Azuki has announced that it is adding nine new manga series, which include Star Fruit Books’ The Horrors of Noroi Michiru that will be a digital exclusive on the service.
Other newly added titles include Different Nation, Repeating Your End Together, Sinner, Flen in Black, If You Share A Kiss with Asakawa, Stories from the Shopping District, VESTIGE, and Makabe-sensei’s Perfect Plan. Some titles have been added from the publisher MediBang.
All nine titles are now available worldwide (except Japan) on the Azuki website and iOS and Android apps, with select free chapters available.
The Horrors of Noroi Michiru is an Azuki digital exclusive, and will only be available to read on the service. Star Fruit Books will release the series in print in two volumes. Volume 1 is 204 pages and goes on sale July 18, 2024.
Here are the details for Azuki’s latest manga licenses:
The Horrors of Noroi Michiru
Story and Art: Noroi Michiru
Synopsis:
For the first time ever, the master of horror Noroi Michiru is available in English! This two-volume collection includes his one-shots, with each page rendered in exquisite detail to showcase his splendid artwork — each panel worthy of being framed. Noroi Michiru’s aesthetic is impressive in that it conforms to Western expectations, both amongst illustrated covers and also pages of narrative — focused, realistic anatomy, as opposed to more exaggerated, fanciful forms. His concepts, artwork and narratives are as admirable as the efforts of Junji Ito, but his circulation, and consequently his fanbase, has mainly been exclusive to Japan.
Different Nation
Story and Art: Kakio Tsurukawa
Tsurukawa also has two one-shots available from Star Fruit Books on Azuki: Sawanabe Zombie and Ikyoudo.
Synopsis:
Since the aliens invaded Earth 20 years ago, they have co-existed with human beings in this country. ICPO, an institution with a mission to prevent violent crime happening in the invaded nation, is the main protagonist of this full-colored sci-fi human drama. Together with Roy, a former New York police officer, and a serious alien named Leonardo, Rika, a new Japanese investigator, confronts a crime organization in the bizarre but thrilling “Different Nation.”
Repeating Your End Together
Story and Art: Seiju Natsumegu
Synopsis:
“Things I wanted to re-do seem to be endless…” An elite Office Lady, Komori, has a unique ability to do minimum time looping but the limit suddenly turned into 10 years when she got in an accident. The one who greets her in the high-school-past was that man, who had lived in Komori’s heart for a long time… sometimes remembered as a smiling nerd, sometimes as a lifeless body that Komori couldn’t save.
Sinner
Story and Art: Kye
Synopsis:
Babies are scanned at birth, and their criminal probability is found. All is well if they’re not criminally inclined. However, if their numbers are too risky, they’re removed from society. This is heartbreaking for many, so a group of sinners is now fighting back for their right to try and not just be labeled at birth. Join us on their journey.
Flen in Black
Story and Art: Keisuke Odagiri
Synopsis:
Chika grows medicinal herbs and sometimes helps treat her fellow villagers. One day, she notices someone dressed from head to toe in black standing in her herb garden. It turns out that person’s name is Flen, and she also seems to be extremely knowledgeable about medicines and herbs. Chika invites her in for a drink and asks her where she’s from. Flen replies with the mysterious answer “over the eastern mountain, and then as far as east goes.” However, it seems there is a secret behind Flen’s amazing medicinal knowledge. What could it be?
If You Share A Kiss with Asakawa
Story and Art: Sachi Murakami
Synopsis:
In Izumi Nakama’s grade are twins Satsuki and Ibuki Asakawa. Satsuki, unlike his stoic and cool younger twin Ibuki, is flirtatious and friendly. Just his luck, Izumi attracts the brother he was not interested in getting to know, Satsuki. As the two get on, Izumi starts realizing Satsuki’s true character… (Note: Spiciness 1 out of 5) (Warning: uses of anti- gay slurs) “Rule 1 Series”: Rio and Etsu have been together since high school and now live together as a happy couple. Madly in love and drunk in their attraction to each other, their intimate lives together are a bond nobody can break.
Stories from the Shopping District
Story and Art: Sanba Maekawa
Synopsis:
After hearing about his father’s hospitalization, Shouta decided to leave his Pastaio job in Italy and inherit his family Western cuisine restaurant in Hurubita Shopping District. Not much has changed in the district, except probably his-used-to-be-innocent childhood friend, Makoto, who had now bloomed into an attractive guy everyone in the district wanted to sleep with. Makoto’s casual sexual relationship with many young men in the district kinda drives Shouta crazy, but maybe… Just maybe Makoto still saves some of his innocence for the guy who hadn’t been home for 7 years.
VESTIGE
Story and Art: Cacoethic
Synopsis:
A survival thriller manga in full color! Keep your guard up and hunt everything you can, because you never know when you’ll be hunted!
Makabe-sensei’s Perfect Plan
Story and Art: Kosuke Tokimune
Synopsis:
The high school teacher Kanichi Makabe is what you might call a “perfectionist”. He does not compromise anything that might hinder his perfect routine! From fighting over seats in the train to protecting a corner of an eraser, every peaceful boring day is indeed a battlefield for him…
Source: press release