Yen Press has announced a substantial wave of new manga and light novel acquisitions during its Anime Expo panel, with titles slated for release in December 2025 and January 2026. The publisher revealed a total of nine manga and four light novels, alongside an expansion of its audiobook catalog.
Featured Manga Acquisitions
Several notable manga titles are among the newly licensed works, covering a diverse range of genres from postwar drama and romance to horror and action.
Wonder Boy
Authored by Kazumi Yamashita, Wonder Boy delves into the interconnected lives of strangers across different eras and locations, including postwar Japan, London, and war-torn landscapes. The narrative follows a mysterious traveler, the “wonder boy,” who observes humanity’s triumphs and sorrows throughout history.
Hinatsugimura
From creator Aki Shimizu, Hinatsugimura is a horror tale that traps college students within a haunted mansion. This title is described as a one-volume horror josei.
Out of the Cocoon
Yuriko Hara’s Out of the Cocoon presents a collection of eerie yuri and Boys’ Love (BL) stories. Hara is also known for Cocoon Entwined.
The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All
This manga by Sumiko Arai will be released as a limited-edition hardcover, exclusive to the Yen Press webstore in November. The story follows high schooler Aya, who develops a crush on a stylish employee at a CD shop, only to discover that her crush is actually her female classmate, Mitsuki.
Battle Royale Deluxe Edition
The hyper-violent classic Battle Royale, with art by Masayuki Taguchi and based on Koushun Takami’s original story, returns in a new deluxe edition. It depicts forty-two middle school students forced into a fight to the death.
Scenes from Awajima
Takako Shimura’s Scenes from Awajima is an ensemble drama set within a prestigious opera academy for girls.
Please Look After the Dragon
This comedic fantasy manga features a college student who unexpectedly becomes the guardian of a dragon-in-training.
Even a Replica Can Fall in Love
A manga adaptation of Harunadon’s light novel series, Even a Replica Can Fall in Love by Momose Hanada explores a complex love story where a replica, used by Sunao to avoid school or tests, learns about love.
Demon Lord 2099
Yutaka Sakurai’s manga adaptation of Daigo Murasaki’s Demon Lord 2099 (Maou 2099) light novel series will be released as a 3-in-1 omnibus volume. The story follows the legendary Demon Lord Veltol’s return in the year 2099, five centuries after his fall, into a cyberpunk city where magic and technology coexist.
Divine Incursion
Kōya Ashitaka’s manga adaptation of Oumi Kifuru’s Divine Incursion light novels has also been licensed. The narrative involves Katagishi of the Divine Incursions Special Investigations Department investigating phenomena like titanic body parts falling from the sky and mysteriously absent viscera from corpses.
New Light Novel Additions
In addition to the manga, Yen Press is expanding its light novel catalog with four new titles.
About a Place in the Kinki Region
Authored by Sesuji, this metafictional novel delves into a tale of missing persons and paranormal mysteries, based on articles, interviews, and research about a terrifying truth emerging from a specific place in the Kinki region.
1,000 Words to Live
Gyatei Murasaki’s 1,000 Words to Live is an offbeat anthology featuring twenty-six surreal and concise short stories, with bizarre scenarios such as a boyfriend transforming into a can of mackerel or a woman in her sixth year of pregnancy.
New Game Plus After Defeating the Last Boss
This harem fantasy novel follows a fallen hero who is resurrected by a goddess after defeating a Demonic Dragon, starting life anew at level one but retaining his ridiculously strong skills, attracting a harem of women.
Thou, as My Knight…
This high-stakes political and supernatural adventure introduces elite mercenaries known as Informationists.
Audiobook Expansions
Yen Press also announced expansions to its Yen Audio line, with five fan-favorite light novels receiving audiobook adaptations: Secrets of the Silent Witch, The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten, The Other World’s Books Depend on the Bean Counter, Days With My Stepsister, and Magical Explorer.
Additionally, Yen Press is releasing Alya Sometimes Hides Her Feelings in Russian: Momoco’s Art Book, a full-color collection of illustrations from the popular light novel series, including promotional artwork, chibi illustrations, and an exclusive short story.
