At Azuki’s Anime Expo 2023 panel, the subscription service debuted its latest exclusive original manga series, Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms by Yoshino Koyoka, based on the upcoming anime from Sae Okamoto and TriF Studio. Additionally, the company announced a beta feature allowing fans to download eBooks directly from the Azuki website, upcoming volume releases, and ten new manga licenses from Media Do International, Inc., MediBang!, and Star Fruit Books to the Azuki Premium membership.
“Fans love our reader and app features for the titles we translate,” said “Azuki Manga Industry Panel feat. Mecha-Ude” panelist and company co-founder Evan Minto. “We provide high-quality translation and fair pay, which we’re very proud of. Plus, we’re a small independent business and not owned by any major manga publishers. We’re doing this on our own, and that’s part of why we’re able to bring together manga publishers from all different parts of the industry.”
Then, Minto announced that Azuki was adding some exciting new features to its web platform: a beta feature allowing people “to purchase eBooks directly on the Azuki website and download files to read in their favorite reader.” Azuki Premium members will receive a discount of up to 20 percent off volume purchases.
The books available for purchase include eBook editions of Shunsuke Sorato‘s Natsume & Natsume, Vol. 1, a romantic comedy about “a boy with a scary face who strives to be a hero like his best friend,” which goes on sell on August 25 and will also be available via Amazon, BookWalker, Apple Books, and Google Play Books. Azuki also launched pre-orders for Natsumi Ito‘s My Dear Detective: Mitsuko’s Case Files, Vol. 2, about “Japan’s first woman detective in the turbulent 1930s” and her extremely handsome and cool assistant, which goes on sale on September 5.
Another title getting an eBook is Turning the Tables on the Seatmate Killer!, written by Aresanzui with art by Miyakobachi, a romantic teasing comedy about a girl known as the “seatmate killer” because any boy who sits next to her falls in love with her and then she breaks his heart. However, when a new boy sits next to her, he’s too weird and deadpan for her stick to work on him, the tables are turned, and she starts to fall for him.
Azuki’s July 2023 Volume Releases
Azuki’s new July roster includes four series from legendary josei manga artist and fashion writer Moyoco Anno. In 2005, Anno’s work Sugar Sugar Rune won the 29th Kodansha Manga Awards in the children’s manga category. She is married to Hideaki Anno, known for the Evangelion franchise and the Shin trilogy of tokusatsu reboots. Most are available to read right now.
The four series from Anno are:
Insufficient Direction, published by CORK and distributed by MD-i:
When Moyoco Anno, the widely successful creator of women’s manga, married Hideaki Anno, creator of Neon Genesis Evangelion and a director famed for being an otaku, she had one important doubt:
“Am I really ready to be an otaku’s wife?”
Taking up that challenge, Moyoco Anno launched herself into the deep and beautiful world of married life. This comic essay, an account of the private lives of two of Japan’s most high-profile creators, is raw, unfiltered, and unforgettably hilarious.
The Diary of Ochibi-san, published by CORK and distributed by MD-i:
“Even if I can make you smile, I can’t erase the tears you’ve cried.”
In Mametsubu-cho, a little town somewhere in Japan’s ancient capital of Kamakura, the cheerful Ochibi lives a free and easy life. Together with his friends — the dog Nazeni, the mischievous cat Jack, and the ever-hungry pooch Pankui — he welcomes the new discoveries and acquaintances that come with the changing seasons.
The spring brings flowers and greenery; the summer, chances to swim in the cool sea. With autumn comes the fiery red maples, and winter brings hot and hearty meals.
These events and shifts of season are drawn with a soft and tender touch, bringing out the warmth in the details of everyday life.
Buffalo 5 Girls, published by CORK and distributed by MD-i:
In the unforgiving towns dotting the barren desert, girls sold into brothels must face the carnal desires of men day in and day out. In a world rampant with sex and violence, what happens when prostitutes fall in love? Is there a way for them to survive?
Two working girls, Candy and Suzy, will risk their lives to break the cycle, all for the sake of the freedom they’ve never had. Stronger than they ever thought possible, these girls on the run learn to give their instincts free rein.
“Love or life, which would you choose?”
“I’d take love.”
“But then you can’t love if you’re dead, can you?”
Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, published by CORK and distributed by MD-i:
Paris, France — Beginning of the 20th century. Colette works in a brothel and entertains clients with “perverted” desires. She feels she’s living a life without prospects — the only thing that brings her happiness are her secret meetings with a handsome gigolo named Leon. She feels helplessly attracted to the mysterious Leon despite his obvious inability to remain faithful…
This is the first new series by Moyoco Anno in eight years! After Sakuran and Buffalo 5 Girls comes another story about the strong lives of prostitutes.
In addition to announcing the three previously released series from Anno, plus the artist’s first new series in eight years, Memoirs of Amorous Gentleman, Azuki also announced that it had acquired six other manga and doujinshi series. Of these new series, the one that the audience at the Azuki Industry panel seemed the most excited about were Itazurana Kiss by Kaoru Tada, a shōjo manga series that was first published/serialized in 1990 and has been the basis for three live-action TV series (and a sequel).
Itazurana Kiss, distributed by MD-i:
A high school girl named Kotoko Aihara’s love letter has been rejected by her crush, a genius with an IQ of 200, and a sports champion who’s popular with all the girls — Naoki Irie.
As if Kotoko’s luck wasn’t bad enough, shortly after her house gets destroyed by an earthquake and she has to find somewhere to stay, her father reaches out to a good friend to help them out, but by some twist of fate, her father’s friend is… Naoki Irie’s father!
First, she got rejected, and now she has to live under the same roof as her crush, who rejected her! Will Kotoko’s luck finally turn around?
Urban Legend Hunters by Yvon Lee (Story) and NOFI (Art), distributed by MediBang:
Have you heard of the popular horror mobile game from Taiwan? This manga has been adapted from the Urban Legend Hunters series where urban legends grow in power as they grow in popularity.
After getting wrapped up in a grisly crime at school, Yangda has to investigate the urban legend he believes to be at the root of the cause. His investigation leads him to believe a “dating ban” is behind a tense atmosphere that’s breeding spirits that resemble babies. Will he hold a ritual and speak with the spirits to find out if the murderer is actually a ghost or just pretending?
DON’T COUNT YOUR TANUKIS by Mayu Minase, published by Futabasha and distributed by MD-i:
A new love comedy from Mayu Minase that takes place in the heart of Tokushima, featuring nonhuman entities and love! The son and heir to an indigo dyeing shop, Riku, has dreamed of going to university outside his prefecture with his childhood best friend and girl he loves but is instead forced to marry a girl named Miyo due to an old family promise. However, just what is Miyo’s incredible secret?!
Tokushima’s very own Mayu Minase sets the stage in her hometown for this youthful love fantasy.
Wonder House of Horrors by Miyako Cojima, published by Star Fruit Books:
A 10-story horror anthology by Miyako Cojima that is sometimes kooky, sometimes gory, and sometimes positively profound!
Young, Alive, In Love by Nishijima Daisuke, published by Star Fruit Books:
Makoto uses a Geiger to measure radiation, and Mana can see ghosts. The two fall in love. What is more important, decontamination or spirit cleanse? Three volumes long.
Transit by Makoto Aizawa, published by Star Fruit Books:
Life is just a repetition of encounters and partings, and where we are now is, in any case, a transit point. A series of coming-of-age stories about the days we go through feeling lost.
Transit will launch on Friday, July 21.
Get Azuki for $4.99 Per Month
Azuki is available on the web at www.azuki.co and in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The app features over 200 series, including international hits like Hajime Isayama‘s Attack on Titan and Tsukiya‘s The Yakuza’s Guide to Babysitting and acclaimed new series like Turning the Tables on the Seatmate Killer!, written by Aresanzui with art by Miyakobachi. Most titles are available worldwide (except Japan).
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