Yen Press

Yen Press Debuts the Poignant Josei Manga My Broken Mariko

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Yen Press, LLC announces an emotional new manga release about a close friendship between two young women and the devastating impact of suicide as one of them struggles to understand the sudden loss of her best friend.

My Broken Mariko will debut digitally and also in print as a deluxe, hardcover edition on October 20, 2020.

The title exemplifies josei manga, which is characterized by mature storytelling, unique artwork and its appeal to older female readers.

My Broken Mariko
Story & Art by Waka Hirako

Tomoyo Shiino has stood by her friend Mariko through years of abuse, abandonment, and depression. However horrific her circumstances, their friendship has been the one reassuring constant in Mariko’s life—and Tomoyo’s too. That is, until Tomoyo is utterly blindsided by news of Mariko’s death. In life, Tomoyo felt powerless to help her best friend out of the darkness that ultimately drove her over the edge. Now, Tomoyo is determined to liberate Mariko’s ashes for one final journey together… to set free her dear, broken Mariko.

Yen Press Acquires the Manga New Japan Academy for Digital Release

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Yen Press, LLC has announced the acquisition of the manga series New Japan Academy, an action-packed and comedic manga series featuring stars from New Japan Pro-Wrestling by artist HIROKU. and consultation by New Japan Pro-Wrestling.

It’s the stars of New Japan Pro-Wrestling as you’ve never seen them before. Teenager Tetsuya Naito is aiming for the top of New Japan Academy, but in order to be the champion, he’ll have to face formidable students like “Rainmaker” Kazuchika Okada and the “Once-in-a-Century Talent” Hiroshi Tanahashi. Luckily for Naito, he has his boys in Los Ingobernables de Japon on his side. No matter the odds, Naito’s motto remains the same: tranquilo.

With the rise in worldwide popularity of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, the manga New Japan Academy is a highly-anticipated release by the many passionate fans of the pro-wrestling promotion and the stars within it. A story told from the point of view of Tetsuya Naito, one of the most popular pro-wrestlers in the world due to his tenure at both New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), New Japan Academy shows fan-favorite wrestlers like they’ve never been seen before.

New Japan Academy Volume 1 is scheduled for an October 2020 release exclusively on digital platforms.

Yen Press Announces Nine New Titles for Future Publication During Virtual Crunchyroll Expo 2020

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Yen Press, LLC has announced a slate of upcoming titles during the Yen Press Industry Panel that was a part of the Virtual Crunchyroll Expo. Acquisitions include the manga, Do You Like The Nerdy Nurse?, Love and Heart, Days on Fes, The Girl Without a Face, I Can’t Reach You, Play It Cool, Guys, and Penguin Gentlemen and the light novels, Virgin Road and Date A Live.

All announced titles are scheduled for a February 2021 print and digital release.

Do You Like The Nerdy Nurse?
Story and Art by Arata Kawabata

The beauty in the nurse’s office is a secret nerd (who doesn’t hide it very well). Nijiko Momoyama is the newly appointed school nurse. But beneath her gorgeous facade lies and unmistakable love for all things geeky.

Do You Like the Nerdy Nurse? is a romantic comedy manga that includes many fun otaku references in addition to a very pretty nurse. The Yen Press edition of Do You Like the Nerdy Nurse? completes the entire series in one standalone volume.

Love and Heart
Story and Art by Chitose Kaido

Sure, university freshman Yagisawa has a lot on her plate, but the last thing she expected to add was a surprise male roommate. Handsome Haruma claims to be a childhood friend, but for some reason, Yagisawa doesn’t remember him at all, and his history isn’t the only oddity-disturbing things begin to happen and Yagisawa may really be in over her head.

Love and Heart is a manga series that falls under the category of shojo horror, a subgenre that has rarely made its way to English. With horror manga enjoying immense popularity in today’s market, Love and Heart is sure to appeal to fans looking for a unique new release.

Days on Fes
Story and Art by Kanata Oka

When high schooler Kanade Sora takes her classmate Otoha Yamana to their first rock festival, the experience is greater than they can even imagine. It’s a new life of rocking out.

Already part of the niche genre of music manga, Days on Fes stands out even more by being one of the only manga series released in English that pertains to the music festival experience. With fun characters and beautiful imagery that accurately captures the feeling of attending a music festival, this manga is a welcome addition to fans of slice-of-life manga as well as passionate fans of live music.

The Girl Without a Face
Story and Art by Tearontaron

Her boyfriend thinks she’s the cutest girl around, but her expressions can be a bit hard to read.

The Girl Without a Face is a cute yet eccentric manga about a boy and his faceless girlfriend. With horror elements, such as the presence of yokai, and a slice-of-life storyline, The Girl Without a Face appeals to fans of both categories of manga.

I Can’t Reach You
Story and Art by Mika

The differences between Yamato and Kakeru couldn’t be more obvious. Yamato gets good grades, while Kakeru’s are less than average. And while Yamato is very attractive, Kakeru’s looks are perfectly average. Not a problem—unless you’re in love with your childhood best friend. How in the world can Kakeru make Yamato look at him when Yamato is completely out of his league?

I Can’t Reach You is a sweet boys’ love series, one that tells the tale of a budding romance between two friends with a well paced slice-of-life story. This manga is a welcome release to fans of boys’ love stories that focus on friendship and emotion.

Play It Cool, Guys
Story and Art by Kokone Nata

Enter: a bunch of cool guys who look like they got that unapproachable swag. But let’s be real—that’s not the true them. They’re just a bunch of dorks who’ve got the act down pat. So sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy watching a bunch of goofy guys try to look cool all day every day.

Play it Cool, Guys is a fun collection of stories featuring guys that are equal parts cool and equal parts adorably awkward. This manga featuring hilarious and relatable stories is not only beautifully illustrated—it is fully colored.

Penguin Gentlemen
Story and Art by Kishi Ueno

In a certain secret bar, the “Penguin Gentlemen” work, wearing their long tailed tuxedos. “You say it’s cute how penguins waddle around? Hmph. We’re not just cute! We’re dandy, sexy, and marvelous!”

Penguin Gentlemen is a manga that is sometimes pretty, sometimes cute but always hilarious. A standalone volume that tells the tales of a bar run by penguins (often portrayed as strong and beautiful men), Penguin Gentlemen is a treat for those looking forward to an adorable and quirky manga unlike any other.

Virgin Road
Story by Mato Sato
Art by Nilitsu

The Lost Ones are wanderers who come here from a distant world known as “Japan.” No one knows how or why they leave their homes. The only thing that is certain is that they bring disaster and calamity. The duty of exterminating them without remorse falls to Menou, a young Executioner. When she meets Akari, it seems like just another job… until she discovers it’s impossible to kill this girl. And when Menou begins to search for a way to defeat this immortality, Akari is more than happy to tag along. So begins a journey that will change Menou forever…

In addition to being an intriguing addition to the ever popular isekai genre of light novels, Virgin Road is an intriguing release due to the fact that it includes elements not commonly seen in light novels released in English—a female protagonist and a yuri storyline. With both light novels and yuri rapidly growing in popularity, Virgin Road is sure to be a popular release for both sets of fans.

Date A Live
Story by Koushi Tachibana
Illustrations by Tsunako

Shidou Itsuka has a problem. The world has been racked by massive quakes of an unknown source for years now, though life goes on. Then one day, Shidou’s calm life ends forever when in the middle of a quake in his city, he meets a girl who’s apparently a spirit-and the cause of all the destruction. When a team arrives to eliminate the threat, Shidou becomes embroiled in a war to protect these spirits-by making them fall in love with him?

Date A Live is the highly-anticipated light novel series that inspired the popular anime adaptation—one that has had three successful seasons since 2013. As one of the most fan-requested light novel series, Date A Live is sure to become a best-seller upon release, especially due to the excitement from the recently announced Season 4 of the anime.

Yen Press Acquires the ID: Invaded #Break-Broken Manga Series

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Yen Press, LLC has announced the acquisition of the manga series ID: Invaded #Break-Broken, with story by Otaro Maijo and art by Yuuki Kodama, the creator of Blood Lad.

When Sakaido wakes up in a strange room next to a dead girl, there are only two things he knows for sure-1)he’s a brilliant detective, and 2) he has to solve the mystery of Kaeru’s death. What surprises await the brilliant detective in this strange, new world?

ID: Invaded #Break-Broken ties into the anime series that debuted in January 2020, one of the most popular of the Winter 2020 season. The highly-anticipated manga series appeals to both fans of the anime adaptation as well as longtime fans of Blood Lad.

Additional announcements will be made at the Yen Press Industry Panel at the Virtual Crunchyroll Expo on Saturday, September 5, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. PT.

ID: Invaded #Break-Broken Volume 1 is scheduled for a February 2021 release in print and digital.

Yen Press Announces the Digital Publication of The Intuition of Haruhi Suzumiya Light Novel Simultaneous to the Japanese Release

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Following an announcement from the Kadokawa Shoten’s Sneaker Bunko Twitter account of The Intuition of Haruhi Suzumiya, the next installment of the classic light novel series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya, Yen Press, LLC has announced the digital release of the highly anticipated volume scheduled for November 25, 2020, simultaneous with the Japanese release. Yen Press will release a print edition of The Inuition of Haruhi Suzumiya at a later date.

The Intuition of Haruhi Suzumiya is written by Nagaru Tanigawa, illustrated by Noizi Ito and will be translated by Andrew Cunningham.

Yen Press has also announced that previous volumes of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya light novels will receive new printings, rebranding the series under their Yen On light novel imprint. Further details, including the format and release dates of the new printings, will be forthcoming.

With the first volume released in 2009 in a co-publishing agreement between Yen Press and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya light novel franchise was a precursor to the expansive selection of light novels available in the English language market today, helping to pave the way for that explosive growth.

Adaptations of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya include an anime that was initially released by Bandai Entertainment in 2007 and several manga series released by Yen Press, the first of which began publication in 2008. The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya has stood out as one of the most iconic properties in the light novel, manga, and anime space for more than a decade.

Yen Press Launches the I Don’t Know How to Give Birth Manga

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Yen Press launches I Don’t Know How To Give Birth, a new release that follows a manga artist on her maternal journey as she learns the ins and outs of pregnancy and childbirth – and the impossibility of finding comfy maternity underwear.

From manga creator Ayami Kazama, comes a personal, informative, and cute autobiography of an artist approaching her first experience with childbirth.

About I Don’t Know How to Give Birth:

A humorous and heartfelt autobiographical comic essay of a manga artist new to the challenges of motherhood! Follow her journey as she learns the ins and outs of pregnancy and childbirth-and the impossibility of finding comfy maternity underwear!

I Don’t Know How to Give Birth was released by Yen Press on August 18, 2020.

Yen Press Announces 13 New Titles for Future Publication

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Yen Press, LLC has announced its latest title acquisitions, which include several manga – Cirque Du Freak: The Manga Omnibus Edition, Grim Reaper and Four Girlfriends Omnibus Edition, Interspecies Reviewers Comic Anthology: Darkness, The World’s Finest Assassin Reincarnated Into Another World, Adachi and Shimamura, Dear NOMAN, Golden Japanesque – Yokohama Karentan –, Mama Akuma, Mint Chocolate, Sasaki and Miyano, The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess, and the novel and comic adaptation of the highly-anticipated, Solo Leveling.

Cirque Du Freak: The Manga Omnibus Edition
Story and Darren Shan
Art by Takahiro Arai

Discover the manga adaptation of Darren Shan’s Cirque Du Freak, now back in a new omnibus form. Darren Shan was an average kid until destiny brought him to the Cirque du Freak. Now Darren’s been immersed into a shadowy world inhabited by vampires, werewolves, and strange creatures the likes of which he’s never imagined, and his life will be changed forever.

Cirque Du Freak, the manga adaptation of Darren Shan’s best-selling The Saga of Darren Shan vampire fiction series, was an early release by Yen Press originally published in 2009. This 2-in-1 omnibus edition collects the classic series with a larger trim size for a new generation of fans to enjoy.

Grim Reaper and Four Girlfriends Omnibus Edition
Story by Shin Suyama
Art by CHuN

Kaoru Minaguchi is a “no-lifer” who sucks at school, can’t play sports, lacks any real talent, definitely doesn’t have a girlfriend, or even a remote desire to change his ways… until a certain grim reaper pays him a visit. Turns out, she’s a reaper of “no-lifers” and if Kaoru can’t find a way to become a true “real-lifer,” he’s as good as dead…

Originally published as a digital exclusive by Yen Press, the shonen romance Grim Reaper and Four Girlfriends makes its print debut with an omnibus edition that completes the three volume series. This quirky twist on shonen romance stories excellently delivers on fan favorite elements including laugh-out-loud comedy and a cast of four beautiful love interests.

Interspecies Reviewers Comic Anthology: Darkness
Story by Amahara
Art by Various
Edited by The Dragon Age Editorial Staff

A loving tribute to the monster brothel adventurers of Interspecies Reviewers, this anthology includes art and comics by talented Japanese creators including Okayado, ZTon, and Gashi-gashi.

Interspecies Reviewers Comic Anthology: Darkness, is a collection of various manga short stories taking place in the supernatural and sexy world of Interspecies Reviewers. Noteworthy contributors to this spicy collection include mangaka such as Okayado and ZTon and popular web artists such as Gashi-gashi.

The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World
Story by Rui Tsukiyo
Art by Hamao Sumeragi
Original Illustrations by Reia

The world’s finest assassin has been reincarnated in another world. His mission-to kill the Hero prophesized to save the world from disaster. With his deadly skills from his previous life and the magic he learns in this one, he’s well on his way to becoming the greatest assassin in all of history.

A manga adaptation of the light novel series recently acquired by Yen Press, The World’s Finest Assassin Gets Reincarnated in Another World is a fun twist on isekai storytelling in which the story is told from the point of view of an anti-hero set to take down the hero. A welcome addition to fans of isekai manga as well as fans of the upcoming light novel series.

Adachi and Shimamura
Story by Hitomi Iruma
Art by Moke Yuzuhara

The second floor of the gym. That’s our spot. Class is in session right now, but they don’t hold class in a place like this. This is where Shimamura and I became friends. What is this feeling? Yesterday, I dreamed of kissing her. I’m not like that, and I’m sure Shimamura isn’t either. But… when Shimamura thinks of the word “friend,” I want to be the first thing that comes to her mind. That’s all.

Based on the light novel series by the same name, Adachi and Shimamura is a sweet, school life yuri romance that is the basis of an anime series scheduled for a Fall 2020 release.

Dear NOMAN
Story and Art by Neji

Since she was young, Mashiro Unohana has been able to see ghosts. She pretended not to see them so others wouldn’t find her creepy, but one day she finds herself caught up in the world of those that are not human—the Nomans.

A massive webcomic hit in Japan, Dear NOMAN is a fantasy manga series filled with comedy and friendship with hints of girls’ love elements. A surefire hit with fans of supernatural storytelling taking place in school settings.

Golden Japanesque – Yokohama Karentan –
Story and Art by Kaho Miyasaka

Living in Meiji era Japan, Maria must hide the blond hair and blue eyes she inherited from her father out of concern over discrimination. But when a boy named Rintarou learns her secret, he can’t help but say something: “You’re… like a mermaid…” A dazzling historical romance awaits.

Golden Japnesque – Yokohama Karentan – is a beautiful shojo romance that falls into the category of historical fiction. As such, this series appeals to fans of media covering Japanese history, such as Golden Kamuy, as well as the core shojo manga audience.

Mama Akuma
Story and Art by Kuzushiro

Seere is a subordinate demon to Amaimon, the eastern King of Hell. Serious in his work, he prides himself on his ability to make any wish come true. But when he’s summoned from a grimoire, what awaits him is a little girl with but one wish: “Please be my mama!!” Seere’s long road to motherhood starts here.

Mama Akuma is a sweet and adorable slice-of-life series involving a demon lord becoming the mother of a young girl. As a fun slice-of-life take on fantasy storytelling, the series appeals greatly to fans of popular works such as I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level.

Mint Chocolate
Story and Art by Mami Orikasa

When Nanami’s high-school crush suddenly becomes her step-brother, she’s faced with the unfortunate reality of having to live under the same roof as her now off-limits love-interest. Will his chilly attitude and arrogant ways be enough to turn her off, or is Nanami in for some long and sleepless nights…?

Mint Chocolate is a school life shojo romance, the debut work of Mami Orikasa. This fun and often comedic series is complemented by a beautiful and alluring art style and is sure to appeal to a core shojo audience that gravitates to high school romances.

Sasaki and Miyano
Story and Art by Syou Harusono

Miyano spends his days peacefully reading Boys’ Love comics and worrying about how girly his face is—until a chance encounter leads to a scuffle with his senior Sasaki. Intrigued by his feisty junior Miyano, delinquent Sasaki uses every opportunity he can to get closer…

Originally a popular webcomic, Sasaki and Miyano is a fun story of a passionate fan of boys’ love and his new friend who is quickly learning the ins and outs of the world of boys’ love. This manga is a must read for the passionate boys’ love fanbase, especially those that enjoyed Go For It, Nakamura!

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess
Story and Art by Akiharu Touka

Konoha Satou has a dark history, written throughout middle school—a fantasy adventure of love and magic about the Count’s daughter Konoha Magnolia and the knights who love her. But when it looks like that dark history is going to be uncovered by her mother, Konoha panics and dies in a traffic accident. Opening her eyes, she finds that she’s been reincarnated into the world of her own dark history as Iana Magnolia, the worst villainess of her own creation.

The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess is a unique take on the shojo isekai genre, a category that has seen a recent resurgence in popularity. With similarities to My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom!, one of the most popular anime series of the year, The Dark History of the Reincarnated Villainess is sure to be a popular release with today’s fans.

Solo Leveling (novel)
Story by Chugong

The weakest of the weak, E-class hunter Jinwoo Sung has no money, no talent, and no prospects to speak of. And when he enters a hidden dungeon that fateful day, he ends up being left to die in the aftermath of a horrendous tragedy. At death’s door, Jinwoo is suddenly invited to be a “player” by a mysterious voice. Desperate to live, Jinwoo jumps at the chance… but what is this strange new leveling system that only he can see?

Solo Leveling is a popular Korean novel series that has developed a large Western fanbase. It tells the story of a hunter who manages to rise from the lowly E-class in a world where leveling up is not possible. Borrowing RPG elements such as dungeon exploration and leveling up, this highly-anticipated series appeals greatly to fans of RPG-inspired light novel properties.

Solo Leveling (comic)
Story by Chugong
Art by DUBU (REDICE STUDIO)

The official English print publication of the popular Korean webcomic. E-class hunter Jinwoo Sung is the weakest of them all. Looked down on by everyone, he has no money, no abilities to speak of, and no other job prospects. So when his party finds a hidden dungeon, he’s determined to use this chance to change his life for the better… but the opportunity he finds is a bit different from what he had in mind.

The Solo Leveling comic adaptation has seen immense popularity in Japan and Korea as a webtoon and has garnered a rapidly growing fanbase in the West. With vibrant color artwork telling the action-packed story, the Solo Leveling comic will be a welcome addition to the collection of diehard fans of the series as well as fans of RPG influenced comics and graphic novels.

Yen Press Announces New Manga and Light Novel Releases for August 2020

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Yen Press has announced its new manga and light novel releases for August 2020.

Fiancé of the Wizard Volume 1
by Syuri Nakamura, artwork by Masaki Kazuka
Available August 25, 2020

Went looking for magic but found love instead…

Filimena via Adina, daughter of nobility, awakens one day with the realization that she had been reborn into a world of sorcery and given a second chance at life. In her new country full of heroes, she expects this means she’s a chosen one, yet her lot is not as she dreamed-instead, her path crosses with the improbably powerful stepson of a wizard, and as a young noble lady, her place is at his side… as his fiancée. But perhaps a quest for love is exactly the adventure she was looking for.

Final Fantasy I * II * III: Memory of Heroes (Light Novel)
by Takashi Umemura
Available August 18, 2020

When darkness veils the world…
Light and darkness hold the world in balance-and should that equilibrium ever break, only the four warriors chosen by the Crystals can prevent inevitable ruin. This is the story of three times the balance shifted-and the three bands of friends who came together to save the world.

See where it all began with the novel adaptation of the first three stories from the classic Final Fantasy series, penned in celebration of its 25th anniversary.

I Don’t Know How to Give Birth!
Story & artwork by Ayami Kazama
Available August 18, 2020

A humorous and heartfelt autobiographical comic essay of a manga artist new to the challenges of motherhood. Follow her journey as she learns the ins and outs of pregnancy and childbirth-and the impossibility of finding comfy maternity underwear.

I Love You So Much, I Hate You
Story & artwork by Yuni
Available August 18, 2020

What do work and love have in common? They can both take over your life.

Saori Fujimura and her boss, Ayako Asano, are an unbeatable duo at work, but after hours their relationship is more than just professional. As tensions mount between Ayako and her husband and Saori’s feelings grow stronger, they’ll have to decide-is it love they seek, or merely pleasure?

Interspecies Reviewers Volume 1: Ecstasy Days (Light Novel)
by Tetsu Habara, artwork by Amahara, W18 and Masha
Available August 18, 2020

An all-out fantasy extravaganza.

In a world where an endless variety of humanoid species coexist, there’s an equally endless variety of sexy shops sure to satisfy your every carnal desire. But say you’re spoiled for choice or you have a place in mind but you’re not sure if it’ll live up to the hype. That’s where the Interspecies Reviewers come in. These brave souls will dive crotch-first into the unknown and write a review that tells it true. From time-traveling temptresses to poison-breathed basilisk babes, join Stunk, Zel, and Crim on their erotic adventures as they sample the many deviant delights the world of succubus joints has to offer. Based on the hit manga series by Amahara.

Puella Magi Madoka Magica: The Complete Omnibus Edition
Story by Magica Quartet, artwork by Hanokage
Available August 18, 2020

Experience the complete story of Puella Magi Madoka Magica in this oversize omnibus.

When a new girl joins her class, Madoka Kaname thinks she recognizes the mysterious, dark-haired transfer student… from a dream where Madoka is approached by a diminutive critter with an offer to change destiny. Madoka had always thought magic was the stuff of fantasy… until she sees the transfer student fighting with that very animal. And just like in Madoka’s dream, the creature gives her a choice. Will Madoka become a magical girl in exchange for fulfilling her dearest desire? What will be the cost of having her wish come true?

Rascal Does Not Dream of Bunny Girl Senpai (Manga)
by Hajime Kamoshida, artwork by Tsugumi Nanamiya and Keji Mizoguchi
Available August 18, 2020

“Forget what you saw today.”

There’s something odd about Sakuta Azusagawa, an acerbic, standoffish high schooler who doesn’t even own a cell phone in this day and age. And perhaps strange things happen to strange people, which is why on the last day of the Golden Week holiday, in a tranquil library, he meets a wild bunny girl. With that unforgettable encounter, their bizarre and mysterious love story begins.

Rascal Does Not Dream of Petite Devil Kohai (Light Novel)
by Hajime Kamoshida, Artwork by Keji Mizoguchi
Available August 18, 2020

How far can a fake relationship go?

Mai is no longer invisible – she’s acting again, and she finally said yes when Sakuta asked her out for the millionth time. Life couldn’t be better for Sakuta… until he wakes up and finds himself reliving the morning before she agreed to date him.

Assuming this weird time slip to be another case of Adolescence Syndrome, Sakuta begins searching for clues and stumbles upon the first-year Tomoe. Though the last time they saw each other involved getting kicked in the butt, now she’s desperately trying to avoid getting asked out by the boy her friend is crushing on so she won’t be ostracized. One ruse leads to another, and soon news spreads that Sakuta is Tomoe’s boyfriend. Now how is he going to explain this to Mai?

The Demon Sword Master of Excalibur Academy Volume 1 (Light Novel)
by Yu Shimizu, artwork by Asagi Tosaka
Available August 18, 2020

Battles for ancient kingdoms are nothing compared to the battles of a classroom.

Awakening from magical stasis after a thousand years, the Dark Lord Leonis suddenly finds himself in the body of a ten-year-old boy. He quickly meets Riselia, a girl confronting the Voids, creatures that have nearly exterminated humanity. Determined to uncover the mysteries of this strange new era, Leonis enrolls in Excalibur Academy, a school that trains students to fight back against these enigmatic monsters. Could the Voids hold some connection to Leonis’s past?

The Garden of Words (Novel)
by Makoto Shinkai
Available August 25, 2020

From director Makoto Shinkai comes a deeper look at his award-winning 2013 film, The Garden of Words, full of additional scenes and perspectives to show a whole new side of the many characters who brought the film to life.

On rainy mornings, Takao can never bring him-self to go to school-instead, he spends that time at the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen gardens and finds a brief reprieve from everything else in his life among the trees and flowers. And on one of those mornings, he discovers a mysterious woman named Yukino in his haven, skipping work, and an unlikely friendship blooms between them. But though these two are the center of this story, they are far from the only ones trying to find their way in life.

Garden of Words Novel Debuts From Yen Press

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Yen Press is set to release the novelization of anime director Makoto Shinkai’s award-winning 2013 film The Garden of Words, an emotional drama about two lonely souls who meet in the garden of Shinjuku during rainy season and help each other “learn to walk again” in life.

On rainy mornings, Takao can never bring himself to go to school-instead, he spends that time at the beautiful Shinjuku Gyoen gardens and finds a brief reprieve from everything else in his life among the trees and flowers. And on one of those mornings, he discovers a mysterious woman named Yukino in his haven, skipping work, and an unlikely friendship blooms between them. But though these two are the center of this story, they are far from the only ones trying to find their way in life. From director Makoto Shinkai comes a deeper look at his award winning 2013 film, The Garden of Words, full of additional scenes and perspectives to show a whole new side of the many characters who brought the film to life.

The Garden of Words novel will be published in print and digitally on August 25, 2020.

Yen Press Launches That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: The Ways of the Monster Nation Manga

Posted on by Lesley Aeschliman

Yen Press has announced the launch of a new series by Fuse, author of the original That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime light novel, which features artwork by Sho Okagiri and Mitz Vah.

About That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Vol. 1: The Ways of the Monster Nation:

With all its innovations, the kingdom of Tempest-founded by the demon lord Rimuru-is a veritable paradise for travelers such as Framea, the rabbitfolk chief’s daughter. Framea has always had a nose for adventure, an inquisitive mind, and a knack for discovering and identifying the latest and greatest the world has to offer. Her notepad is open at all times, ready for any three-star delights she may encounter, so when Rimuru himself gives Framea a mission to catalog the area’s attractions, she will have her work cut out for her-and tons of stars to hand out.

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime: The Ways of the Monster Nation Volume 1 is available now in-print and digitally on Yen Press partner platforms.