Titan Manga is set to release Paru Itagaki’s completed manga series, Sanda, in English, bringing the unique story to a wider audience. The first volume is slated for release on September 2, 2025, with the second volume following on November 18, 2025. Fans can pre-order now from major booksellers. This release marks another significant work from Itagaki available to English-speaking readers, adding to her already popular Beastars series.
Sanda: A Dive into a Future Japan
Sanda presents a thought-provoking narrative set in a near-future Japan grappling with a drastically declining birth rate. In this world, children are highly valued, and society has artificially extended adolescence. Traditional holidays like Christmas have become mere legends. The story follows Kazushige Sanda, a middle school student, who gets caught up in a strange mystery when his classmate, Shiori Fuyumura, accuses him of carrying a curse linked to her missing friend, Ono Ichie.
The Quest to Uncover the Truth
Sanda and Fuyumura embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind Ichie’s disappearance and rediscover the forgotten magic of Christmas. Along the way, they face external dangers and internal struggles, questioning loyalty, courage, and belief. Their adventure explores themes of friendship, trust, and the possibility of magic in a world that has largely dismissed it.
Paru Itagaki: The Creative Force Behind Sanda
Paru Itagaki is a Japanese manga artist, born on September 9, 1993, best known for her award-winning series Beastars. She launched Sanda in Akita Shoten’s Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine in July 2021, and the series concluded in July 2024, totaling 16 volumes. Itagaki is the daughter of Keisuke Itagaki, the author of the Baki series. Her works often feature unique character designs and explore complex themes.
Itagaki’s Notable Works
- Beastars: A critically acclaimed manga series set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, exploring themes of prejudice, identity, and self-discovery.
- Beast Complex: A collection of short stories, also set in the world of anthropomorphic animals, exploring various relationships and social issues.
- Drip Drip (Bota Bota): A mini-series that ran from 2020 to 2021.
- Paruno Graffiti: Serialized in Kiss magazine from 2019 to 2020, this is an essay short cartoon.
Anime Adaptation of Sanda
In addition to the English release of the manga, Sanda is also being adapted into a television anime series by Science SARU, scheduled to debut in the fall. This adaptation will likely further boost the series’ popularity and introduce it to an even wider audience. Science SARU is known for its innovative animation style and acclaimed works.
Science SARU’s Notable Works:
Science SARU, founded in 2013, is renowned for its visually distinctive and experimental animation. Key works include:
- Devilman Crybaby
- Japan Sinks: 2020
- Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!
- DAN DA DAN
- Inu-Oh
Titan Manga: Bringing Global Manga to English Readers
Titan Manga is the manga imprint of Titan Comics, dedicated to bringing a diverse range of manga titles to English-speaking audiences. They publish various genres, from science fiction to fantasy. Other recent and upcoming releases from Titan Manga include Cosmic Censorship by Ryuichi Sadamatsu (June 2025) and The Godless World of Onee-chan (February 2025). Titan Manga plays a vital role in making manga accessible to a global readership.
