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Kodansha: Inspire Impossible Stories (Read This Manga 2023)
Kodansha: Inspire Impossible Stories (Read This Manga 2023)
Published: Mar 29, 2023
Updated: Mar 29, 2023
Introduction
For over a century, the mission of Kodansha has been to achieve the impossible through books, manga, and more. In particular, manga have a unique ability to express ideas and stories that can't be done in any other medium, and with that in mind, the Kodansha USA Publishing team would like to present you with their top picks for imaginative, inspiring, and mind-bending manga titles—the types of impossible stories that you can only find from Kodansha.
Silent Disco
Groove to the beat of stories that let you magically experience music without hearing a single note.
Nodame Cantabile by Tomoko Ninomiya
The son of a famous pianist, music student Shinichi Chiaki dreams of studying abroad and becoming a conductor like his mentor. Unfortunately, his fear of flying grounds his lofty plans! As he watches other classmates achieve what he has always wanted, Shinichi wonders if he should quit music altogether. Then one day he meets fellow student Megumi Noda, also known as Nodame. This oddball girl cannot cook, clean, or even read a music score, but she can play the piano in incomparable Cantabile style. And she teaches Chiaki something that he has forgotten: to enjoy his music, no matter where he is.
Your Lie in April by Naoshi Arakawa
Kosei Arima was a piano prodigy until his cruel taskmaster of a mother died suddenly, changing his life forever. Driven by his pain to abandon piano, Kosei now lives in a monotonous, colorless world. Having resigned himself to a bland life, he is surprised when he meets Kaori Miyazono, a violinist with an unorthodox style. Can she bring Kosei back to music, and back to life?
Ya Boy KongMing! by Yuto Yotsuba, Ryo Ogawa
General of the Three Kingdoms, Kongming had struggled his whole life, facing countless battles that made him into the accomplished strategist he was. So on his deathbed, he wished only to be reborn into a peaceful world...and was sent straight to modern-day party-central, Tokyo! Can even a brilliant strategist like Kongming adapt to the wild beats and even wilder party people?!
Out-of-This-World Fantasy & Adventure
Escape your every day world and journey to fantastic strange realities that stretch the imagination.
To Your Eternity by Yoshitoki Oima
A lonely boy wandering the Arctic regions of North America meets a wolf, and the two become fast friends, depending on each other to survive the harsh environment. But the boy has a history, and the wolf is more than meets the eye as well…
Land of the Lustrous by Haruko Ichikawa
In a world inhabited by crystalline lifeforms called The Lustrous, every unique gem must fight for their way of life against the threat of lunarians who would turn them into decorations. Phosphophyllite, the most fragile and brittle of gems, longs to join the battle. When Phos is instead assigned to complete a natural history of their world, it sounds like a dull and pointless task. But this new job brings Phos into contact with Cinnabar, a gem forced to live in isolation. Can Phos's seemingly mundane assignment lead both Phos and Cinnabar to the fulfillment they desire?
Drifting Dragons by Taku Kuwabara
Mika is a draker on the airship Quin Zaza. He earns his livelihood hunting the whales of the sky—dragons! The beautiful beasts are flying treasure troves, providing food and materials, and the Quin Zaza is among the last draking vessels. Mika's not just a talented hunter; he's also a gourmand with a refined palette and a taste for the exotic. Between his duties aboard the ship, his ambitions as an eater, and his new job training the rookie dragon hunter Takita, Mika's days are never boring. But even with the lively crew of the Quin Zaza as his family, the nomadic life of a draker can be lonely and dangerous…
Memorable Memoirs
Experience personal, moving, and exciting stories as if you were there living them yourself.
Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon & Mu, Volume Collector’s Edition by Junji Ito
Reigning king of horror manga Junji Ito presents a series of hissterical tales chronicling his real-life trials and tribulations of becoming a cat owner. Junji Ito, as J-kun, has recently built a new house and has invited his financée, A-ko, to live with him. Little did he know...his blushing bride-to-be has some unexpected company in tow--Yon, a ghastly-looking family cat, and Mu, an adorable Norwegian forest cat. Despite being a dog person, J-kun finds himself purrsuaded by their odd cuteness and thus begins his comedic struggle to gain the affection of his new feline friends.
Ichi-F by Kazuto Tatsuta
On March 11, 2011, Japan suffered the largest earthquake in its modern history. The 9.0-magnitude quake threw up a devastating tsunami that wiped away entire towns, and caused, in the months afterward, three nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant. Altogether, it was the costliest natural disaster in human history.
This is not the story of that disaster.
This is the story of a man who took a job. Kazuto Tatsuta was an amateur artist who signed onto the dangerous task of cleaning up the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, which the workers came to call "Ichi-F." This is the story of that challenging work, of the trials faced by the local citizens, and of the unique camaraderie that built up between the mostly blue-collar workers who had to face the devious and invisible threat of radiation on a daily basis. After six months, Tatsuta's body had absorbed the maximum annual dose of radiation allowed by regulations, and he was forced to take a break from the work crew, giving him the time to create this unprecedented, unauthorized, award-winning view of daily life at Fukushima Daiichi.Emma Dreams of Stars by Kan Takahama
Get a rare glimpse into the inner workings of The Michelin Guide, and the grueling yet rewarding life of an undercover professional foodie! Originally published in France, this inspiring story brings us behind the scenes as we follow Emma, the first woman to be hired as a Michelin Guide Inspector, on her adventures across France and abroad. This full-color manga will not only make your mouth water, but also encourage you to not give up on your dreams…
Not Your Average Isekai
Flip the script on isekai with unique takes on adventures in another world.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime by Fuse
As players of Monster Hunter and Dungeons & Dragons know, the slime is not exactly the king of the fantasy monsters. So when a 37-year-old Tokyo salaryman dies and wakes up in a world of dragons and magic, he's a little disappointed to find he's become a blind, boneless slime monster. Mikami's middle age hasn't gone as he planned: He never found a girlfriend, he got stuck in a dead-end job, and he was abruptly stabbed to death in the street at 37. So when he wakes up in a new world straight out of a fantasy RPG, he's disappointed but not exactly surprised to find that he's not a knight or a wizard but a blind slime demon. But there are chances for even a slime to become a hero…
I Guess I Became the Mother of the Great Demon King's 10 Children in Another World by Ema Toyama
Akari was a typical game-loving 16-year-old girl who lived with her mother, until a fateful accident left her an orphan. A year later, she makes a fateful wish on a game disc to be a great mother for a family of her own—only to be swept through a portal into another world! She finds she's been summoned as the "priestess from another world"...whose role is to become mother to the children of the demon king himself?!
Saint Young Men by Hikaru Nakamura
Jesus, the Son of God. Buddha, the Enlightened One. Two of history's most important figures whose sagely deeds have been told and retold. After a few millennia of helping humanity, they have decided to take some time off and rent an apartment together in modern-day Tokyo. But even their saintly status hasn't fully prepared them to navigate the ups and downs of life in 21st century Japan, from theme parks, to shopping for rice cookers, to the wonderful world of manga. Follow this pair on a goofy, light-hearted, and pun-filled adventure in friendship.
Kodansha's Cutest Cat Manga
Get your fill of feline friends and their pawsitvely purrfect stories.
The Complete Chi's Sweet Home by Konami Kanata
Chi is a mischievous newborn kitten who, while on a leisurely stroll with her family, finds herself lost. Overcome with loneliness, she breaks into tears in a large park meadow, where she is rescued by a young boy named Yohei and his mother. The little kitty is then quickly and quietly whisked away into the warm and inviting Yamada apartment… where pets are strictly not permitted.
With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun by Hidekichi Matsumoto
With both a cat and a dog, there’s double the antics, double the fun (and double the kibble!) but while Inu and Neko coexist peacefully, they have their own distinct personalities, which play out in unexpected, charming ways during these short-form stories. Whether you’re a dog-person or a cat-person, there’s plenty to love about these homegrown sketches of daily life shared with four-legged friends!
A Kiss with a Cat by Miko Senri
Erina loves cats more than anything, even though she looks like the haughty-princess type who could have any guy she wants. But even with his cat-like name, she can't stand her aloof classmate, Nekoyama-kun. But when she rescues a hurt kitty in her yard and gives it a perfect, snuggly kiss...she suddenly finds a very human Nekoyama-kun in her room? What gives?!
Sports that Leap Off the Page
Experience the thrill of victories, the intensity of rivalries, and the heartbreak of defeat all without breaking a sweat.
Blue Lock by Muneyuki Kaneshiro, Yusuke Nomura
After a disastrous defeat at the 2018 World Cup, Japan's team struggles to regroup. But what's missing? An absolute Ace Striker, who can guide them to the win. The Japan Football Union is hell-bent on creating a striker who hungers for goals and thirsts for victory, and who can be the decisive instrument in turning around a losing match...and to do so, they've gathered 300 of Japan's best and brightest youth players. Who will emerge to lead the team...and will they be able to out-muscle and out-ego everyone who stands in their way?
Shojo Fight by Yoko Nihonbashi
Ever since that day, Neri Oishi's resolved not to make friends. She's fifteen years old and plays volleyball at Hakuunzan Private Academy Middle School, which is known for producing top players of the sport. Neri's doing everything she can to hold herself back, including hiding that she was the captain of a team that took second place in a national tournament when she was in elementary school. While she's immersed in this team sport, why should Neri have to kill herself? What keeps her from quitting volleyball in spite of that? Get ready for an ensemble volleyball drama!
Getting Closer to You by Ruri Kamino
For Kaho, a man's muscles are all that matters. She's sports-agnostic, type-agnostic—all she cares about are that those abs, pecs, biceps and delts look good. She thinks she's found her perfect Muscle Prince in Natsume-sempai...that is, until he finds out what a muscle-freak she is. But instead of ridiculing her, he instead suggests she becomes manager of the basketball team—the one he just so happens to be on? For a muscle-lover like Kaho, there's nothing to lose...and everything to gain.
Try on a New Job for a Day
Riveting stories of unique vocations and all the excitement, stress, and laughter born from living a work-a-day life.
Kounodori Dr. Stork by You Suzunoki
Childbirth isn't an illness, so under normal circumstances, insurance won't cover it. Delivery staff doesn't cure disease or treat injuries, so there's no need for a doctor...unless, of course, circumstances aren't normal. This smash-hit drama gives a look into the lives of the men and women who work to welcome 1,000,000 new lives into the world each year in Japan. Includes four arcs: Doorstep Mother, Threatened Miscarriage, Gonorrhea and On Call.
Wave, Listen to Me by Hiroaki Samura
From the legendary creator of Blade of the Immortal comes something completely different: the wild ride of one disgruntled young woman down the rapids of talk radio! Minare thought she was just venting to a stranger when she told a guy at a bar about her man troubles. It turns out that man works at a radio station, and the next day she's shocked to hear her grumbling broadcast on the air! She storms the station in a rage, only to be duped into joining a talk show, and her acid tongue makes her into an instant star!
Is Kichijoji the Only Place to Live? by Makihirochi
Zoshigaya. Gotanda. Kinshicho. Komazawa Daigaku. Nakano. These were your “No.1 most desirable places to live”?! The Shigeta Twins run a real estate agency in Kichijoji and keep complaining about the changes the area is going through. However, their office is highly sought after by young ladies who believe the hype that Kichijoji is the coolest place to live! That's why, today, they will introduce you to some great under-the-radar neighborhoods other than Kichijoji.
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