Atsushi Kase, the creator of Kuro Ageha, is launching a new manga series titled YakuMan in the June issue of Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Magazine on June 6, 2025.
What’s YakuMan About?
YakuMan is a comedy manga that revolves around Kaede, a tough-looking yakuza member known for his fighting prowess. However, Kaede has a secret: he’s also a famous Moe manga artist named Maple. The story follows Kaede as he navigates his double life, battling both the ruthless yakuza world and the demanding deadlines of the manga industry.
Atsushi Kase: A Brief Overview
Atsushi Kase is a Japanese manga artist best known for his series Chameleon and Kuro Ageha. Chameleon, a gag manga about junior delinquents, was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine from 1990 to 2000 and spanned 47 volumes. The manga was adapted into a six-episode OVA (Original Video Animation) series released in Japan from 1992 to 1996. Chameleon has sold over 30 million copies and won the 23rd Kodansha Manga Award in the shōnen category in 1999.
Kuro Ageha, a spin-off of Chameleon, launched in Monthly Shonen Magazine in 2013 and concluded in 2023 with its 20th volume.
Kase also created Jigoro Jigorou, a manga about car culture which started in 2002.
With YakuMan, Kase is bringing a fresh and humorous concept to the pages of Monthly Shonen Magazine. Fans can look forward to the series launch on June 6 to see how Kaede balances his perilous yakuza life with his secret identity as a Moe manga artist.
