Kodansha’s Weekly Young Magazine, a prominent Japanese anthology celebrating its 45th anniversary, is making a significant foray into the North American market with a special English-language U.S. edition. This premium, 1,044-page issue aims to introduce Western audiences to the seinen manga genre, characterized by its “UN-filtered MANGA” concept, which explores the “raw, unfiltered realities of ordinary human beings in extraordinary situations”.
A New Frontier for Seinen Manga
Weekly Young Magazine, launched in Japan on June 16, 1980, has been a cornerstone of seinen manga, targeting an adult male demographic and serializing influential titles such as AKIRA, Ghost in the Shell, and Initial D. For its U.S. Special Issue, Kodansha seeks to bridge the gap between Japanese and international readers, particularly emphasizing genres like sci-fi, dark horror, and cyberpunk, along with raw psychological dramas. This strategic move reflects a desire to expand the reach of seinen manga beyond Japan, where shonen manga has traditionally dominated overseas markets.
Comprehensive Content and Creator Contributions
The U.S. Special Issue features an impressive collection of 19 new series, primarily created exclusively for American audiences. These works were selected from over 100 submissions, meticulously chosen to resonate with a global readership. The magazine also includes new titles from celebrated manga creators, enhancing its appeal and offering a diverse range of stories.
Titles Eligible for Fan Voting
A core component of the U.S. Special Issue is a fan voting event for 16 of the included titles. Readers will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite series, with the winning manga earning serialization on Kodansha’s K MANGA App. The titles eligible for this fan-driven selection process include:
- BOYS RUN THE RIOT – IN TRANSITION – by Keito Gaku
- Fasciation by OUGA
- Godmother by Rin Shimokawa
- GOUMA The Blade that Slaughters Gods by Hiroki Ishizawa
- Into the Dark by Anri Morikuma
- Is My Love Strange? by Hikari Azuma
- KIKIKAIKAI by Kyūri Yamada
- Pregnant by Denchi Matsumoto (Story) and Keita Nishijima (Art)
- PROJECT METALLIA by Yukito Iwai
- Protocol Ryugu by Daisaku Tsuru
- Still You by Kami Nishio
- The Graveyard Shift by Yoshimi Sato
- The Journey of a Dark Elf with Fading Powers by Daisuke Itabashi
- The Knight of Blasphemy by Ray Kindo
- THE LAST TERRAN by Hiroshi Takashige (Story) and Tatsumi Hitomoji (Art)
- To Dusk and Twilight by Robico
Additional Featured Titles
Beyond the voting contest, the U.S. release also showcases works from established creators, further enriching the issue’s diverse content:
- ME AND BOB DYLAN (AND MY FATHER) by Shūzō Oshimi
- The Silent Forest by Masaaki Nakayama
- Subaru and Subaru by Shūichi Shigeno
- UNDER NINJA by Kengo Hanazawa
Distribution and Fan Engagement
The Young Magazine U.S. Special Issue will be distributed for free to attendees at Anime NYC, held from August 21-24, 2025. Additionally, it will be available at 17 select Kinokuniya bookstore locations across the United States from August 21 to November 10, 2025.
The fan voting period for the eligible titles will run from August 21 to November 10, 2025, on the official Young Magazine English website (launching soon) and its official X (formerly Twitter) account. The results of the voting will be announced on December 15, 2025, with the top five most-voted series receiving English serialization. The initiative also includes discussion events and autograph sessions with manga creators, such as Minetaro Mochizuki (Dragon Head) and Kengo Hanazawa (UNDER NINJA), at Anime NYC.
