fan, who wouldn’t want to read a 7-feet tall manga?
At our booth at Anime Expo, we’ve made sure that everybody can enjoy the best manga reading experience.
2. The MF Ghost Hype
Induced by the Initial D nostalgia, the drifting dudes and dudettes were feeling the hype for the anime premiere of its official sequel MF Ghost, hosted by our friends at Crunchyroll.
3. Yuri Represent
Among the mostly shonen crowd, we stood out by bringing the spotlight on Comic Yuri Hime and its recent hits like Yuri Is My Job! and Whisper Me a Love Song.
Folks were happy to see more LGBTQ+ narratives, or simply more diverse, good stories represented at the Kodansha booth.
We had our grand opening of the Kodansha Reader Portal, where you can read extended previews and keep track of your favorite Kodansha manga.
It was so cool to see the new members going around the show with AX23-exclusive Kodansha lanyards and big smiles on their faces.
Kodansha ambassadors looking fly in their swag.
6. Makoto Yukimura Rocked Comic-Con
Our guest of honor, Makoto Yukimura (creator of Vinland Saga) was one of the biggest manga guests at San Diego Comic-Con this year – and he absolutely killed it!
Yukimura was in a rockstar mode the whole time, whether on real-time TikTok posts, in an interview with IGN, or on a panel speaking directly to the true fans of Vinland Saga.
7. Invitation Only Autograph Sessions
Lucky fans were invited to intimate autograph sessions where they had a chance to have face-to-face conversations with the one-and-only creator of Vinland Saga.
Needless to say it was an emotional moment for two people (and everyone else who was around them) who feel deeply connected through a shared story.
9. Sneak Peak
Those fans who visited Vinland Saga Manga Gallery at Comic-Con got the very first look at Vinland Saga Deluxe, a gorgeous new edition coming from Kodansha just in time for this holiday season.
Together with Yukimura-sensei we’ve selected the finalists of the Vinland Saga Viking Contest, which determines the most passionate, creative, and funniest warriors of the Norse, who are worthy of receiving one of Yukimura-sensei’s sketches.
The contest winners were just announced along with Yukimura-sensei’s comment here.
Final Thoughts
For those of you who came to see us at the show, it was very nice to meet you in person!
Nerding out with the real fans of Kodansha was the best reward for us this summer.
We hope to stay in touch with you, and keep on exploring new manga together!
Next up: Fall Events for Kodansha
Our mission to bring the fans and creators of manga together is not just over yet.
Next up, there are two new events coming up in September:
New Original Manga Series BLOOD BLADE to Debut Exclusively at kodansha.localhost/
Available to read online with new episodes serialized weekly starting Fall 2023.
Kodansha Reader Portal accounts get free access until the release of the collected volume.
Coming to print Spring 2024.
At their industry panel at Comic-Con International today, Kodansha USA unveiled, for the first time in the world, an all-original manga series by Japanese creator Oma Sei, to be published first in English, titled BLOOD BLADE. A thrilling action-adventure saga about Count Dracula reborn and on the run from an organization that is capturing and using weapons of monstrous destruction, BLOOD BLADE will have its world premiere in Fall 2023 on kodansha.localhost/, with new content serialized weekly and available for free to Kodansha Reader Portal account holders. Episodes will be free until the release of the collected volume. After the exciting web-only run, BLOOD BLADE will also be available in print starting Spring 2024 and distributed by Penguin Random House.
“BLOOD BLADE is an all-new kind of manga publishing effort, in which Kodansha premieres the works of an outstanding Japanese talent like Oma Sei to a worldwide English-reading audience first.” says Alvin Lu, Kodansha USA Publishing President & CEO. “And we are inviting anyone to jump right into this manga series by offering each exciting new episode of BLOOD BLADE free for a limited time at the new Kodansha Reader Portal.”
“BLOOD BLADE was heavily inspired by classic horror films and dramas,” says Oma Sei, BLOOD BLADE series creator. “Though it is filled with vampires, golems, and mummies, many of these monsters have waned in popularity since their heyday on the silver screen. Monsters that once inspired terror in humans have been left behind by the passage of time, to the point that one might call them an endangered species. In writing this series, I aim to bring the spotlight back onto these monsters of yore.”
In the world of BLOOD BLADE, Count Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in a new, never-before-seen action manga set in a gritty, alternate-history Europe. Fans of cinematic, gory, supernatural alternate histories, like Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing, and Dance in the Vampire Bund, will want to sink their fangs into BLOOD BLADE.
Having fallen in battle long ago, Count Vlad Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in an alternate-history Europe. After the reincarnated Dracula rescues a girl named Clara from a mysterious stranger, Clara explains that she is the creation of a certain Victor Frankenstein. She also reveals that she is fleeing from an organization called Cerberus, which seeks to capture and study “monsters” such as herself in order to create an army of human-monster hybrids. Clara begs the vampiress to flee with her to an island of monsters.
The new Kodansha Reader Portal allows new and existing manga fans to read and buy digital manga with greater ease, sample extended previews of hundreds of Kodansha series, take advantage of exclusive discounts, and much more. To experience the full benefits of becoming a Kodansha Reader, visit kodansha.localhost/ and sign up for a free account today!
Learn about all the new Kodansha print & digital manga announced at Comic-Con International 2023
Revealed at Comic-Con International 2023! Kodansha announced today a slate of new digital series coming August 2023, as well as print announcements for Spring 2024, starting with the worldwide unveiling of BLOOD BLADE by Oma Sei—a groundbreaking work created by a Japanese debut author and published first in English. This series will begin serializing digitally at kodansha.localhost/ starting Fall 2023 & will come to print Spring 2024!
New titles coming to print next spring also include the hilarious fantasy workplace comedy, Fed Up With Being the Spoiled Queen’s Genius Butler, I Ran Away and Built the World’s Strongest Army; the poignant slice-of-life drama, Mermaid Prince; and even a new omnibus edition of the fan-favorite isekai fantasy, That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime.
But if you’re looking for exciting new titles to read right away, Kodansha’s August digital manga debuts have you covered with the dramatic history behind the founder of modern Noh theater, The World is Dancing, the gunpowder & steel revenge epic Issak, and heart-pounding para-athlete saga Blade Girl.
Print titles announced will be available Spring 2024 at physical and online book vendors like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, and more, while August 2023 digital debuts 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 on the new kodansha.localhost/.
SPRING 2024 NEW PRINT LICENSES:
BLOOD BLADE By Oma Sei
Count Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in a new, never-before-seen action manga set in a gritty, alternate-history Europe. Fans of cinematic, gory, supernatural alternate histories, like Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing, and Dance in the Vampire Bund, will want to sink their fangs into BLOOD BLADE.
Made in Japan, published in English!
Having fallen in battle long ago, Count Vlad Dracula is reborn as a katana-wielding young vampiress in an alternate-history Europe. After the reincarnated Dracula rescues a girl named Clara from a mysterious stranger, Clara explains that she is the creation of a certain Victor Frankenstein. She also reveals that she is fleeing from an organization called Cerberus, which seeks to capture and study “monsters” such as herself in order to create an army of human-monster hybrids. Clara begs the vampiress to flee with her to an island of monsters where the two of them will be safe…but as they set out for Monster Island, the sinister forces of Cerberus are in hot pursuit.
Rated: Older Teen 16+
Fed Up With Being the Spoiled Queen’s Genius Butler, I Ran Away and Built the World’s Strongest Army Manga by Reiga, Story by Skyfarm
A butler whose talents are wasted on domestic frivolities leaves his pampered noblewoman’s household for a life of adventure in this fast and funny fantasy manga based on the hit web novel series from the creator of Rise of the Outlaw Tamer and His S-Rank Cat Girl!
Leet isn’t just any butler. His mistress, Princess Kilik, demands the impossible–and he delivers it, seven times before breakfast. But one day, Leet decides enough is enough, and he flees for a neighboring land where the talented rise up through the ranks instead of languishing in thankless, dead-end jobs. Under a new name, Lilt, he enrolls in a training and job placement program, and rapidly discovers that, easy as “wax on, wax off,” his butlering skills make him a valuable asset!
Rated: Older Teen 16+
Mermaid Prince By Kaori Ozaki
Where do you belong? On the edge of death and danger, to feel life flowing through you? Can you find shelter in a space not meant for you? When new people move into your life, will there still be enough room left for you?
From the author of the gods lie. and The Golden Sheep, Mermaid Prince explores such complex themes in a series of short stories that highlight the beauty, wonder, pain, and loneliness that can come from feeling adrift in the world, as well as the joy that can accompany finding your own anchor amidst the seas of change.
Rated: 16+
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Omnibus Story by Fuse, Art by Taiki Kawakami, Character Design by Mitz Vah
Can a lowly slime bring the cast-off of the world together and build a country where they can be themselves? The bestselling manga reincarnation of the classic fantasy adventure light novel and anime is now available in extra-large omnibus volumes.
Mikami’s middle age hasn’t gone as he planned: He never found a girlfriend, he got stuck in a dead-end job, and he was abruptly stabbed to death in the street at 37. So when he wakes up in a new world straight out of a fantasy RPG, he’s disappointed but not exactly surprised to find that he’s facing down a dragon, not as a knight or a wizard but as a blind slime demon. But there are chances for even a slime to become a hero, and maybe even build a country where the rejects and outcasts can find a place to belong…
Each book contains three volumes for almost 600 pages of the bestselling manga.
Rated: Older Teen 16+
AUGUST 2023 NEW DIGITAL LICENSES:
The World is Dancing By Kazuto Mihara
Debut Date: August 1, 2023
Born into a life of acting and dance with a traveling theater troupe in 14th-century Japan, 12-year old Oniyasha has one problem&ndsash;he doesn’t know what the point of any of it is. Why must I step with the left foot here instead of the right? Why is one performance good and another, bad? Why do people dance at all? It all seems perfectly arbitrary, until a chance encounter in a run-down shack sets him down a path to revolutionizing the art form and influencing much of Japanese culture to come. A fictionalized account of the early life of Zeami Motokiyo (Oniyasha), the founder of modern Noh theater&ndsash;the world’s oldest surviving theater art&ndsash;this coming-of-age artist’s journey vividly brings to life a man far ahead of his time during one of Japan’s most culturally and socially vibrant eras.
Anno Domini 1620. Europe is riven with the conflagrations that will grow into the Thirty Years War. Catholic and Protestant forces clash across battlefields ruled by sword and gunpowder alike, and mercenaries of every stripe ply their trade. Among them is Issak, a lone Japanese warrior bearing a matchlock of strange design, and fighting in service to his sworn mission&ndsash;to find and kill the man who murdered his master and fled Japan for the other side of the world. Meticulously researched and gorgeously illustrated, Issak is the next character-driven, historical action epic that fans of Vinland Saga can sink their teeth into.
One year after losing her leg, 16-year-old Rin is tired—tired of the painful physical therapy, tired of being treated differently, and tired of her stupid, heavy, awkward prosthetic leg. All that changes when she encounters the Blade Runners, a group of one-legged athletes who run with “blades”&ndsash;carbon fiber prosthetics specialized for competitive running&ndsash;made by their gifted prosthetist, Kazami. The blades are light, flexible, and formidably difficult to control&ndsash;Rin can barely walk with one, much less sprint. But as she tumbles to the ground again and again, she rediscovers many of the things that she’d forgotten, and finds a new goal: to compete in the Paralympics.
Learn about all the new Kodansha print & digital manga announced at Anime Expo 2023
Kodansha USA revealed today at Anime Expo the newest slate of print manga licenses arriving in spring 2024, including all-new print titles, new omnibus editions, new-to-print titles & more! And for fans looking for new series to read (almost) immediately Kodansha announced two romantic and action-packed digital manga series arriving July 2023!
Spring sees the debut of all-new-in-English print manga like the BL isekai comedy, I Got Reincarnated in a (BL) World of Big (Man) Boobs; the spicy anthology from Blue Period creator, Nude Model: Tsubasa Yamaguchi Short Stories; as well as new editions of existing favorites like Initial D Omnibus, Fairy Tail Omnibus, Medalist, and even a new Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro box set!
More immediately July 2023 brings two new digital manga series debuts, the office romance starring a super tsundere, My Wife is a Little Intimidating; and the heart pounding mixed martial arts saga, Teppu.
Print titles announced will be available spring 2024 at physical and online book vendors like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Amazon, and more! While July 2022 digital debuts 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 on the new kodansha.localhost/.
Take a look at the full roster of debuts coming in print spring 2024 and in digital July 2023.
SPRING 2024 PRINT LICENSES:
Initial D Omnibus By Shuichi Shigeno
An all-new, large-sized, 2-in-1 print edition of the series that made Japanese street racing into a worldwide phenomenon.
Remember me? Relive Takumi Fujiwara’s journey from tofu delivery boy to street-racing legend in a large-sized, 2-in-1 print edition of the series that made Japanese street racing into a worldwide phenomenon. This edition is still running in the ’90s but features a new translation and lettering for the 2020s!
Rated: Older Teen 16+
A Sign of Affection Omnibus By suu Morishita
Yuki, who’s always been deaf, is used to communicating with sign language and her phone. But she’s not used to English, so when a tourist from overseas asks for directions, she nearly panics…until a handsome stranger steps in to help. His name is Itsuomi, and it turns out he’s a friend of a friend. A charismatic globetrotter, Itsuomi speaks three languages, but he’s never had a deaf friend. The two feel drawn to each other and plan a date on a romantic winter’s night…but Yuki’s friend is afraid that she might be setting herself up to get hurt. Could this be something real? Or will these feelings melt away with the snow?
The best-selling romance that pairs a globetrotting guy and a sweet, curious woman who can’t hear, in a new, 3-in-1 omnibus edition!
Rated: Older Teen 16+
FAIRY TAIL Omnibus By Hiro Mashima
Experience the magical adventures of Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Gray, and all the wizards of the FAIRY TAIL world in a new three-in-one omnibus format!
The best way to collect the manga that inspired the long-running anime, including the new sequel series Fairy Tail: 100 Years Quest.
Rated: Teen 13+
Turns Out My Online Friend is My Real-Life Boss! By Nmura
Hashimoto spends all day at his job redoing work for his boss, who’s never happy! His only refuge is an online game, where his buddy “Uma” gives him a sympathetic ear. What he doesn’t realize is…his demon boss and Uma are one and the same!
A nerdy workplace BL dramedy manga perfect for fans of Cherry Magic! and Yagi the Bookshop Goat. Extra-long, 2-in-1 edition.
Rated: Older Teen 16+
Anyway, I’m Falling in Love With You. By Haruka Mitsui
An irresistible shojo manga offering an all-you-can-eat buffet of high school drama, adolescent crushes, and childhood nostalgia.
Brand-new manga from the author of I Fell in Love After School!
Mizuha’s seventeenth birthday is the pits. Her parents totally forgot, and the senpai she likes isn’t interested in her. But when her longtime childhood friend asks her out, Mizuha has to sort out what this change could mean…and all in the middle of a global pandemic!
Rated: Teen 13+
Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro Box Set 3 By Nanashi
Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro 3rd box!
Includes volumes 13~18 of the manga, box with new artwork, plus a bonus item!
Rated: Teen 13+
Medalist By TSURUMAIKADA
“A story about learning to believe in yourself even when everyone else tells you you’re not good enough.” — Anime News Network
The ice rink is the only place Inori can be herself—but everyone in her life insists she give up skating. Until she meets Tsukasa, a frustrated coach who will join Inori to form an unstoppable duo powered by hard work, transcendent joy, and an unshakeable belief that they can prove everyone wrong.
Winner Next Coming Manga Award 2022 and soon-to-be anime!
Rated: Teen 13+
My Noisy Roommate: The Roof Over My Head Comes With Monsters and a Hottie By Tsukiji Nao
Osuke’s excited about finally getting to live on his own, but on his first day in his new apartment, he finds himself kicked out onto the street! So, when a real estate agent appears out of nowhere offering him a beautiful, new place (with just a couple conditions), he jumps at the chance. But when he opens the door, a drop-dead gorgeous blond guy pops out! It turns out living with him is one of the conditions! His name is Nanami, and he tells Osuke that, not only are ghosts real, but Osuke himself is a magnet for all things supernatural…
Rated: Older Teen 16+
Kei X Yaku: Bound by Law By Yoshie Kaoruhara
The manga that inspired the hit live-action drama starring Nobuyuki Suzuki and Atsuhiro Inukai!
Opposite sides of the law flirt with danger—and each other—in a tangled web of political intrigue that is fraught with deception and secrets. A suspenseful mystery sure to get the heart racing in more ways than one, perfect for fans of Banana Fish.
Rated: Older Teen 16+
Kaina of the Great Snow Sea Story by Tsutomu Nihei, Art by Itoe Takemoto
Kaina is the only youth in the last remaining village that clings to life on the Canopy, high above the surface of the world. When Liliha, a princess from the surface, makes her way to the Canopy, they both realize that there is more to their world than they knew. Kaina agrees to help Liliha return to the Great Snow Sea far below, where her kingdom is imperiled by the rapacious neighboring kingdom of Bargia.
The trip is arduous, and foes lie in wait at the end of their descent. With Liliha taken prisoner and her father the king too caught up in politics to rescue her, Kaina has no choice but to set off with only the young prince in tow, braving the dangers of the Great Snow Sea to rescue Liliha from Bargia’s clutches…
Rated: Older Teen 16+
Nude Model: Tsubasa Yamaguchi Short Stories By Tsubasa Yamaguchi
Three erotic short stories from the creator of Blue Period.
Nude Model, in which a high school delinquent tries to seduce an introverted artist in his class, only for her to turn the tables on him. Girl, in which a teenage boy becomes in-demand for his recordings of erotic moaning, and uncovers a sexual predator on the school’s staff in the process. And Kamiya, in which a young doctor who can’t stand the sight of blood overcomes her fears by going to a host club staffed by vampires, only to get caught up in a serial killer’s web.
Rated: 18+
I Got Reincarnated in a (BL) World of Big (Man) Boobs By Tsukiji Nao
“I just…wanted to…touch boobies…”
Nagare loves boobs. And he gets his wish to be reincarnated in a world of boobs…except these are man boobs. A zany BL isekai comedy full of titillation and satirical jabs at manga cliches of all kinds! An extra-long, 2-in-1 edition.
Rated: Older Teen 16+ (obviously)
I Can’t Say No to the Lonely Girl By Kashikaze
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!
Rated: Older Teen 16+
A Brief Moment of Ichika By Natsu Tadano
At the age of 16, Ichika Sendawara learned that she only had two years left to live. Now a sophomore college student, she lives a busy, upbeat life, despite never knowing when the end will come.
Everything changes when Ichika meets Professor Yurugi—for the first time, she feels she has something to live for. But then Yurugi quietly leaves the university, and Ichika is left wondering why, and what could have been…
A gentle love story that grapples with the deepest existential questions we face in life. As the Shuji Terayama poem quoted in the text says,”If life is nothing but goodbyes, who needs life?”
Rated: 13+
The Yearning Fox Lies in Wait By Nmura
In 1920s Tokyo, prodigy Kiyo has finally made it to university, only to find himself in a tough spot. He happens upon Ozaki, who invites him to live in his mansion. But is Ozaki just an eccentric recluse, or something far stranger? And what kind of relationship did he have with Kiyo’s grandfather?
A supernatural, one-volume BL romance from the creator of Turns Out My Online Friend is My Real-Life Boss!
Rated: Older Teen 16+
Number Call By Nagisa Furuya
From the creator of My Summer of You comes a new high school romance about the power of numbers—the author’s Japanese debut, now available for the first time in English!
High schooler Eighto Tachibana has always hated his name, and the “8” jokes that came with it. One day, he meets a classmate named Tomoya Hatta, aka Hachi—the Japanese word for “8.” What begins as casual greetings and small talk in the hallway soon becomes something much deeper, and Eighto realizes that it’s more than just a similar nickname that draws him to Hachi. Could the number that Eight resented for so long finally bring him something he’ll love?
Rated: Teen 13+
The White and Blue Between Us By Kiyuhiko
Is it ever too late to make up for a lie? Or can the opportunity be swept away, like white clouds across a blue summer sky?
It’s been seven years since Hozumi left behind the island town he grew up in, and Mishima—his close friend and first love from high school—with it. The two haven’t spoken since Hozumi rejected Mishima and lied about his own feelings. When Hozumi returns for his high school reunion, he wants nothing more than to make amends, a task easier said than done.
A moving, dramatic, BL one-shot, perfect for fans of My Summer of You, Seven Days, or I Hear the Sunspot.
Rated: Mature 18+
The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity By Saka Mikami
The latest hit in Japan comes to print!
Two rival schools stand next door to each other: one for elite ladies, one for good-for-nothing boys. But one of those boys might just be a naturally chivalrous diamond in the rough, and one of those girls might be a little more open-minded than is proper…
Rated: Teen 13+
Gazing at the Star Next Door By Ammitsu
The latest shojo from the creator of Ran the Peerless Beauty!
What do you do when your best friend (and secret crush) becomes a national sweetheart? This story of unrequited love between a girl and her best friend, whose acting career is pulling him further and further away, is perfect for fans of In the Clear Moonlit Dusk and Kimi ni Todoke.
Rated: Teen 13+
I See Your Face, Turned Away By Rumi Ichinohe
From the creator of My Sweet Girl comes a new manga about four teenagers and their four stories of unrequited love. When you don’t want to lose a friendship but long for something more, the only thing you can do is gaze at your beloved’s face, turned away…
One might call Hikari extraordinarily ordinary. One day, she takes up a new hobby–imagining what a romance would be like between her pretty friend Mari and the cute guy in their class, Otani. It’s all in harmless fun, until the roles start to get tangled in Hikari’s mind. Does she really have to be just the best friend in this love story? And just who is on Otani’s mind when his eyes drift?
Rated: Teen 13+
Ninja vs. Gokudo By Shinsuke Kondo
Since before the dawn of memory, one thing has defined human history: the war between ninjas and yakuzas. This coarse and manly manga follows two members of these warring tribes who fill the gutters of modern Tokyo with blood to determine which elemental force will reign supreme!
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure meets Fist of the North Star in an outrageous new action series!
Rated: Older Teen 16+
A-DO By Jaku Amano
A dystopian sci-fi action manga that pays homage to the classics.
Future Japan has became a volatile mix of cultures, rocked by the protests of xenophobic extremists. A brash, job-hopping young woman named Riko happens to save the life of a boy named Eito. Just as they’re about to dig into some celebratory ramen, plant-like tendrils snake out from Eito’s arm and stop a bullet in mid-flight. Who in the world is this boy, and why is the army after him?!
Rated: Older Teen 16+
The Blue Wolves of Mibu By Tsuyoshi Yasuda
Nio is an orphan who can’t help dreaming of a better world. In this action-packed manga, he meets two men who show him how much a few swords can change history.
This riveting samurai series from the acclaimed creator of Days shares its setting with Rurouni Kenshin and chronicles the founding of the Shinsengumi by handsome and volatile men fighting for justice…and for themselves!
Rated: Teen 13+
Sketchy By MAKIHIROCHI
A portrait of young adulthood that will attract fans of Inio Asano, Akiko Higashimura, and Taiyo Matsumoto.
As her twenties slip by, Ako feels like she’s falling behind. But a group of skateboarding girls will bring a newfound passion into her life in this reflective, relatable josei manga from the creator of Is Kichijoji the Only Place to Live?
Rated: Older Teen 16+
Bless By Yukino Sonoyama
They said Aia was destined to be a model, and Jun was bullied for her freckles. Together, they will take back the power to define themselves in an inspirational fashion manga that asks cutting questions about what it really means to be beautiful—and what it takes to overcome an arbitrary system that seems to respect talent over hard work.
Rated: Teen 13+
JULY 2023 DIGITAL LICENSES:
My Wife is a Little Intimidating By Aguri Kurita
Debut Date: July 4, 2023
With how far she’s out of his league, Kosuke Shimizu never expected his senpai at work, Natsuna Shirahama, to go on a date with him…much less marry him! But with a wife so perfect, it’s no surprise that the timid and indecisive Kosuke feels inadequate…and not just in bed. The truth is, they both have their fair share of flaws (especially when it comes to expressing their love), but working through them together will only strengthen their marriage…right?
It’s not easy being good at everything. First-year high school student Natsuo Ishido has always been a gifted athlete, and her ability to easily master every sport has not only bought her a life of boredom, but the resentment of everyone else who has had to work hard for their achievements. Not that Natsuo cares what anyone else thinks. All she longs for is a break from the monotony…for a real challenge worthy of pouring all her efforts into. A rival—an equal—worth beating down, crushing, and demoralizing… That all seems like a pipe dream until a pair of annoyingly peppy transfer students arrive from Brazil and start up a brand-new club that teases the challenge she craves—Mixed Martial Arts.
Vinland Saga Creator Makoto Yukimura Makes U.S. Debut Appearance at Comic-Con International 2023
“Far to the west, across the sea there is a place called Vinland” – Vinland Saga, Vol. 1, Ch. 4
Find Kodansha USA & Makoto Yukimura at Comic-Con International San Diego Booth #5542
Kodansha USA is excited to announce that acclaimed manga creator Makoto Yukimura, author of the fan-favorite viking drama and inspiration for the anime, Vinland Saga, will make his U.S. Debut appearance at Comic-Con International San Diego 2023. From July 20 through 23, Kodansha USA will celebrate both Yukimura-sensei and Vinland Saga at booth #5542 with signings, con-exclusive giveaways and additional surprises to be announced closer to the event. Fans can experience the unfolding viking epicVinland Saga across 13 volumes, available in print & digital, and as two seasons of anime now streaming on Netflix.
Learn about Vinland Saga:Read Chapter 1 of Vinland Sagafree at kodansha.localhost/. As a child, Thorfinn sat at the feet of the great Leif Ericson and thrilled to wild tales of a land far to the west. But his youthful fantasies were shattered by a mercenary raid. Raised by the Vikings who murdered his family, Thorfinn became a terrifying warrior, forever seeking to kill the band’s leader, Askeladd, and avenge his father. Sustaining Thorfinn through his ordeal are his pride in his family and his dreams of a fertile westward land, a land without war or slavery…the land Leif called Vinland.
Makoto Yukimura is the winner of the Japan Media Arts Awards Grand Prize for Manga and the prestigious Kodansha Manga Awards.
Makoto Yukimura Autograph Sessions @ Comic-Con
Be one of the lucky fans to meet Makoto Yukimura in-person!
Fill out this entry form for your chance to attend one of these two special autograph sessions hosted by Kodansha USA (Booth #5542) at San Diego Comic-Con 2023!
It’s that time of the year again, when fans of manga and anime gather IRL and celebrate the fandom at #AnimeExpo (July 1-4, 2023) in Los Angeles, CA! We here at Kodansha are excited to join the biggest party of the year with y’all, and hope to deliver some really cool surprises too. What could it possibly be? Keep on reading to find out…
We’re here for one reason only– to find out all the exciting new titles that Kodansha is releasing in the coming seasons! Be one of the first ones to find out by joining our panel – or if you can’t be there in person, follow us on Twitter for live updates.
Kodansha USA New Licenses Revealed! Saturday, July 1 at 2:30pm PT, Room 402 AB
Kodansha USA, purveyor of some of the most exciting manga published today like, Blue Lock, MF Ghost, Attack on Titan & more, invites manga fans to an exclusive first-look at new manga series coming soon to your collection!
A Larger-than-life Kodansha Library
When was the last time that you got into a new manga? This year, we’re dedicating the Kodansha booth (#3900) to be a perfect place for discovery where fans can get an elevated manga reading experience. Come hang out and read over 1000 chapters of Kodansha titles across various digital devices for FREE! It’s like walking into a magical manga bookshelf.
Don’t know where to start? Don’t worry! We’ll have manga experts onsite to guide you through our vast library of Kodansha manga. Ask for recommendations from the Kodansha team at the booth, or name-drop a few movies or shows that you enjoy, and voila, they’ll offer a perfect manga to match what you’re looking for.
A New Way to Read Manga on kodansha.localhost/
Have you noticed that there’s a new feature on our website? Kodansha is happy to celebrate the grand opening of the Kodansha Reader Portal — where you can preview, read, and buy digital manga the way you want.
Sign up for a Kodansha Reader account at our booth, show us that you’ve logged in and receive limited edition AX23-exclusive gifts, including:
A Premiere Kodansha Reader lanyard*
Access to read AX23 Spotlight Series**
Digital editions of our Discover Kodansha genre-based samplers
*While supplies last **Availability of Spotlight Series extended previews vary by series
Meet Ichijinsha’s Comic Yuri Hime
Meet Comic Yuri Hime – a one-of-a-kind manga magazine published in Japan from Ichijinsha, which is dedicated to yuri – a genre that focuses on the emotional relationships between female characters.
To celebrate the yuri fandom, we’ve partnered with Ichijinsha to showcase Comic Yuri Hime and its recent hits like Yuri Is My Job! and Whisper Me a Love Song.
Are you a proud yuri fan? Then be sure to snag and support the Comic Yuri Hime AX-exclusive merch only available at the Kinokuniya booth (#3700).Comic Yuri Hime merch will be available while supplies last.
#YURIHIME_AX23 Buttons Giveaway Take a pic or video at Ichijinsha’s ComicYuri Hime station inside the Kodansha booth (#3900) and post it on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook with the hashtag #YURIHIME_AX23 to receive a special button! Buttons will be available while supplies last.
The Freebie Hunt is ON
Ready for a manga Easter Egg Hunt? See if you can get all the Kodansha freebies while you are at Anime Expo 2023!
Attendee bags will be available at the Anime Expo main entrances while supplies last. All other items will be available at Kodansha booth (#3900) also while supplies last.
Check Out Anime Premieres at Anime Expo
It wouldn’t be a true Anime Expo experience without watching premieres of upcoming anime series with a bunch of cheering fans. Check out these events hosted by our friends at Crunchyroll:
Crunchyroll Premieres: Round 2 Monday, July 3, 12:00-1:30 PM, JW Marriott Diamond Ballroom Featuring: MF Ghost, My Unique Skill Makes Me OP Even at Level 1
Crunchyroll Premieres: Round 4 Monday, July 3, 6:30-8:00 PM, LACC Room 403 Featuring: Saint Cecilia and Pastor Lawrence, Firefighter Daigo: Rescuer in Orange
Vinland Saga Creator Makoto Yukimura Makes U.S. Debut Appearance at Comic-Con International 2023
“Far to the west, across the sea there is a place called Vinland” – Vinland Saga, Vol. 1, Ch. 4
Find Kodansha USA & Makoto Yukimura at Comic-Con International San Diego Booth #5542
Kodansha USA is excited to announce that acclaimed manga creator Makoto Yukimura, author of the fan-favorite viking drama and inspiration for the anime, Vinland Saga, will make his U.S. Debut appearance at Comic-Con International San Diego 2023. From July 20 through 23, Kodansha USA will celebrate both Yukimura-sensei and Vinland Saga at booth #5542 with signings, con-exclusive giveaways and additional surprises to be announced closer to the event. Fans can experience the unfolding viking epicVinland Saga across 13 volumes, available in print & digital, and as two seasons of anime now streaming on Netflix.
Learn about Vinland Saga:Read Chapter 1 of Vinland Sagafree at kodansha.localhost/. As a child, Thorfinn sat at the feet of the great Leif Ericson and thrilled to wild tales of a land far to the west. But his youthful fantasies were shattered by a mercenary raid. Raised by the Vikings who murdered his family, Thorfinn became a terrifying warrior, forever seeking to kill the band’s leader, Askeladd, and avenge his father. Sustaining Thorfinn through his ordeal are his pride in his family and his dreams of a fertile westward land, a land without war or slavery…the land Leif called Vinland.
Makoto Yukimura is the winner of the Japan Media Arts Awards Grand Prize for Manga and the prestigious Kodansha Manga Awards.
Kodansha USA Unveils Massive Hiro Mashima Universe Humble Bundle
Get over $1400 worth of Hiro Mashima manga like EDENS ZERO, FAIRY TAIL, Rave Master & more for only $30!
A portion of the proceeds for this Humble Bundle to go towards supporting BINC, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation
Kodnsha USA & Humble Bundle are teaming up once again, this time to bring one of the most complete collections of Hiro Mashima digital manga in one career-spanning bundle worth over $1400 with the Hiro Mashima Universe Humble Bundle. Starting now until June 22, newbie and veteran manga fans alike can take advantage of this bundle to get all 63 volumes of FAIRY TAIL, all 35 volumes of Rave Master, 17 volumes of EDENS ZERO & much more for just $30. See why Hiro Mashima is one of the most prolific, anime-inspiring, manga creators working today with this limited time Humble Bundle, and beef up your digital manga library with more than 130 volumes today.
Read ’em anywhere: All the exciting, hilarious, and action-packed manga featured as part of the HiroMashima Universe Humble Bundle will be delivered digitally upon purchase in multiple formats including CBZ, PDF, ePub, and FLAC so fans can read these titles across their computer, e-readers, tablets, cell phones, and a wide array of mobile devices!
Support charity: Kodansha will be leveraging the purchasing power of each bundle sold –
whether it’s at the $5 or the $30 tier – to donate a portion of the proceeds to a worthy cause! This Humble Bundle supports BINC, the Book Industry Charitable Foundation – an organization helping bookstore owners, booksellers, and comic store employees and owners with unforeseen emergency financial needs. Pay what you want and choose how much of your purchase supports BINC or you can also choose a charity of your preference via the PayPal Giving Fund.
Get a sneak peek at the digital manga series debuting in June from Kodansha USA
Kodansha USA unveils two lovely and exciting new manga series debuting this June with the romantic story of boy meets mermaid in Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua, and the action-packed handsome spy thriller, Messiah -CODE EDGE-.
Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch: Aqua By Pink Hanamori
Release Date: June 6, 2023
Lukia Nanami is turning seventeen. Her family has just moved to a town by the sea, and on her first walk down to the beach, she saves a handsome surfer from drowning. The next day, she’s shocked to discover he’s not only a classmate at her new school, but has no idea who she is, and insists he was saved by a mermaid! A new chapter in the saga of Mermaid Melody Pichi Pichi Pitch, from original artist Pink Hanamori!
Mysterious, handsome young men working as spy-pairs for a secret agency, the Church, are forbidden to love anyone but their partners. If they’re to survive—not only war, but the ghosts of their tragic pasts—they must rely on one another to be there… because each other is all they have. Follow Eiri, Haku, Soma, and Shusuke as they battle their inner demons with the help of their partners in this peek into the Messiah Project universe.
Get Recommendations for what to read next including The Fablevolume 1 FREE
If you’ve been enjoying the twisted crime thriller My Home Hero on Crunchyroll, and are looking for more stories about crime, power, and rebelling against the status quo, you’ll love the recommendations on discount as part of the What’s Next, Kodansha?: My Home Hero digital sale!
To help get fans into more crime manga like Masashi Asaki & Naoki Yamakawa’s My Home Hero a suspense thriller about a father protecting his family from a crime ring we’re giving away a FREE volume 1 of The Fable, the dramedy about an infamous genius hitman ordered not to kill anyone for a year. Not only that but fans can also get up to 50% off series like Boss Wife, a drama about a woman in debt who becomes a yakuza’s wife; WIND BREAKER, the delinquent battle manga about fighters that use their strength to protect their town, and Inuyashiki, the story of an elderly man who turns into a military-grade super-robot!
Sale Ends Monday, May 29th, 2023!
For a limited time get a free volume 1 of the killer who can’t kill, The Fable, and also save up to 50% off other crime drama manga during the What’s Next, Kodansha?:My Home Hero digital sale.
To see all the series on sale, visit one of our participating digital vendors: Bookwalker Amazon Kindle Google Play Kobo Nook MyAnimeList and more!
Still curious to learn more about Kodansha’s recommendations for what to read next after My Home Hero. Take a look below for details on these four recommended series!
The Fable By Katsuhisa Minami
When you’re the infamous prodigy hitman known only as Fable, many things come easy. Being a normal person, however, isn’t one of them. In fact, being told that he can’t kill anyone for a while may just be the hardest job Fable’s ever taken…
When Hasumi has a chance meeting with her old high school crush, Yamato Kujo, she figures she might as well spend one night in bliss before she deals with the debt collectors that hound her steps. But when Yamato reveals he’s become a yakuza member, Hasumi panics and runs away only to have Yamato pop up again, but this time with a proposition: He’ll buy her debt if she becomes his bride. But can she take the pressure and drama of becoming a yakuza wife?
Haruka Sakura wants nothing to do with weaklings he’s only interested in the strongest of the strong. He’s from Fuurin High School, a school of near-dropout degenerates known only for their brawling strength. And in a town known for its territorial disputes, Haruka’s got only one goal become the hero his town deserves.
Ichiro Inuyashiki is down on his luck. While only 58 years old, his geriatric looks often have him written off as a pathetic old man by the world around him and he’s constantly ignored and disrespected by his family despite all that he’s done to support them. On top of everything else, his doctor has revealed that he has cancer and it appears that he has little time left in this world. But just when it seems things couldn’t get any worse, a blinding light in the night sky strikes the earth where Ichiro stands. He later wakes up to find himself unscathed, but he soon starts to notice that there’s something … different about himself.
Kodansha USA Publishing announces a new print manga license debuting in English spring 2024, A Kingdom of Quartz by BOMHAT – an epic fantasy adventure about warring angels and demons, as well as royal intrigue. The Japanese language edition of A Kingdom of Quartz volume 1 also debuts today from Kodansha in Japan.
A Kingdom of Quartz is the story of elegant creatures with magnificent wings and peerless strength who, by the Goddess’s will, protect the Kingdom of Quartz from infiltration by demonic forces: These are the heroes known as Angels. A little girl named Blue, who was born with mysterious black wings, spends every waking moment dreaming of becoming an Angel herself. Then, one day, Blue meets a prince, and the cogs of her fate twist and heave, enmeshing her in tragedy and adventure…
“From the very first moment we set eyes on BOMHAT’s breathtaking work, the entire department was completely in rapture.” says the Afternoon Magazine editorial,“We hope that our English readers, too, will enjoy this beautiful and thrilling tale of angels and demons!
“Thank you for reading A Kingdom or Quartz,” says series creator, BOMHAT,“This work was written in English and translated to Japanese and now it’s in English again. I think it’s kind of funny. I hope it’s as enjoyable to read as it was to draw.”
For more information on these and other Kodansha manga please visit: kodansha.localhost/.
Get Recommendations for what to read next Including Kigurumi Guardiansvolume 1 FREE
If you’ve been enjoying the latest anime season of Tokyo Mew Mew on HIDIVE, and are looking for more coming-of-age magical fantasy manga or stories about transformation inside and out, you’ll love the recommendations on discount as part of the What’s Next, Kodansha?: Tokyo Mew Mew digital sale!
For more Magical manga similar to Reiko Yoshida and Mia Ikumi’s Tokyo Mew Mew – a saga of cute magical girls fighting to protect the environment – we’re giving fans a FREE volume 1 of the cute and twisted take on the magical girl genre, Kigurumi Guardians. But the recommendations AND savings don’t end there. Fans can also get up to 50% off series like Kamikamikaeshi, the fantasy series about a deity sealed inside a girl’s hair; Smile Down the Runway, the charminghigh-fashion comedy about friendship and chasing your dreams, and Shugo Chara!, the story of a shy girl who’s granted the power to be someone new through divine magic!
Sale Ends Monday, May 22nd, 2023!
For a limited time get a free volume 1 of the peculiar magical girl series Kigurumi Guardians, and also save up to 50% off other magical adventure manga during the What’s Next, Kodansha?: Tokyo Mew Mew digital sale.
Still curious to learn more about Kodansha’ recommendations for what to read next after Tokyo Mew Mew. Take a look below for details on these four recommended series!
Kigurumi Guardians By Lily Hoshino
Hakka Sasakura’s life is about to turn upside down. She comes home from a day of admiring her student body president to discover that a mysterious creature resembling a man in an animal suit has taken up residence her home. What’s more, she has been chosen to work with this strange being to fight off invaders from another dimension and save the world … and she has to kiss him to do so?!
You see, there are kamisama, a deity, in her hair. A Shinto ritual called kamigamigaeshi allows kamisama to rest in a girl’s hair to heal themselves … One day, Mashiro, who has been confined in a small room, meets Hinokagu, a kamisama who had been sealed inside her hair … ?! Super Kamigami Fantasy!!
Chiyuki Fujito has a dream: to become a Paris Collection model. The problem is, she’s too short to be a model, and everyone around her tells her so! But no matter what they say, she won’t give up. Her classmate, a poor student named Ikuto Tsumura, also has a dream: to become a fashion designer. One day Chiyuki tells him that it’s “probably impossible” for him, causing him to consider giving it up … ?! This is the story of two individuals wholeheartedly chasing after their dreams in spite of all the negativity that comes after them!
Everybody at Seiyo Elementary thinks that stylish and supercool Amu has it all. But nobody knows the real Amu, a shy girl who wishes she had the courage to truly be herself. Changing Amu’s life is going to take more than wishes and dreams—it’s going to take a little magic! One morning, Amu finds a surprise in her bed: three strange little eggs. Each egg contains a Guardian Character, an angel-like being who can give her the power to be someone new. With the help of her Guardian Characters, Amu is about to discover that her true self is even more amazing than she ever dreamed.
