With most scheduled for release in the January-February 2023 window, North American publisher, licensor and localiser of Japanese manga and light novels – Yen Press – has this weekend confirmed five new series that may have a starring role on your home bookshelf.
These new announcements consist of three manga (School-Live! Letters; Assorted Entanglements; SOTUS), as well as two light novels (Hirano and Kagiura; Bride of the Barrier Master). You can read about each below, and keep an eye out on your local book seller for when pre-orders go live – if they haven’t already.
1School-Live! Letters
Story by Norimitsu Kaihou
Art by Sadoru Chiba
Now that the apocalypse is over, the former School Living Club members moved on to new stages in their lives. With each member walking a different path, letters help everyone remember the past, live for the present, and stay connected with each other.
2Hirano and Kagiura
Original Story and Character Design by Shou Harusono
Story by Kotoko Hachijo
It all started when Akira Kagiura moved into the dorms. He was supposed to have a normal roommate relationship with a normal guy, so the last thing he expected was someone like Taiga Hirano. Although his first impression was of a bad boy delinquent, Hirano’s mother hen nature quickly turned it on its head. And so, over the course of the first six months together, he falls hard for the perfect man…
From the creator of Sasaki and Miyano, comes the beginning of Hirano and Kagiura’s love story!
3Assorted Entanglements
By Mikanuji
Discover a variety of stories about women’s love, starting with Iori, a twenty-eight-year-old office worker who sets out to drown her love and job sorrows in booze. When she wakes up next to someone, she can’t believe her partner was Minami, a worker at the bar who doesn’t want to forget what they have!
4Bride of the Barrier Master
By Kureha
Long ago, Japan was protected by five crystal pillars. Though eighteen-year-old Hana Ichise was born to one of the branch families that defend the pillars using supernatural abilities, she has lived in the shadow of her brilliant twin sister, Hazuki, from a young age. When Hana finally awakens to powers of her own one day, however, she opts to hide them out of a desire to complete her high school education in peace. That is, until Saku Ichinomiya, the arrogant yet powerful head of her family’s primary branch, falls for Hana and forces her into signing a marriage contract with him. But can Hana rise to her true potential under the wing of her husband-to-be?
5SOTUS
Story by BitterSweet
Art by Kei
SOTUS is an educational system in which upperclassmen impose “trials” upon underclassmen. Arthit, leader of the engineering seniors, plans to put his new juniors through a harsh training regimen to earn the symbol of their major—the gear. However, a first-year named Kongpob causes new headaches for Arthit when he declares he’ll snatch the gear from him: “I’ll make you my wife!”
