Kodansha to Drop Special Free U.S. Release for Anime NYC

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To honor a significant achievement by one of Japan’s top-tier manga magazines, which has produced series that shaped genres, the magazine is planning to reach US readers soon. Several series will be published, and a popularity poll for one of 16 manga will be held. This news is thrilling as it underscores the rising impact of manga in North America and beyond. It’s hoped that this move will boost the allure of manga and Kodansha’s collection of overlooked masterpieces to fans within one of the world’s largest manga markets.

Kodansha has unveiled plans for a special U.S edition of their renowned “Weekly Young Magazine” to mark its 45th anniversary. This unique issue will initially be distributed free-of-charge at Anime NYC from August 21st to 25th, followed by a broader release across 17 Kinokuniya stores from August 21st to November 10th. The U.S edition will feature 19 fresh manga tailored for American readers, featuring new works from acclaimed mangakas like Shuzo Oshimi (known for “Flowers of Evil” and “Blood on the Tracks”), Masaaki Nakayama (“PTSD Radio”), as well as anticipated sequels such as “Initial D’s” successor, “Subaru and Subaru,” by Shuichi Shigeno. The popular ongoing series “UNDER NINJA” will also be included in both the U.S and Japanese versions of the magazine. This initiative not only benefits Japanese mangaka but also introduces American fans to a wider variety of intricate and thoughtful stories beyond the popular shonen titles.

Kodansha’s New Project Holds A Lot of Promise

As a passionate reader, one thing that truly gets me pumped up about this magazine is the fan-voting event happening from August 21st to November 10th! During these exciting three months, we get to cast our votes for 16 incredible titles. The top 5 winners will then have their stories serialized on K Manga, Kodansha’s fantastic manga reading platform. Can’t wait to see which titles emerge victorious and start their journey on the wonderful world of K Manga!

  • BOYS RUN THE RIOT – IN TRANSITION – Keito Gaku
  • Fasciation – OUGA, Godmother – Rin Shimokawa
  • GOUMA The Blade that Slaughters Gods – Hiroki Ishizawa
  • Into the Dark – Anri Morikuma
  • Is My Love Strange? – Hikari Azuma
  • KIKIKAIKAI – Kyuri Yamada
  • Pregnant – Denchi Matsumoto (Story) and Keita Nishijima (Art)
  • PROJECT METALLIA – Yukito Iwai
  • Protocol Ryugu – Daisaku Tsuru
  • Still You – Kami Nishio
  • The Graveyard Shift – Yoshimi Sato
  • The Journey of a Dark Elf with Fading Powers – Daisuke Itabashi
  • The Knight of Blasphemy – Ray Kindo
  • THE LAST TERRAN – Hiroshi Takashige (Story) and Tatsumi Hitomoji (Art)
  • To Dusk and Twilight – Robico.

The U.S magazine’s idea and aspiration is “Raw Manga,” focusing on themes such as cyberpunk and realistic portrayals of human complexities. Young Magazine houses some of the finest manga collections for these genres, having begun publication on June 16, 1980. It has given rise to numerous iconic manga series, including Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo, Prison School by Akira Hiramoto, xxxHolic and Chobits by CLAMP, Initial D by Shuuichi Shigeno, Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji by Nobuyuki Fukumoto, among many more outstanding titles. The anthology of this magazine contains intricately layered and thought-provoking stories that delve into the human mind, beautifully presented with captivating art. There is no question that one can discover a story within its pages that resonates personally.

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2025-07-15 22:12