Fans of acclaimed manga artists Robico and Tomoko Yamashita have recent and upcoming projects to anticipate, ranging from new animated adaptations to recent manga releases. While no new serialized manga series have been announced by both creators for 2026, their existing and recent works continue to garner attention through adaptations and localized releases.
Tomoko Yamashita’s Ikoku Nikki Receives 2026 Anime Adaptation
Tomoko Yamashita, celebrated for her nuanced storytelling in works like Ikoku Nikki (also known as Journal with Witch), is seeing her acclaimed josei manga adapted into an anime television series. The Ikoku Nikki anime is set to premiere in January 2026, bringing her compelling narrative to a wider audience. This adaptation follows the manga’s serialization in Shodensha’s Feel Young magazine from June 2017 to June 2023, which was compiled into 11 tankōbon volumes. A live-action film adaptation of Ikoku Nikki also premiered in June 2024.
About Ikoku Nikki
Ikoku Nikki centers on the relationship between 35-year-old novelist Makio Kōdai, a reserved individual who dislikes social interaction, and her 15-year-old niece Asa Takumi. Makio impulsively takes Asa in after Asa’s parents pass away in a car accident. The story explores their evolving lives as they navigate their differing personalities and learn to live together. The manga has been critically well-received, earning nominations for the Manga Taishō award in 2019 and 2020, and ranking on Takarajimasha’s Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list for female readers multiple times.
Other Recent Works by Tomoko Yamashita
Beyond Ikoku Nikki, Tomoko Yamashita has continued to produce new manga content. A new one-shot manga by Yamashita was slated for publication on June 5th, 2025, on OUR FEEL WEB!, indicating her ongoing engagement with creating fresh stories for her readers. Additionally, other works such as “Shinigami” (2025) and “Sugar Girl” (2024) are listed among her recent manga publications.
Robico’s Recent Manga and Ongoing Presence
Robico, best known for the hit romantic comedy My Little Monster (Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun), has seen her works continue to reach audiences through various formats. While a new serialized series for 2026 has not been announced, Robico published a new 47-page one-shot manga titled “Wash me Hug me!” in Kodansha’s Dessert magazine in September 2020. This romantic one-shot focused on Mikage, a 19-year-old art college cram student, and a sullen boy she encounters at a laundromat.
The Legacy of My Little Monster and Our Precious Conversations
My Little Monster, which ran from 2008 to 2013, cemented Robico’s reputation in the shojo genre. The series inspired a 13-episode television anime in 2012 and a live-action film in 2018. Her subsequent serialized work, Our Precious Conversations (Boku to Kimi no Taisetsu na Hanashi), ran in Dessert from August 2015 to December 2019. This series, a romantic comedy about awkward communication, received digital English releases in May 2025 and is slated for an Italian release in January 2026 under the title “Le preziose parole tra me e te.” Robico’s artistic contributions also include character designs for the anime Backflip!!.
