Kodansha News & Updates for Direct Market Retailers

NEW UPDATES FOR FALL 2025:

Greetings comic shop and direct market retailer friends! Time again for another seasonal update full of info on current Kodansha bestsellers, upcoming print debuts for Fall and Spring 2026, manga-inspired anime streaming now and in the near future, plus more!

Be sure to bookmark this link as we’ll be updating information periodically with info relevent for all retailers! And for another way to keep up-to-date on Kodansha news you can also sign up to recieve the Kodansha email newsletter here


TOP SELLERS & PRE-ORDER SUCCESSES

For this Fall update we wanted to report some clear winners for bestselling Kodansha series in 2025, highlighting ongoing and evergreen titles, box sets and premium editions, as well as upcoming debuts that are burnning up the sales charts.

Kodansha Bestsellers — Ongoing & Evergreen

ISBN Series
9781646511341 AKIRA Hardcover Collection
9781646513741 Attack on Titan Omnibus
9781646516544 Blue Lock
9798888771389 The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity
9798888770207 GACHIAKUTA
9798888770986 Initial D Omnibus
9781647294540 Tower Dungeon

Kodansha Bestsellers — Box Set & Premium Editions

ISBN Series
9781632364616 AKIRA 35th Anniversary Box Set
9781647294854 Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN Deluxe
9798888773390 Sailor Moon Manga Box Set (Naoko Takeuchi Collection)
9781646519781 Vinland Saga Deluxe

Kodansha Bestsellers — Pre-Orders

ISBN Series OSD
9798888776346 Mushishi Collector’s Edition Nov 04, 2025
9798888777046 Shugo Chara! 20th Anniversary Edition Mar 03, 2026
9798888776711 The Ghost in the Shell Legacy Edition Manga Box Set Feb 17, 2026
9781647294991 Studio Ghibli: The Complete Works (Second Edition) Nov 25, 2025
9798888777848 MARS 30th Anniversary Edition Jun 16, 2026

FALL AND WINTER 2025 ANIME SEASON FEATURING KODANSHA MANGA:

Anime continues to be one of the biggest way that fans and newcommers learn about some Kodansa’s manga series. Currently burrning the charts is the ongoing season of the trash-punk action epic GACHIAKUTA, and the opposites attract high school romance, The Fragrant Flower Blooms With Dignity

But the fall season does bring some new anime debuts like the fluffy monster eating romantacy, Pass the Monster Meat, Milady!, the kinetitc dance coming-of-age drama, Wandance, as well as the final season of the time-jumping wanderer saga, To Your Eternity

Also check out below for the list of anime will be premiering early 2026. 

Fall 2025 Anime Inspired by Kodansha Manga (Currently Airing)

Winter 2026 Anime Inspired by Kodansha Manga (Premiering in January)

 

RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PRINT MANGA FOR FALL 2026

Finishing up our conventions for 2025 we had the opportunity to reveal new print licenses for premium artbooks like the Shirow Masamune: Artworks in the Shell, all-ages titles like the Cells at Work! Picture Books, and upcoming fantasy adventure, When a Dragon Calls; as well as spotlight some new editions of Kodansha favorites like the indie rock modern classic, BECK, and a new way to collect the global hit with the GACHIAKUTA Dumpster Box Set.

Also be sure to take a look at what’s coming up in the near future with the full roster of Spring 2026 announcements as shared on our Anime Expo announcement page and our Comic-Con International announcement page


HOLIDAY SHOPPING CALLOUTS!

With the holidays just around the corner we wanted to share a shortlist of titles that would make for excellent gifts ideas for comics and manga fans or customers coming in to find a special manga gift.

ISBN Series OSD Who is it for?
9798888776346 Mushishi Collector’s Edition Nov 04, 2025 For fans of the 2000’s anime. For lovers of light fantasy horror
9798888776438 The Art of Witch Hat Atelier Dec 02, 2025 For fans of Witch Hat Atelier and lovers of stunning art books
9781647294182 Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Volume 17 Dec 02, 2025 For fans of the anime and lovers of horror comedies (heavy on the comedy). This volume goes beyond the 3rd and latest season of the anime.
9781647295004 The Magnificent Bastard Keiji Dec 09, 2025 From the artist of Fist of the North Star. For fans of bombastic historical fiction.
9781647294946 Dragon Head Dec 16, 2025 For fans of thought provoking horror stories in manga and comics.
9781647294854 Mobile Suit Gundam: THE ORIGIN Deluxe Available now For fans of of Mobile Suit Gundam. For lovers of premium editions like the Berserk Deluxe editions.
9781646519781 Vinland Saga Deluxe Available now For fans of action-focused historical fictions and vikings. For lovers of premium editions like the Berserk Deluxe editions.
9781647294670 Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun: IruMafia Edition Available now For fans of the original series Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun. For lovers of alternate univers stories and comedic crime stories.

Kodansha will be sharing a more robust gift guide this November with even greater details.


TRAILERS FOR CURRENT AND UPCOMING KODANSHA MANGA-INSPIRED ANIME: 



Direct market retailers looking to get the latest info on Kodansha manga need only to sign up to our newsletter to stay up to date on new releases & upcoming new license announcements.

Step into the shadows of storytelling and grab Volume 1s for just $0.99 during the What We Read in the Shadows Sale!

 

Celebrate two fright-filled weeks with $0.99 Volume 1s and $1.99 Volume 2s during What We Read in the Shadows digital manga sale!

This Halloween season, step into the darkness with stories that chill, thrill, and haunt long after you turn the last page. From eerie mysteries to supernatural showdowns, these tales are perfect for moonlit reading sessions.

For a limited time, get Volume 1s starting at just $0.99, Volume 2s at $1.99 and up to 50% off additional volumes with spooky favorites like:

The Flowers of Evil: A dark, unsettling exploration of obsession, shame, and desire. With its psychological intensity and haunting atmosphere, it peels back the layers of human nature to reveal the chaos beneath ordinary life.

In/Spectre: A sharp blend of mystery, romance, and the supernatural. With witty banter, eerie cases, and clever twists, it explores the uneasy balance between logic and legend in a world where myths walk among us.

Back When You Called Us Devils: A gripping psychological drama steeped in mystery and moral decay. Dark, raw, and emotionally charged, it delves into the sins of the past and the haunting consequences that refuse to fade.

Sankarea: A darkly romantic twist on the undead genre, blending gothic horror with tender emotion. Equal parts eerie and heartfelt, it explores love, loss, and what it truly means to be alive.


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

Amazon Kindle
BookWalker
Barnes and Noble Nook
Apple Books
Kobo
Google Play
MyAnimeList
Mangamo
and more! 

Curious to learn more about manga currently on sale during the What We Read in the Shadows digital manga sale? Take a look below for details on some of the recommended series to try:


Dolly Kill Kill
By Yukiaki Kurando and Yusuke Nomura

Iruma Ikaruga is living his best high-school life… until mascot-looking aliens from another world invade with their flesh-eating bugs, seemingly hell-bent on destroying humanity violently and effectively! On that fateful day, Iruma loses everything…his normal life, his best friend, and his crush…until six months later, when he catches a glimpse of her again. Is all hope for humanity—or just Iruma himself—truly lost?

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Dolly Kill Kill


The Flowers of Evil
By Shuzo Oshimi

A darkly funny and deeply unsettling coming-of-age story about obsession, guilt, and awakening desire. Takao Kasuga is a bookish middle schooler who finds comfort in the poetry of Baudelaire—but one impulsive act changes everything. When he steals the gym clothes of his crush, the sweet and popular Nanako Saeki, he’s caught by his strange and unpredictable classmate Nakamura. Rather than turn him in, Nakamura forces Takao into a twisted friendship, threatening to expose his secret unless he submits to her cruel whims. As their disturbing bond deepens, Takao’s world begins to unravel in this haunting exploration of shame, rebellion, and the dark side of adolescence.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of The Flowers of Evil


Until Your Bones Rot
By Yae Utsumi

The summer they were eleven, they killed a man and buried his body in a cave. Since then, every year, one summer night has marked a ritual: a ritual never to forget, and never to betray. Five years have passed. Their sixteenth summer. The body, now a skeleton. Unraveled lies. A faceless blackmailer. The phone rings, and a life is torn apart. The bones, like their crime: never rotting, never fading away. Now, a living hell begins.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Until Your Bones Rot


Parasyte
By Hitoshi Iwaaki

They arrive in silence and darkness. They descend from the skies. They have a hunger for human flesh. They are everywhere. They are parasites, alien creatures who must invade—and take control of—a human host to survive. And once they have infected their victims, they can assume any deadly form they choose: monsters with giant teeth, winged demons, creatures with blades for hands. But most have chosen to conceal their lethal purpose behind ordinary human faces. So no one knows their secret—except an ordinary high school student. Shin is battling for control of his own body against an alien parasite, but can he find a way to warn humanity of the horrors to come?

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Parasyte


See below for the full list of What We Read in the Shadows series on sale now until 11/03/25

Celebrate the return of Kodansha’s immersive fan experience and get volume 1s for only $0.99 during the Kodansha’s House Sale!

 

Celebrate some of the biggest hits from Kodansha with $0.99 volume 1s during the Kodansha’s House digital manga sale!

Celebrate the opening of Kodansha House in NYC—now with more space and exhibits—by saving on some the most popular and fan-favorite series that make up Kodansha’s House during this special digital manga sale!

For a limited time, get volume 1s for just $0.99 and additional volumes up to 50% off. Dive into fan favorite series like:

A Sign of Affection: A sweet, modern romance manga about Yuki, a deaf college student whose world is quiet but full of warmth, and Itsuomi, a multilingual, well-traveled upperclassman who opens her eyes to new experiences.

Fire Force: a high-octane action manga from the creator of Soul Eater. In a world where people spontaneously combust into fiery monsters called Infernals, special fire brigades known as the Fire Force are humanity’s last defense

The Ghost in the Shell: A groundbreaking cyberpunk manga set in a near-future world where humans and machines intertwine.

Attack on Titan: A dark fantasy series set in a world where the remnants of humanity live within enormous, concentric walled cities to protect themselves from massive, man-eating humanoid creatures called Titans.


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

Amazon Kindle
BookWalker
Barnes and Noble Nook
Apple Books
Kobo
Google Play
MyAnimeList
Mangamo
and more! 

Curious to learn more about manga currently on sale during Kodansha’s House digital manga sale? Take a look below for details on some of the recommended series to try:


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?

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Blue Lock


Fire Force
By Atsushi Ohkubo

The city of Tokyo is plagued by a deadly phenomenon: spontaneous human combustion! Luckily, a special team is there to quench the inferno: The Fire Force! The fire soldiers at Special Fire Cathedral 8 are about to get a unique addition. Enter Shinra, a boy who possesses the power to run at the speed of a rocket, leaving behind the famous “devil’s footprints” (and destroying his shoes in the process). Can Shinra and his colleagues discover the source of this strange epidemic before the city burns to ashes?

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Fire Force


The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity
By Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura

Chidori High is a boys’ school that takes in the dregs of society with the lowest grades. Next door stands Kikyo Girls’ High, where the wealthy, high-class families send their precious daughters. Chidori second-year Rintaro, who has a fierce face but a gentle heart, is helping at his family’s patisserie when he meets a girl named Kaoruko. The two hit it off right away…but this blissful peace is quickly disturbed when Rintaro discovers that Kaoruko is actually a student at Kikyo. Worse, she doesn’t seem to realize what a huge problem this really is! Will these two be able to forge a path for themselves and sidestep the traps (metaphorical and literal) laid by their classmates?

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of The Fragrant Flower Blooms with Dignity


Vinland Saga
By Makoto Yukimura

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.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Vinland Saga


A Sign of Affection
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?

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of A Sign of Affection


See below for the full list of Kodansha’s House series on sale now until 10/20/25

Kodansha @ New York Comic Con 2025! Panels, Anime Premieres & MORE!

Kodansha at New York Comic Con 2025 

With the arrival of Autumn, the Big Apple is ablaze with passion as anime and manga enthusiasts across the East Coast prepare for the entertainment extravaganza that is New York Comic Con (October 9–12, 2025, Javits Convention Center.)

But this year, fans will also have something else to get fired up about with the return of Kodansha House in Manhattan—a red-hot celebration of all things manga—taking place October 4–19, 2025 at 210 Lafayette St, New York, NY 10012.

So be sure to plan your trip to check out the special exhibit, events, and merch while you’re in NYC.


ICYMI, here’s the #NYCC25_Kodansha new licensing announcement revealed at New York Comic Con for print manga, picture books and box sets debuting Fall 2026!


If you came out to the Human Algorithm: Manga Recommendations for Educators & Librarians panel on October 10th, 2025 you got to experience great manga recs from not only the amazing panelists. To capture all the great manga that was shared, for even folks who weren’t at the panel, we drafted up a shareable document which you can read here: 

Human Algorithm: Manga Recommendations for Educators & Librarians Recommendation Sheet


2025 Harvey Award Nominations from Kodansha

We continue an amazing year of award-nominated manga as we arrive at New York Comic Con with two Best Manga Harvey Award nominations! Two fantastic ongoing series, Witch Hat Atelier and WIND BREAKER, are both in the running at the Harvey Awards, the prestigious comic, manga, and graphic-novel industry event taking place on Friday October 10, 2025.

See below for the Kodansha titles and creators up for awards: 

  • Best Manga
    WIND BREAKER by Satoru Nii; translated by Jacqueline Fung
    Witch Hat Atelier by Kamome Shirahama; translated by Stephen Kohler 

Panels & Events

Crunchyroll Premieres – Round 1

Thursday, October 9, 2025
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET
North-Room 405

Programming Link: https://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en-us/things-to-do/panels/panel-information.html?gtID=912486&panel-name=Crunchyroll-Premieres-Round-1

Catch a sneak peek at some of the upcoming anime that’s coming to Crunchyroll’s simulcasts! Don’t miss your chance to be among the first to see the latest anime from Japan! 

Fire Force Season 3 – Episode 13
Hana-Kimi – Episode 1


Kodansha’s Upcoming Series Debuts & New Licenses

Friday, October 10, 2025
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM ET
North-Room 406.2

Programming Link: https://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en-us/things-to-do/panels/panel-information.html?gtID=905842&panel-name=Kodanshas-Upcoming-Series-Debuts-and-amp-New-Licenses

Kodansha—purveyors of some of the most exciting & heartfelt manga published today like, Blue Lock, Gachiakuta and Witch Hat Atelier and more—invites manga veterans and newbies alike to get a special sneak peek of some of the hottest new series and latest license coming soon to a bookshelf near you! Hear from the manga experts at Kodansha as they detail an upcoming year of huge manga debuts, offer recommendations for soon-to-debut releases and even hand out some special manga giveaways. It’s a panel no manga fan can miss!


Human Algorithm: Manga Recommendations for Educators & Librarians

Friday, October 10, 2025
2:00 – 3:00 PM ET
Javits-Level 4 River Pavilion: Pro Stage 2

Programming Link: https://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en-us/things-to-do/panels/panel-information.html?gtID=905845&panel-name=Human-Algorithm-Manga-Recommendations-for-Educators-and-amp-Librarians

Interest in anime and manga has exploded over the last 5 years, which is great for fans but makes staying on top of what’s popular and (more importantly) appropriate for libraries and schools difficult to discern. That’s where the manga pros come in! Better than AI, join this panel of manga professionals that will act as your human algorithm to find manga perfect for your school, library, and readers. We’ll be taking questions throughout the panel to help build a list anyone can reference, completely powered by professional manga fans.


How to Start Building a Manga Collection for your School or Library

Saturday, October 11, 2025
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Javits-Level 4 River Pavilion: Pro Stage 1

Programming Link: https://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en-us/things-to-do/panels/panel-information.html?gtID=905844&panel-name=How-to-Start-Building-a-Manga-Collection-for-your-School-or-Library

Are you an educator or librarian struggling to know which manga is right for your readers? Let manga professionals help! Join this panel of publishing professionals and professional fans for a conversation that offers tips on how to get started, popular recommendations, resources to help make informed decisions, giveaways, and more! We’re here to help start or grow your manga library!


Seeing Yourself: Queer Representation in Manga

Saturday, October 11, 2025
4:15 PM – 5:15 PM
North-Room 406.1

Programming Link: https://www.newyorkcomiccon.com/en-us/things-to-do/panels/panel-information.html?gtID=905843&panel-name=Seeing-Yourself-Queer-Representation-in-Manga

Manga has always been a source for stories for and about all kinds of folks. And it’s through this variety that many queer people have been able to see themselves, not only in popular genres like BL and Yuri but also in horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and many other kinds of manga. Join this panel of queer manga experts as they talk about their own experiences seeing themselves and offer recommendations for amazing stories brimming with pride.


Keep your eyes peeled on this blog post and our social media posts with the hashtag #NYCC25_Kodansha for panel reminders, new licensing announcements, and more updates from Kodansha during NYCC. 

 

From NYCC 2025 Kodansha Unveils Their Fall 2026 New Print Manga Licenses

Kodansha Announces New Print Manga Licenses for Fall 2026

Just announced at New York Comic Con 2025 — Kodansha revealed to manga fans in-person and online more print manga licenses arriving in Fall 2026.

Kodansha unveils even more details from their Fall 2026 print publishing lineup by revealing a range of upcoming debuts including: a new high quality art book from The Ghost in the Shell creator with Shirow Masamune:
Artworks in the Shell
; new all-ages titles like the feline focused Cells at Work! spinoff, Cells at Work! Cat, and the magical creature fantasy adventure, When a Dragon Calls; exciting romance stories like the sci-fi rom-com, My Husband is a Doomsday Weapon; beautiful BL like the K-Pop omegaverse drama, Comeback After Fate; and more!

Today’s print title announcements will be available starting Fall 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.


PREMIUM ART BOOK:

Shirow Masamune:
Artworks in the Shell
By Shirow Masamune

JP Title: 士郎正宗の世界展 公式原画集 SHIROW MASAMUNE ARTWORKS IN THE SHELL (Shirow Masamune no Sekai-ten – Koushiki Genga-shu)

Debut Date: Fall 2026

Artworks in the Shell is the capstone to any collection focused on Shirow Masamune, covering his more than 40-year career from Dominion and The Ghost in the Shell through Appleseed, Intron Depot, and more!

At 288 pages and nearly a foot long, this hardcover collection is the most spectacular presentation ever of the stunning range of Shirow’s color works, tracing his techniques from all-analog through dozens of early digital tools up to the present day. Assembled for a blockbuster career retrospective exhibition in Tokyo last year, this exhaustive collection of color work by Japan’s master of cyberpunk includes dozens of rare, uncollected pieces, including two exquisite double-folded gatefold artworks.

Rated: 18+


ALL – AGES:

Cells at Work! Picture Books
By Kumi Makimura
Original work by Akane Shimizu

JP Title: 絵本 はたらく細胞 (Ehon Hataraku Saibo)

Debut Date: Fall 2026

The mega-hit anime and best-selling manga is now an edutainment picture book series! Red Blood Cell, White Blood Cell (Neutrophil), and their team guide young readers on an exciting behind the scenes exploration of all the hard work going on to keep the human body healthy. Adorable characters, diagrams, and simple language help make the scientific adventure fun.

Titles in the series:

  • Cells at Work! Picture Book 1: The Great Bacteria Vs. White Blood Cell Battle!
  • Cells at Work! Picture Book 2: The Dastardly Duo of Flu and Food Poisoning!
  • Cells at Work! Picture Book 3: I’m Not Scared of Shots!
  • Cells at Work! Picture Book 4: Just a Cold? Just a Bump?
  • Cells at Work! Picture Book 5: Busy, Busy Gut Bug Buddies!

Rated: All Ages 10+


Cells at Work! Cat
Original Story by Choco Aozora
Art by Meku Kaire
Supervised by Akane Shimizu

JP Title: はたらく細胞 猫 (Hataraku Saibo Neko)

Debut Date: Fall 2026

Red Blood Cell, White Blood Cell (Neutrophil), and their team put on their cat ears as they work, day and night to fight the invaders big and small to make sure these feline friends are happy, healthy, purring machines! Explore the action taking place inside a cat’s body, in Cells at Work! style, while also seeing the perspective from the humans who provide a home and tender loving care.


Rated: All Ages 10+


YuM Cat
By Shirimoto

JP Title: ンめねこ (Nmeneko)

Debut Date: Fall 2026

YuM Cat (Nmeneko) is a cat who just wants to enjoy the yummier things in life. But some things that look tasty can be deceiving, and sometimes you need to get a little creative to satiate a craving! Thankfully, YuM Cat’s got a trusty sidekick to help with the trickier slices of life! 

This full-color, mostly wordless manga, based on the popular mascot character created by illustrator Shirimoto, which gained popularity on X (Twitter), was recently adapted into a short-form anime series starring Han Megumi and Hiro Shimono.

Perfect for cute cat fans (and foodies!) of any age!

Rated: 10+


When a Dragon Calls
Original Story by Sachiko Kashiwaba
Art by Renji Asai
Character Design by Miho Satake

JP Title: 竜が呼んだ娘 (Ryu ga Yonda Musume)

Debut Date: Fall 2026

A fantastical adventure based on the hit fantasy novel that will sweep you off your feet! 

Ten-year-old Mia lives with her aunt in the poor, secluded, so-called “Criminals’ Village” where the only way out is to be called by a dragon and carried off to a new life. One day, the unassuming Mia is chosen for this honor and whisked away on dragon-back to the royal palace, a dazzling world filled with witches, dragon-riding knights, and a centuries-long curse she must somehow find a way to lift.

Perfect for young readers and fans of Kiki’s Delivery Service and Spirited Away

Rated: 10+


ACTION & ADVENTURE:

Erin the Beast Player
Original story by Nahoko Uehashi
Art by Itoe Takemoto

JP Title: 獣の奏者  (Kemono no Souja)

Debut Date: Fall 2026

Coming to print for the first time in all-new omnibus editions!

Erin loves her modest but happy life with her mother, a gifted beast doctor who cares for the fearsome giant serpents that the kingdom’s warriors ride into battle. But their world is turned upside down when the entire stable of the prized serpents dies overnight, and Erin’s mother is saddled with the blame. Before she knows it, ten-year-old Erin is cast off in a faraway land where she must learn to survive with only her mother’s words and the kindness of strangers to guide her. 

A sumptuous manga adaptation of the hit fantasy novel series, perfect for fans of Witch Hat Atelier, Mushishi, and Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind!

Rated: 10+


ROMANCE:

My Husband is a Doomsday Weapon.
By Yuki Amemiya and Yukino Ichihara

JP Title: 旦那様は終末兵器 (Danna-sama wa Shuumatsu Heiki)

Debut Date: Fall 2026

The first ever post-apocalyptic hard sci-fi human/android romance?!

A young scientist working to restore a civilization destroyed centuries ago by cataclysmic war unearths a devastatingly powerful doomsday weapon—which saves her from a marauding robot, then promptly transforms into human guise, identifying her as its new master. Thanks to the input from a romance novel, this handsome anthropomorphic weapon dedicates itself body and soul to our heroine, who in turn realizes that this may be the answer to her total inability to interact with human men…

Packed with humor and sterling artwork, this series fuses the visual storytelling techniques of shojo manga with effortlessly natural and precise science fiction worldbuilding to create something totally unique—and genuinely romantic!

Rated: 13+


You Might As Well Be the One
By Megumu Seto

JP Title: いっそあなたがトドメを刺して (Isso Anata ga Todome wo Sashite)

Debut Date: Fall 2026

“I want you to never stop smiling.” Ichika, a college student, just wants to have a normal romance for once, yet because of her flashy appearance, she is often misunderstood. Not ready to give up on a romantic encounter, Ichika joins a drinking party and meets a kind boy named Kosei. They immediately click and Ichika has a great time talking to him about their mutual interests and other things, and she finds herself falling for him after he tells her that he likes her for who she is. However, he has a secret…?!

Rated: 16+


BL:

A Love Too Captivating
By Mia Sorahana

JP Title: たまらないのは恋なのか (Tamaranai no wa Koi na no ka)

Debut Date: Fall 2026

The eagerly-awaited BL is finally here!

Misuzu never goes looking for fights—they just always come to him. But when he sees the local punks trying to start trouble with his classmate, honor-student Kitahara, he can’t help himself from stepping in. Ever since, Kitahara has been following Misuzu everywhere, trying to get to know this so-called bully who is actually much sweeter than he seems. All Misuzu wants is to be left alone…at first. But soon, something begins to blossom between the two—something that may just prove too captivating to resist.

A must-read for fans of My Summer of You and Sasaki and Miyano!

Rated: 16+


Comeback After Fate
By Anji Seina

JP Title: カムバック・アフター・フェイト

Debut Date: Fall 2026

The steamy K-Pop omegaverse BL manga you’ve been waiting for!

Eli’s boy band VINKS has just made their big debut—and as the youngest in the group, far from having everything handed to him as an alpha, he has to work twice as hard! One day, he participates in a session with Lee Suyoung from the top-ranked, all-alpha group α-code. For Eli, a longtime fan, it’s a dream come true. But what’s this sweet smell coming from Suyoung? Before he knows it, Eli’s mouth is heading for Suyoung’s nape… It’s only one month until α-code’s big comeback. What will they do, now that Eli knows Suyoung’s secret?

Rated: 18+


BOX SET:

Gachiakuta Dumpster Box Set
By Kei Urana
Graffiti Design by Hideyoshi Andou

Debut Date: Fall 2026

Vols. 1-10 of the original manga in a graffiti-covered, dumpster-shaped box set. Bonus item: cotton tote bag made from recycled material.

A young boy is framed for murder and cast off the edge of a floating city into the abyss, where he grapples with the monsters that the elite high above would rather forget. The more the rich glitter, the higher the price paid by the poor…

Now a hit anime running through December 2025!

Rated: 16+

Announcing the Long-Awaited Sequel to Totto-chan: NYC Event Schedule

Introducing the Trailblazing Woman behind Totto-chan

Kodansha USA Throws a Celebration for the Little Girl at the Window

By Alexandra McCullough-Garcia, with editorial assistance by Daniel Joseph and Alvin Lu

The train rocked Totto as it chugged along in the dark, bound for Aomori Prefecture. She could see nothing at all through the window. Totto was perched in the middle of a two-seater bench. At her sides were not her mother, Noriaki-chan, or Mari-chan, however, but a middle-aged man and woman, neither of whom she knew. She was all alone. In her right hand, she clutched the train ticket Mother had given her as well as a note that read: Ueno, Fukushima, Sendai, Morioka, Shiriuchi.

It was the middle of March in the year the war would end.

— from Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel by Tetsuko Kuroyanagi, translated by Yuki Tejima

 

So begins one of the most thrilling chapters from Japanese postwar-cultural icon Tetsuko Kuroyanagi’s recently translated autobiography Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel. The heart-pounding scene picks up exactly where her original, world record-breaking memoir ended, and begins to answer the burning question left in the millions of hearts it captured: What ever happened to Totto-chan?

This year, on November 18, 2025—over four decades after Totto-chan first burst onto the global stage—Kodansha USA brings the world the story of how that little girl became a trailblazing, multifaceted star, internationally renowned philanthropist, celebrated author, and one of the most enduring media presences in Japanese entertainment. 

“I am excited to announce that my memoir, Totto-chan, the Little Girl at the Window: The Sequel, will soon be released in English. It has been forty years in the making, and I put my whole heart and soul into it,” said author Testuko Kuroyanagi. “I hope you enjoy it!”

In celebration of Ms. Kuroyanagi’s career and legacy, Kodansha USA will also host events in New York City around the date of the book’s publication at the Japan Society, the New York Public Library, and Kinokuniya Bookstore (see Event Details below).


A Special Message from Tetsuko Kuroyanagi

 

Discover your new favorite manga with the volume 1s only $0.99 during the Like this? Try that! Sale!

 

Get recommendations on new manga to binge during the Like this? Try That! sale with Volume 1s starting at $0.99

Looking for your next binge-worthy read? Now’s the perfect chance to explore series that capture the same vibes, themes, and thrills of beloved series enjoyed by fans around the world during our Like this? Try that! manga sale. 

Sale Ends Monday, October 6th, 2025! 

For a limited time, get volume 1s for just $0.99 and additional volumes up to 50% off. Dive into these favorites and recommendations:

IF YOU LIKE: Land of the Lustrous: A visually stunning and deeply philosophical manga that blends action, beauty, and fragility. Where humanity’s distant descendants live on in a small group of sexless crystalline beings who must fight off an invasion from the Moon.

THEN YOU SHOULD TRY: 

IF YOU LIKE: Sweat and Soap: A refreshingly sweet and grown-up romance that blends humor, vulnerability, and a touch of spice. With its quirky premise and heartfelt character dynamics, it celebrates love, trust, and intimacy in the most unexpected of places

THEN YOU SHOULD TRY: 

IF YOU LIKE: Witch Hat Atelier: a breathtakingly illustrated fantasy that captures the wonder of magic and the dangers that come with it. With its intricate worldbuilding and fairytale-like charm, it tells a spellbinding story of curiosity, creativity, and discovery.

THEN YOU SHOULD TRY: 


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

Amazon Kindle
BookWalker
Barnes and Noble Nook
Apple Books
Kobo
Google Play
MyAnimeList
Mangamo
and more! 

Curious to learn more about manga currently on sale during the Like this? Try that! digital manga sale? Take a look below for details on some of the recommended series to try:

Liked Land of the Lustrious? Try:

Apple Children of Aeon
By Kengo Matsumoto

Yukinojo doesn’t know his past, but he knows his future—a marriage to Asahi, heir to an apple farm in Aomori. But what should have been a quiet, pastoral life is interrupted one snowy day…and what should have laid dormant was awoken by his naïve hands…

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of Apple Children of Aeon


 Liked Sweat and Soap? Try:

Matcha Made in Heaven
By Umebachi Yamanaka

Chako Hananoki thought she’d found happiness in a handsome fiancé, but when she realized a marriage to him would mean a total erasure of herself, she broke it off and moved back into her childhood home in the country—only to find a strange man and young woman living there? She finds a way to coexist with them, but when her stalker fiancé follows her home, she declares to him (and accidentally to the whole village as well) that this new man in her life is her husband?! A dramatic fake-marriage, found-family story for the ages, by the illustrator of the Ossan’s Love manga adaptation!

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Matcha Made in Heaven


Liked Witch Hat Atelier? Try:

Mushishi
By Yuki Urushibara

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 existence, 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.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Mushishi


See below for the full list of Kodansha Manga Starter Packs series on sale now until 10/6/25

Save up to 50% off series like Ajin: Demi-Human, Go! Go! Loser Ranger!, No. 6, & more during the Worlds at War Sale!

For a limited time, get up to 50% off series featuring warring factions and brutal battles like Ajin: Demi-Human, No. 6, Battle Angel Alita: Last Order & more!

Prepare for epic conflicts and intense rivalries as we spotlight (and discount) manga that perfectly chronicle the heat of battle during our Worlds at War digital manga sale. 

For a limited time, get up to 50% off hard hitting action, sci-fi and survival manga like:

Ajin: Demi-Human: A dark, supernatural thriller following a high school student named Kei, who learns he is an “Ajin”—an immortal being who regenerates instantly after death.

No. 6: A suspenseful dystopian sci-fi manga that follows Shion, a privileged resident of the seemingly utopian city-state No. 6. who meets and harbors a fugutive on the run.

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order: A thrilling cyberpunk action sequel to the iconic Battle Angel Alita, following the cyborg warrior Alita after her consciousness is revived in a new body.

Go! Go! Loser Ranger!: A dark action-comedy that deconstructs the superhero genre. A low-level villainous foot soldier named “D” gets tired of staging his team’s weekly defeat and decides to secretly infiltrate the heroes’ ranks to expose the corruption behind their phony heroics.

The Darwin Incident, A powerful sci-fi thriller centered on Charlie, a brilliant human-chimpanzee hybrid. His existence becomes a global debate, forcing him to confront a world that isn’t ready for him while becoming a target for extremist groups.

Sale Ends Monday, September 29th, 2025! 

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

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

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


Ajin: Demi-Human
Story by Tsuina Miura, Art by Gamon Sakurai

High school student Kei Nagai is struck dead in a grizzly traffic accident, but immediately revives to learn that he may not be like every other human. Instead, he may be a mysterious, almost immortal being granted not only the powers of rejuvenation but also the ability to see supernatural beings. Scared, he runs away and is aided in his escape from society by his friend. Unfortunately for Kei, the manhunt is on, and he will soon be caught in a conflict between mankind and others like him as they prepare to fight a new war based on terror.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Ajin: Demi-Human


 

No. 6
By Hinoki Kino and Atsuko Asano

For Shion, an elite student in the technologically sophisticated city No. 6, life is carefully choreographed. School, study, and the occasional visit with his friend and classmate, Safu. One fateful day, however, he takes a misstep, sheltering an injured boy his age from a typhoon. Known only as Rat, this boy is a VC, a fugitive living outside the computerized tapestry of city control, and helping him will throw Shion’s life into chaos and start him down a path to discovering the appalling secrets behind the superficial perfection of No. 6.

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of No. 6


 

Inuyashiki
By Hiroya Oku

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. However, it turns out that these strange, new changes are just what Ichiro needs to take a new lease on life, and now it seems like there’s nothing to stop him from being a hero worthy of the respect that he never had before…unless, that is, there was someone else out there with these same “changes”…

Rated: 16+ 

Read a FREE preview of Inuyashiki


 

Knights of Sidonia
By Tsutomu Nihei

Outer space, the far future. A lone seed ship, the Sidonia, plies the void, ten centuries since the obliteration of the solar system. The massive, nearly indestructible, yet barely sentient alien life forms that destroyed humanity’s home world continue to pose an existential threat. Nagate Tanikaze has only known life in the vessel’s bowels deep below the sparkling strata where humans have achieved photosynthesis and new genders. Not long after he emerges from the Underground, however, the youth is bequeathed a treasured legacy by the spaceship’s coolheaded female captain.

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of Knights of Sidonia


 

Tokyo Revengers
By Ken Wakui

Watching the news, Takemichi Hanagaki learns that his girlfriend from way back in middle school, Hinata Tachibana, has died. The only girlfriend he ever had was just killed by a villainous group known as the Tokyo Manji Gang. He lives in a crappy apartment with thin walls, and his six-year-younger boss treats him like an idiot. Plus, he’s a complete and total virgin… At the height of his rock-bottom life, he suddenly time-leaps 12 years back to his middle school days!! To save Hinata, and change the life he spent running away, hopeless part-timer Takemichi must aim for the top of Kanto’s most sinister delinquent gang!!

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Tokyo Revengers


See below for the full list of Worlds at War series on sale now until 9/29/25

 

Save up to 50% off series like Ajin: Demi-Human, Go! Go! Loser Ranger!, No. 6, & more during the Worlds at War Sale!

For a limited time, get up to 50% off series featuring warring factions and brutal battles like Ajin: Demi-Human, No. 6, Battle Angel Alita: Last Order & more!

Prepare for epic conflicts and intense rivalries as we spotlight (and discount) manga that perfectly chroncle the heat of battle during our Worlds at War digital manga sale. 

For a limited time, get up to 50% off hard hitting action, sci-fi and survival manga like:

Ajin: Demi-Human: A dark, supernatural thriller following a high school student named Kei, who learns he is an “Ajin”—an immortal being who regenerates instantly after death.

No. 6: A suspenseful dystopian sci-fi manga that follows Shion, a privileged resident of the seemingly utopian city-state No. 6. who meets and harbors a fugutive on the run

Battle Angel Alita: Last Order: A thrilling cyberpunk action sequel to the iconic Battle Angel Alita, following the cyborg warrior Alita after her consciousness is revived in a new body.

Go! Go! Loser Ranger!: A dark action-comedy that deconstructs the superhero genre. A low-level villainous foot soldier named “D” gets tired of staging his team’s weekly defeat and decides to secretly infiltrate the heroes’ ranks to expose the corruption behind their phony heroics.

The Darwin Incident, A powerful sci-fi thriller centered on Charlie, a brilliant human-chimpanzee hybrid. His existence becomes a global debate, forcing him to confront a world that isn’t ready for him while becoming a target for extremist groups.

Sale Ends Monday, September 29th, 2025! 

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

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

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


Ajin: Demi-Human
By Gamon Sakurai

High school student Kei Nagai is struck dead in a grizzly traffic accident, but immediately revives to learn that he may not be like every other human. Instead, he may be a mysterious, almost immortal being granted not only the powers of rejuvenation but also the ability to see supernatural beings. Scared, he runs away and is aided in his escape from society by his friend. Unfortunately for Kei, the manhunt is on, and he will soon be caught in a conflict between mankind and others like him as they prepare to fight a new war based on terror.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Ajin: Demi-Human


 

No. 6
By Hinoki Kino, Hinoki Kino, and Atsuko Asano

For Shion, an elite student in the technologically sophisticated city No. 6, life is carefully choreographed. School, study, and the occasional visit with his friend and classmate, Safu. One fateful day, however, he takes a misstep, sheltering an injured boy his age from a typhoon. Known only as Rat, this boy is a VC, a fugitive living outside the computerized tapestry of city control, and helping him will throw Shion’s life into chaos and start him down a path to discovering the appalling secrets behind the superficial perfection of No. 6.

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of No. 6


 

Inuyashiki
By Mitsu Izumi

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. However, it turns out that these strange, new changes are just what Ichiro needs to take a new lease on life, and now it seems like there’s nothing to stop him from being a hero worthy of the respect that he never had before…unless, that is, there was someone else out there with these same “changes”…

Rated: 16+ 

Read a FREE preview of Inuyashiki


 

Knights of Sidonia
By Tsutomu Nihei

Isaku never asked to be the daughter of a yakuza boss, but when her parents died in a car accident when she was 5, her gangster grandfather took her in and raised her as part of the clan. After years of being avoided by her schoolmates because of her family ties, Isaku is finally ready to make her high-school debut, live a normal life, and maybe even find love…until loyal family servant and Isaku’s dedicated guardian, 26-year-old Keiya, enters high school right alongside her and vows to protect her from all of the above! Now she’s got a chain-smoking, pistol-wielding knight-in-shining(?)-armor to deal with, and navigating high school besides? What’s a young lady to do?!

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of Knights of Sidonia


 

Tokyo Revengers
By Moha Arimura

Watching the news, Takemichi Hanagaki learns that his girlfriend from way back in middle school, Hinata Tachibana, has died. The only girlfriend he ever had was just killed by a villainous group known as the Tokyo Manji Gang. He lives in a crappy apartment with thin walls, and his six-year-younger boss treats him like an idiot. Plus, he’s a complete and total virgin… At the height of his rock-bottom life, he suddenly time-leaps 12 years back to his middle school days!! To save Hinata, and change the life he spent running away, hopeless part-timer Takemichi must aim for the top of Kanto’s most sinister delinquent gang!!

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Tokyo Revengers


See below for the full list of Worlds at War series on sale now until 9/29/25

 

Fall in Love With Shojo With A New Humble Bundle

The Fall in Love with Shojo Humble Bundle Celebrates Kodansha Shojo by Offering Fans Full Series at Deep Discounts

Kodansha and Humble celebrate new and modern classic shojo manga series with the Fall in Love with Shojo Humble Bundle—offering fans more than 80 digital volumes and over $900 worth of fan-favorite shojo series for just $30. Not only does this special bundle collect digital volumes of modern shojo classic series like the provocative romance MARS, the magical adventure, Shugo Chara!, the dramatically enticing Peach Girl and more, but also catch up on the ongoing heartwarming love story, A Condition Called Love all in one bundle!

Fall in Love with Shojo Humble Bundle ends October 2, 2025 @ 11AM PT

Want to know how much digital manga you’ll get at each tier of the Fall in Love with Shojo Humble Bundle? Take a look below:

Pay $1 or more to unlock:
A Condition Called Love, volume 1
MARS, volume 1
Peach Girl, volume 1 
Say I Love You, volume 1
Shugo Chara!, volume 1
Shugo Chara Chan!, volume 1

Pay $10 or more to unlock:
A Condition Called Love, volumes 1-6
MARS, volumes 1-5
Peach Girl, volumes 1-6
Say I Love You, volumes 1-6
Shugo Chara!, volumes 1-4
Shugo Chara Chan!, volumes 1-2

Pay $20 or more to unlock:
A Condition Called Love, volumes 1-11
MARS, volumes 1-10
Peach Girl, volumes 1-12
Say I Love You, volumes 1-12
Shugo Chara!, volumes 1-8
Shugo Chara Chan!, volumes 1-3

Pay $30 or more to unlock:
A Condition Called Love, volumes 1-16
MARS, volumes 1-15
Peach Girl, volumes 1-18
Say I Love You, volumes 1-18
Shugo Chara!, volumes 1-12
Shugo Chara Chan!, volumes 1-4


What charity does this Humble Bundle support?: Kodansha will be leveraging the purchasing power of each bundle sold – whether it’s at the $1 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 choose a charity of your preference via the PayPal Giving Fund.

How will you get your purchased digital volumes?: All the thrilling, heartfelt, and action-packed anime-inspiring manga featured as part of the Kodansha’s Fall in Love with Shojo 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!


Curious about this Humble Bundle but aren’t sure if these series are right for you? Read FREE chapters of each of the featured series by clicking on the links below!:


Catch Up on A Condition Called Love then read the latest volume!

A Condition Called Love, Volume 17
By Megumi Morino

Hotaru and Hananoi-kun, each trying to do what’s best for the other, decide to split up. And with Hananoi-kun gone to England, the two of them fall out of contact and there is little hope they’ll reconcile. But when Hotaru realizes she can’t bring herself to forget Hananoi-kun and move on, she hatches a plan with the help of her friends to fly to England herself and win him back!

Rated: 16+

Read the latest volume digitally now:

Grab your books & manga with 50% off school days seies during the Back to School Sale!

For a limited time, get 50% off digital volumes of thougtful, charming, and exciting series like Blue Period, Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms, Wandance & more!

Ready to hit the books? Kodansha is offering the perfect opportunity to stock your digital library and add some fun reading for the new school year. Whether you’re looking for a new series to obsess over, or are aleady done with classes forever but want to return to the days of school-themed drama, now you can during our Back to School digital manga sale! 

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

Blue Period: A powerful coming-of-age drama centered on Yatora Yaguchi, a high school student who feels hollow and unfulfilled despite his academic success, until he discovers his true passion, art!

Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms: A hilarious romantic comedy centered on Mona Kawaii, a popular high school girl whose charms work on everyone—except for one boy: Medaka Kuroiwa.

Blade Girl: A powerful and inspiring sports drama centered on Rin Nanami, a high school runner whose dreams are shattered after a tragic accident changes her forever.

Genshiken Omnibus: A charming and insightful slice-of-life comedy that offers a grounded look into the world of otaku culture through the eyes of a group of college students. 

Sayonara, Football, a compelling and emotional sports drama, chronicles Nozomi Onda’s passionate final year of middle school as she strives to overcome the limitations of her body and her gender, proving her talent on the field.

Sale Ends Monday, September 15th, 2025! 

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

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

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


Blue Period
By Tsubasa Yamaguchi

Yatora is the perfect high school student, with good grades and lots of friends. It’s an effortless performance, and, ultimately…a dull one. But he wanders into the art room one day, and a lone painting captures his eye, awakening him to a kind of beauty he never knew. Compelled and consumed, he dives in headfirst — and he’s about to learn how savage and unforgiving art can be!

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Blue Period


 

Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms
By Ran Kuze

Mona is the cutest girl in school, and she knows it. In fact, she has everyone wrapped around her pretty little finger—everyone, that is, except Medaka Kuroiwa, a recent transfer student. Determined to win him over and solidify her reign as unchallenged queen bee, Mona rolls out the red carpet for her newest would-be subject, only for the stone-cold stoic to glare her down at every turn! Just how far will she go to prove her charms are truly irresistible and win over the last unclaimed heart in school? And why is it that her chest keeps getting tighter the harder he proves to conquer?

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Medaka Kuroiwa is Impervious to My Charms


 

Aho-Girl: A Clueless Girl
By Hiroyuki

Equal parts cute, silly, and subversive, the four-panel comedy manga Ahogaru was a surprise hit in Japan. Fans of anarchic slice-of-life gag manga like Azumanga Daioh – these are the new laughs you’ve been waiting for! Yoshiko is a hopefully clueless high school girl. Her rock-paper-scissors strategy is “rock.” She somehow gets zeroes on multiple-choice tests. And she has an often-nearly-fatal weakness for bananas. Her devoted friends have no choice but to hang around and make sure nobody takes advantage of her. (Of course, the entertainment value might have something to do with it, too.) Cute characters, weird gags, and lots and lots of bananas!

Rated: 13+ 

Read a FREE preview of Aho-Girl: A Clueless Girl


 

Wandance
By Coffee

A SHY TEENAGER HAPPENS ON A CLASSMATE DANCING ALONE, AND HER JOY TURNS A KEY, UNLOCKING SOMETHING IN HIS HEART… Kaboku Kotani is starting high school, and he plans to do what he’s always done: go along with his friends, keep quiet, and not draw too much attention to himself. After all, it’s hard enough to get by with a stutter like his— why make things worse by standing out from the crowd? But then he sees another first-year, Hikari Wanda, dancing like no one is watching—or like she doesn’t care who sees her. It makes Kaboku wonder: Could he reach that same freedom? To find his way to Wanda, he does something he never thought he could: He joins the dance club. After all, every routine begins with a single step, right? Join Kaboku and Wanda as they freestyle their way to life and love!

Rated: 13+

Read a FREE preview of Wandance


 

Ran the Peerless Beauty
By Ammitsu

Ran is beautiful and stylish, with leading scores in her class. No boy on Earth would have the gall to try their hand with her, and no one would think that she’s so entirely innocent…except Akira. Join us in this innocent love story about Rin the “mountaintop flower” and Akira, whose parents own a floweshop. This pure love blooms in volume 1 of Ran the Peerless Beauty.

Rated: 16+

Read a FREE preview of Ran the Peerless Beauty


See below for the full list of Back to School series on sale now until 9/15/25:

From Anime NYC Kodansha Unveils Fall 2026 New Manga Licenses

Kodansha Announces New Print Manga Licenses for Fall 2026

Just announced at Anime NYC 2025 — Kodansha revealed to manga fans in-person and online updates, more print manga licenses arriving in Fall 2026.

The first look at Kodansha’s Fall 2025 new print licenses includes a spotlight on the award-winning mangaka Yuna Hirasawa. Two Fall print debuts from Hirasawa will include the Eisner Award-winning memoir manga My Journey to Her, as well as a new all-ages fantasy vet adventure, Luca the Dragon Vet. And in a surprise reveal for long-time fans, the 2000’s indie-rock, coming-of-age saga BECK will return to print in a new 2-in-1 paperback omnibus edition. 

Today’s print title announcements will be available starting Fall 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.


YUNA HIRASAWA SPOTLIGHT:

My Journey To Her
By Yuna Hirasawa

JP Title: 僕が私になるために

Debut Date: Fall 2026

In this standalone manga, trans author Yuna Hirasawa shares her experience living with gender dysphoria, as well as her trip from Japan to Thailand for her gender-affirming surgery in 2015. She covers topics like coming out to family and the loneliness of traveling to a new place—all while illustrating the legal and medical processes of her own transition.

After graduating from university, Yuna spent several years going through the motions and working an office job. Until one day, while in pursuit of an essential missing piece of her life, she receives a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, which opens up new doors for her. As she takes on medical treatments and tries out new makeup and outfits, she sees just how lonely and difficult the process of transitioning can be. But in 2015, when Yuna travels to Thailand for her gender-affirming surgery, the support of her siblings, new strangers, and documenting her experience through manga helps her begin to heal in more ways than one. Told in an honest and, at times, humorous tone, this memoir is a blend of manga and detailed prose that does not shy away from sensitive topics, such as suicidal ideation, transphobia, and the simultaneously harrowing, yet joyous, experience of gender-affirming surgery.

Read the 1st chapter of the digital edition here.

Rated: 13+


Luca the Dragon Vet
By Yuna Hirasawa

JP Title: 竜医のルカ

Debut Date: Fall 2026

Luca was raised in a world where people can fly—to travel, work, or war—on the backs of dragons, and she knows what she wants to be: a dragon vet! Standing in her way are stringent admissions rules, impossibly difficult classes, and a notorious family name… A magical medical drama full of adventure and intrigue from the creator of My Journey to Her, perfect for younger and older fans of Witch Hat Atelier and The Apothecary Diaries!

Rated: 8+


NEW EDITIONS:

BECK Omnibus
By Harold Sakuishi

JP Title: BECK 新装版

Debut Date: Fall 2026

The ultimate rock-and-roll shonen manga returns, with an all-new translation, in a premium 2-in-1 paperback omnibus featuring new cover illustrations! Experience the beloved story of a boy who dreams of stardom, a band that won’t stay down, and the music world’s strangest-looking dog. More than 400 pages of manga per volume! 

Fourteen-year-old Yukio Tanaka is one heck of a boring guy. He has no hobbies, 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 manga series that spawned the hit anime is back!

Read the 1st chapter of the digital edition here.

Rated: 16+