J-Novel Club

Anime Expo Lite 2021 Presents the J-Novel Club Panel

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Anime Expo Lite 2021 presents the J-Novel Club panel as part of this year’s two-day, livestream convention running July 3-4, 2021.

Join the team at J-Novel Club for all the latest news and announcements they are bringing to Anime Expo Lite. Also bring your best questions for the panel team to answer immediately after the announcement segment.

J-Novel Club is a digital publishing company offering officially licensed and translated light novel and manga titles for its community of online readers. More details on J-Novel Club can be found at: https://j-novel.club.

Tickets to access this year’s Anime Expo Lite programming are $5 each, with all proceeds benefiting the Hate Is A Virus commUNITY Action Fund. After the stream concludes on July 4, 2021, ticketholders can re-watch the content, as well as access additional programming, on a VOD basis from July 5-16, 2021.

Anime Expo Lite 2021 marks the 30th Anniversary of the long-running annual convention.

Anime Expo is the biggest North American fan celebration for Japanese pop culture including anime, TV and film, fashion, video games, manga, dance, live concerts, collectibles, and exclusive convention merchandise, presented as an unforgettable experience for fans of all ages.

Registration information:

Dates: July 3-4, 2021 / 12pm – 8pm (PST)
Ticket Registration: https://www.tixr.com/groups/animeexpolite/events/anime-expo-lite-2021-benefitting-hate-is-a-virus-23015
Registration $5 (+ processing fees) – all proceeds to benefit the Hate Is a Virus commUNITY Action Fund

To receive Anime Expo Lite new & programming updates, please sign-up at: https://mailchi.mp/anime-expo/lite-2021.

Kadokawa Acquires J-Novel Club

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

The Fandom Post is reporting that Kadokawa has acquired the J-Novel Club publisher. Kadokawa has a number of ventures that include Bookwalker and working with Yen Press to bring out a range of their books. The J-Novel Club acquisition is another piece in this expansion as the Japanese distribution side continues to recognize the importance of the overseas market, as well as their stronger control in those that bring those works overseas.

It appears the intent is to up the simulpublishing side of their titles and then work the books later.

Source: The Fandom Post

J-Novel Club Announces New Light Novel and Manga Licenses

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

J-Novel Club announced that it has licensed six light novel titles and two manga titles, including:

  • Reincarnated as the Piggy Duke: This Time I’m Gonna Tell Her How I Feel! by Rhythm Aida with Illustrations by nauribon
  • The Sidekick Never Gets the Girl, Let Alone the Protag’s Sister! by Toshizo with Illustrations by U35
  • Guide to the Perfect Otaku Girlfriend: Roomies and Romance by Rin Murakami with Illustrations by Mako Tatekawa
  • Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire ♀ by Hayaken with Illustrations by Nagu
  • The Emperor’s Lady-in-Waiting Is Wanted as a Bride by Kanata Satsuki with Illustrations by Yoru Ichige
  • The Emperor’s Lady-in-Waiting Is Wanted as a Bride (Manga) by Akari Chikusa (original novel by Kanata Satsuki)
  • Villainess: Reloaded! ~Blowing Away Bad Ends with Modern Weapons~ by 616th Special Information Battalion with Illustrations by Wuhuo
  • Villainess: Reloaded! ~Blowing Away Bad Ends with Modern Weapons~ (Manga) by Futsu Onshin (original novel by 616th Special Information Battalion)

Source: ANN

J-Novel Club Announces New Light Novel and Manga Licenses

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

J-Novel Club has announced that it has licensed five light novel titles and two manga titles, including:

  • The Apothecary Diaries by Natsu Hyūga with illustrations by Touko Shino
  • The Ideal Sponger Life by Tsunehiko Watanabe with illustrations by Jyuu Ayakura
  • My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me! by Ghost Mikawa with illustrations by tomari
  • Are You Okay With a Slightly Older Girlfriend? by Kota Nozomi with illustrations by Meruchi Nanase
  • She’s the Cutest… But We’re Just Friends! by Akamitsu Awamura with illustrations by mmu
  • Der Werwolf – The Annals of Veight ~Origins~ (manga) by Yuuchi Kosumi (original novel by Hyougetsu)
  • Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf! (manga) by Shimo Aono (original novel by Makishima Suzuki)

The Apothecary Diaries and The Ideal Sponger Life are debuting “immediately,” and the two manga series will debut during the week of November 15, 2020.

Source: ANN

J-Novel Club Announces New Licenses

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

J-Novel Club announced during its livestream at the Otakuthon 2020 event that it has licensed author Milligram and illustrator YukiKana’s I’ll Never Set Foot in That House Again! (Nidoto Ie ni wa Kaerimasen!) light novel as well as author Mizuumi Amakawa and illustrator Mai Ooguma’s Fushi no Kami: Rebuilding Civilization Starts with a Village (Fushi no Kami: Henkyō kara Hajimeru Bunmei Saiseiki) light novel series. Both titles will launch on the service later in August 2020.

The company also announced it will release the first omnibus volume of Hajime Kanzaka’s Slayers novels in print in Summer 2021. The first omnibus volume will feature Volumes 1-3. J-Novel Club will release the first omnibus volume of Satoshi Ueda’s How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom manga in print on February 2, 2021. The first omnibus volume will feature Volumes 1-2.

Source: ANN

Publishers Comment on Amazon Kindle’s Delisting of at Least 15 Light Novels and Manga

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Anime News Network has received statements from J-Novel Club and Yen Press, two of three publishers who recently had titles delisted from Amazon Kindle.

J-Novel Club president Sam Pinansky described to Anime News Network his experiences with Amazon Kindle support regarding the delisting of some of its titles on Amazon Kindle. According to Pinansky, J-Novel Club attempted to get in touch with Amazon Kindle support after the delisting of some of its titles in early May 2020 and June 2020, beginning with two volumes of How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord in early May 2020. Despite sending multiple inquiries over the course of weeks, Pinansky stated that he received no detailed reason from Amazon regarding the delistings, with Amazon only saying that it reserved the right to determine what was considered appropriate on its platform. According to Pinansky, Amazon Kindle support does not have the capability to communicate directly with the Kindle Content Review team, with inquiries requiring at least a week to process.

J-Novel Club also stated that it did not receive a notification of the delistings from Amazon, and were only made aware of it due to messages from users. In addition, J-Novel Club noted that those who have already purchased the books digitally will still be able to read and redownload them from their Amazon account. Pinansky also noted that all of its currently delisted digital titles still have their physical book versions available for purchase on Amazon, and that the digital English version of some of the titles are still available on the Amazon.co.jp Japanese store for purchase.

Yen Press also issued a statement to Anime News Network regarding the delisting of some of its titles for digital purchase on Amazon Kindle, noting that Amazon determined that some Yen Press titles “did not fall within their global content guidelines.” While Yen Press acknowledged that the delistings were Amazon’s prerogative, it nevertheless expressed disappointment, and added that other retailers still currently have the titles available.

As of this writing, Dark Horse Comics, the third publisher affected by these Amazon Kindle delistings, has not issued a statement on the issue.

The known list of titles currently delisted from Amazon, along with their publishers and current availability on Amazon.co.jp (if known) are as follows:

  • Arifureta – From Commonplace to World’s Strongest light novel Volume 6 (J-Novel Club)
  • How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord light novel Volumes 3, 6-8, 10 (J-Novel Club, Volumes 1, 2, 4, 5, 11, 12 still available on Amazon.co.jp)
  • Mixed Bathing in Another Dimension light novel Volume 6 (J-Novel Club)
  • There Was No Secret Evil-Fighting Organization (srsly?!), So I Made One MYSELF! light novel Volume 1 (J-Novel Club)
  • Infinite Stratos light novel Volumes 3, 8 (J-Novel Club)<
  • Seirei Gensouki – Spirit Chronicles light novel Volume 4 (J-Novel Club)
  • Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash light novel Volume 1 (J-Novel Club)
  • Lazy Dungeon Master light novel Volume 2 (J-Novel Club)
  • The Greatest Magicmaster’s Retirement Plan light novel Volumes 1-6 (J- Novel Club, still available on Amazon.co.jp)
  • Clockwork Planet light novel Volumes 1-4 (J- Novel Club, still available on Amazon.co.jp)
  • I Shall Survive Using Potions! light novel Volumes 1-4 (J- Novel Club, still available on Amazon.co.jp)
  • I Shall Survive Using Potions! manga Volumes 1-3 (J- Novel Club, still available on Amazon.co.jp)
  • No Game, No Life light novels (Yen Press)
  • Oreimo manga (Dark Horse Comics)
  • Eromanga Sensei manga (Dark Horse Comics)

Source: ANN

J-Novel Club Announces That Amazon Has Delisted Some of Its Light Novels and Manga on Kindle

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

J-Novel Club has announced that Amazon has delisted the How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord, Clockwork Planet, and The Greatest Magicmaster’s Retirement Plan novels, as well as the manga and novels of I Shall Survive Using Potions!. The books are no longer available for purchase on Amazon Kindle, except for the Japanese editions on Amazon’s Japanese website. Amazon has also canceled all pre-orders for the sixth volume of The Greatest Magicmaster’s Retirement Plan.

J-Novel Club added that it did not receive a notification of the delistings from Amazon, and were only made aware of it due to messages from users. It later verified from Amazon that the books were delisted by Kindle Content Review, but were not provided any other reason for the removal. In addition, J-Novel Club noted that those who have already purchased the books digitally will still be able to read and redownload them from their Amazon account.

Yen Press’ release of the No Game, No Life light novels are also no longer listed on Amazon, though Yen Press has not issued a statement. Similarly, Dark Horse Comics’ releases of the Oreimo and Eromanga Sensei manga are no longer listed on Amazon. As with Yen Press, Dark Horse Comics has not yet issued a statement.

Source: ANN

J-Novel Club Announces Four New Manga Licenses

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

J-Novel Club announced at its panel at the Anime Expo Lite digital event that it has licensed four new manga titles:

  • Love Yuri and I Got Bodyswapped with a Fujoshi! by Ajiichi
  • Record of Wortenia War by Yukari Yagi and Fumi Arawi
  • Mapping: The Trash-Tier Skill That Got Me Into a Top-Tier Party by SAVAN
  • Black Summoner by Gin Ammo

Source: ANN

Anime-Planet Launches Online Reading Portal in Partnership with J-Novel Club

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Anime-Planet breaks into the manga realm with their newest endeavor: an official Online Reading Portal supported by major publishers in the industry. J-Novel Club LLC is proud to announce that they’ve partnered with Anime-Planet to showcase their entire catalog of over 100% manga and light novel previews in the portal, along with links to purchase the eBooks or physical volumes.

In addition to the Online Reading Portal, Anime-Planet features an information database for a wide range of content such as manhwa, manga, webtoons, OELs, light novels, and other media, with the ability to keep track of your reading history. Users can discover new content by browsing personalized recommendations, or filtering the database using hundreds of curated tags, publisher or label information, or many other options.

With over 80 light novel series and 20 manga series’ previews available on the Online Reading Portal on launch, J-Novel Club will continue to work closely with Anime-Planet to introduce more English-translated content to readers in the future.