In an unusual move, the editorial department of Hakusensha is urging readers to “learn about love” this summer through the popular ecchi manga, Futari Ecchi.
North American fans would recognize this manga as Tokyo Pop’s ambitious release back in 2008. However, a lot of retailers did not carry the title due to its adult content.
A major campaign has been launched on the Young Animal Web, offering readers free access to 78 volumes of Futari Ecchi.
The editorial team has framed this as a unique opportunity, encouraging readers with the message, “Learn about love during the summer nights with the ‘Yellow Chart’ and ‘White Chart’ adult summer course!”
The campaign is divided into two parts:
- From August 13 to 19, the first 40 volumes, identifiable by their yellow covers, will be available for free.
- From August 20 to 26, volumes 41 to 78, marked with white covers, will also be free to read.
While it might not seem common for a publisher to promote an erotic series as an educational tool, Hakusensha is embracing the dual nature of the manga.
Futari Ecchi is renowned not just for its erotic content but for its educational value. The series serves as a how-to guide on intercourse and intimacy, interwoven with a narrative.
The manga is a huge hit in Japan, with chapters still being published in Hakusensha’s Young Animal magazine. It has 29.5 million copies in circulation with 91 volumes published as of June 2024.
The story follows a newlywed couple in their mid-twenties, both of whom were virgins before marriage, as they explore their sexuality together. The manga includes factual statistics and insights, making it as informative as it is entertaining.
The title Futari Ecchi (“two-person ecchi”) is a play on the slang term for self-stimulation, hitori ecchi (“single-person ecchi”), emphasizing the theme of shared intimacy and discovery in the context of a relationship.
Source: Young Web Magazine on X