If you’ve read any amount of manga or have an interest in Japanese culture, you’ve likely heard of Calpis. If nothing else, it’s one of those names that are accidentally funny in English, because of the sound. The actual beverage is a fruity, non-carbonated drink with a hint of yogurt. (It’s made through lactic acid fermentation.) It was first launched in 1919, it comes in several flavors, and it’s now more widely available in the US! It’s owned by Asahi, […]

Boy, Cells at Work is its own little franchise, isn’t it? Makes sense — we’re all curious about how bodies work, and anthropomorphizing the functions and processes gives it all a sense of adventure (and in many cases with these series, fan service). In addition to the original manga by Akane Shimizu, Kodansha Comics has released in English Cells at Work! Code Black (about a guy with more adult problems, by Shigemitsu Harada and Issei Hatsuyoshiya) and two even more […]

Kodansha Comics has rescued The Drops of God and released new volumes, never before available in English, digitally. With last week’s update, half the series is now available. Vertical previously put out the first four volumes of The Drops of God in print in 2011-2012 (ending with chapter 77), along with a jump-ahead volume, The Drops of God: New World (which included chapters 210-227). It’s about a competition to identify 12 outstanding wines pitting the son of a noted wine […]

During the pandemic quarantine, book publishing is mostly continuing and comic book publishing has mostly ceased. Which lead to me wondering what the manga publishers are doing. They have very little dependence on the comic market stores, so that shutdown doesn’t matter to them. But many bookstores are also closed, reducing the ability to reach customers, and manga series are serialized, making it important to keep readers hooked. The publishers, in general, are slowing down their release schedule and converting […]

Viz Originals, an imprint from the manga publisher announced last year as an outlet for “original graphic novels developed by manga-inspired creators”, has made public news of one of its first titles. Due out in October is a graphic novel adaptation of Rainbow Rowell’s novel Fangirl. (I love this book. I had her autograph it in Chicago this year.) Fangirl: The Manga will be adapted by Sam Maggs (The Fangirl’s Guide to the Galaxy) and illustrated by Gabi Nam (who […]

Two sales you might want to take advantage of, if you’re looking for reading material and don’t mind digital for your manga. The first is a whole flock of first volumes for 99 cents each. 270, to be exact, from Kodansha and Vertical. (Need some ideas? Here are all my Kodansha manga reviews.) This is a great way to sample the start of a series! Sale runs through April 13. Secondly, there’s a comiXology originals sale that includes the entire […]

My favorite current manga series, Fumi Yoshinaga’s What Did You Eat Yesterday?, will become available for digital purchase this coming Tuesday, March 17. It’s a wonderful read, about a middle-aged gay couple. One partner is a hairstylist, the other a lawyer, and the lawyer cooks something every chapter. These aren’t fancy dishes, but everyday meals based around grocery bargains or seasonal dishes or what will use up leftovers or what brings back good memories. There are 14 volumes available in […]