LOS ANGELES, CA—At their Anime Expo 2023 panel, manga subscription service Azuki celebrated the launch of their latest exclusive manga series, Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms by Yoshino Koyoka and TriF, and announced new manga licenses, upcoming volume releases, and a beta feature allowing fans to download eBooks directly from the Azuki website.
Azuki is adding 10 series from Media Do International, Inc., MediBang!, and Star Fruit Books to their Azuki Premium membership. Series include Itazurana Kiss, Wonder House of Horrors, and four series from legendary josei manga artist Moyocco Anno. Most are available to read right now. The full list is below:
Itazurana Kiss
by Kaoru Tada
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?
Buffalo 5 Girls
by Moyocco Anno
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?”
Insufficient Direction
by Moyocco Anno
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.
Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen
by Moyocco Anno
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 Moyocco Anno in eight years! After “Sakuran” and “Buffalo 5 Girls” comes another story about the strong lives of prostitutes.
The Diary of Ochibi-san
by Moyocco Anno
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 come 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.
Urban Legend Hunters
Story by Yvon Lee, Art by NOFI
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? 3 volumes long. Volume one available Q4 2021
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.
Additionally, Azuki will publish eBook editions of Shunsuke Sorato's romantic comedy manga Natsume & Natsume, about a boy with a scary face who strives to be a hero like his best friend. Volume 1 will go on sale on August 25 via Amazon, BookWalker, Apple Books, and Google Play Books. Azuki is currently serializing new English chapters of Natsume & Natsume every Friday in their app. Azuki also launched pre-orders for My Dear Detective: Mitsuko's Case Files Volume 2, which goes on sale on September 5.
Finally, Azuki announced a new beta feature available today, allowing fans to directly purchase eBooks on the Azuki website and download files to read in their favorite reader. Azuki Premium members receive a discount of up to 20% off volume purchases. Starting today, volumes are available for My Dear Detective: Mitsuko's Case Files, Turning the Tables on the Seatmate Killer!, The Yakuza's Guide to Babysitting, Gacha Girls Corps, My Dad's the Queen of All VTubers?!, and UzaMaid: Our Maid is Way Too Annoying! with many more releases from Azuki and their publisher partners planned in the near future.
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 Attack on Titan and acclaimed new series like Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms, Natsume & Natsume, and My Dear Detective: Mitsuko's Case Files.
Start reading for free with advertisements today, or upgrade to Premium and access the full catalog for just $4.99 a month. A 14-day free trial and discounted annual plan are also available. Most titles are available worldwide (except Japan). Stay up to date on the latest announcements by following Azuki at twitter.com/ReadAzuki, facebook.com/ReadAzuki, and instagram.com/readazuki.
About Azuki and KiraKira Media Inc.
Azuki is created by KiraKira Media Inc., a proudly employee-owned company dedicated to improving access to legally licensed manga, led by a small team of passionate manga fans and tech experts in San Francisco, CA.
About Media Do International, Inc.
Tokyo-based Media Do Co., Ltd. is one of the largest eBook distribution companies in the world and retains the largest share of Japan's eBook market. Media Do International, Inc. is based in San Diego, California. Media Do Group's mission is to make more content available for more people. NetGalley and its owner, Quality Solutions/Firebrand Technologies, were acquired by Media Do in 2021. Firebrand and NetGalley provide leading marketing and technology services to more than 500 publishers worldwide. NetGalley, LLC operates websites in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan. Supadü Ltd. was acquired by Media Do in 2022. Supadü is the lead provider of website and e-commerce solutions for more than 270 publishers in the US and Europe. For more information on Media Do's services and corporate divisions, please visit: https://mediado.jp/english.
About MediBang!
A dedicated manga localizer and distributor. Translating manga in-house with native speakers and sharing them to the rest of the world.
About Star Fruit Books
Star Fruit Books is a small boutique manga publisher that currently features an assortment of slice-of-life, action, horror, and other unique indie titles. They offer releases via their website and in a few small comic shops across the US. Visit them on the Web at starfruitbooks.com.
