Kodama Tales Inc., a new manga publisher, has announced that it will release Mitei Hattori’s psychological horror mystery manga, Smile!, in English for the first time, starting January 2026. Pre-orders are expected to open soon. The announcement was made during “The Legacy of Baki” panel at San Diego Comic-Con.
Delving into the Darkness: The Premise of Smile!
Smile! is a chilling psychological horror mystery that has sold over 1.4 million copies in Japan. The story centers on Yuushi Kamome, a journalist grappling with the death of his daughter and the disappearance of his wife. His life takes a disturbing turn when two women from a cult-like organization known as the “Smiling Hearts Society” visit his home, presenting a flyer featuring his missing wife’s smiling face. Driven by a desperate need for answers, Yuushi infiltrates the cult, leading him down a twisted path of manufactured joy, manipulation, and psychological torment.
The manga explores themes of mental fragility and the sinister aspects of belief systems, promising a lingering impact on readers. Originally serialized in Nihon Bungeisha’s Weekly Manga Goraku in 2021, Smile! marks Mitei Hattori’s first serialized work and published book.
Kodama Tales: Expanding Horizons in Manga Publishing
Kodama Tales, a U.S.-based manga publisher headquartered in Santa Monica, California, was founded in 2024 as a subsidiary of Kyodo Printing Co., Ltd. The company officially launched in 2025 with the mission of bringing high-quality, officially licensed Japanese manga to a global audience, preserving the authenticity of the original editions by printing them in Japan.
While their initial focus was on action-packed titles like Baki the Grappler, with its English debut set for October 2025, the acquisition of Smile! signifies a deliberate expansion into diverse genres. Kiyotaka Hirai, president of Kodama Tales, emphasizes that manga is a deeply rooted part of Japanese culture, offering not just entertainment but also valuable life lessons. Pierre Dubost, co-founder of Kodama Tales, highlighted the company’s commitment to publishing exceptional manga with meticulous attention to detail, from production and translation to the physical feel of the book.
Kodama Tales has also secured sales and distribution agreements with Independent Publishers Group (IPG), effective June 1, 2025, ensuring worldwide distribution for their titles. This partnership aims to reach new audiences and bring carefully crafted Japanese manga to the market. The publisher plans to feature titles from a range of respected Japanese publishers, including Akita Publishing, Nihonbungeisha, Shonengahosha, Daiwa Shobo, Coamix, Asahi Shimbun Publications, and Shodensha.
