During its industry panel at Anime NYC, Azuki announced the addition of four new manga series to its platform, as well as the physical release of two of its digital exclusive titles via Scholastic’s Graphix imprint.
The four new manga series from MediBang that are joining the service are Kotonoha, Ryoji Renjo: Gourmet Detective, Sweeter Than Cake, and Dreamnautes.
In addition, Azuki digital exclusives Hikaru in the Light! and Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms will be receiving full-color print editions under the Graphix imprint. The company shared a few sample pages from the new print editions below.
The first volume of Mai Matsuda’s Hikaru in the Light! will be published by Graphix in March 2025, and the first volume of Yoshino Koyoka and TriF’s Mecha-Ude: Mechanical Arms will follow in April 2025. The latter’s TV anime series will premiere in October 2024.
The new titles from MediBang are now available to read worldwide (except Japan) on the Azuki website and iOS and Android apps, with select free chapters available.
The full list of newly licensed manga are listed below:
Kotonoha
Story and Art: Kisugae
Synopsis:
When Fujita was in high school, she had but one romantic encounter — and it was with another girl. It happened one day when they ended up kissing. However, somewhere inside her, she knew a girl kissing another girl was wrong, so she chose to remain as just friends. Even when graduation came, she could not confess her feelings, and so the two girls split ways. Five years later, Fujita still thinks back to that romantic encounter. Meanwhile at work, due to one of her colleagues going on maternity leave, a new designer is brought into the company… and who does that designer turn out to be? None other than her high school crush!
Ryoji Renjo: Gourmet Detective
Story and Art: Tadashi Kato
Synopsis:
Ryoji is just supposed to be that private detective everyone hires to solve their trivial personal cases. But why does he have this outstanding cooking skill that mesmerizes every cook he meets in the investigation? What is his connection with the famous head from Togawa restaurant? Together with Aoi, the outgoing woman who’s also a foodie, Ryoji spreads his cooking skill that will bring more taste to Japan’s urban culinary scene!
Sweeter Than Cake
Story and Art: Yuga Kuromiya
Synopsis:
For Takuya Otsuki, his everyday routine after school is to pick up his brother Yuta at daycare, then go home and make dinner for the two of them, while their parents both work. He doesn’t stop by the game center, go out for karaoke, or visit cafes like the rest of his classmates. He is responsible for Yuta… who’s just disappeared into thin air!? As big bro Takuya chases after his small but swift baby brother, he finally catches him at the park, ogling at some cakes held by a suspicious looking red-haired man! Uh oh… What will Takuya have to do to pay him back for the trouble Yuta has caused….? Be his cake taster…? Is that… some sort of euphemism…?
Dreamnautes
Story and Art: Yasuyuki Oshima
Synopsis:
Every time Nattsu shuts his eyes, his world changes into a cloudy dimension with bizarre creatures and strange humans. What exactly is Nattsu’s purpose in that world? Why does he keep getting more and more tired? Dreamnautes is an instant shonen classic with unique art and a charming concept. Not to be missed.
Source: press release
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