During their panel at Anime NYC on Friday, Kodansha USA Publishing revealed exciting additions to their upcoming lineup, including a brand-new horror license and multiple titles heading to the Kodansha Print Club. Notably, the publisher also announced a physical omnibus release for the legendary boxing manga Hajime no Ippo: Fighting Spirit!, which is already available digitally in English via Kodansha’s K MANGA platform.
Title: Hajime no Ippo: Fighting Spirit! Omnibus
Creator: Joji Morikawa
Release: Fall 2027
Synopsis: What does it feel like to be strong? It’s a question that constantly occupies Ippo Makunouchi, a kind-hearted high schooler who frequently faces bullies. Everything changes when a chance encounter with professional boxer Mamoru Takamura unlocks the explosive power hidden in Ippo’s fists. Inspired to enter the pro circuit, Ippo steps into the Kamogawa Boxing Gym, kicking off an unforgettable journey toward true strength—both inside and outside the ring.
For the very first time, English-speaking fans can collect the beginning of this generation-defining sports masterpiece in print. Having sold over 100 million copies globally and inspired multiple hit anime adaptations, this epic series arrives in premium paperbacks, with each volume combining the content of three original Japanese tankobon.
Expanding their catalog into the macabre, Kodansha introduced their latest horror acquisition:
Title: Trapped on Tape! (Torimatorimasu)
Creator: TNSK
Release: Fall 2027
Synopsis: Jun Makino is a high-spirited city girl with a relentless appetite for adventure. When her father relocates their family to a quiet rural town for his medical practice, Jun immediately sets out to hunt for local secrets and hidden treasures. Instead, she uncovers a stash of weathered VHS tapes—and a living, talking camcorder!
Armed with this vintage tech, Jun embarks on a mission to put the local countryside ghosts to rest. Can a young girl, aided only by her quirky new electronic companion and her faithful dog, survive a summer of supernatural scares? And just why did her father really move them out to the sticks? Blending new friendships, buried secrets, and eerie chills, Trapped on Tape! delivers a uniquely atmospheric summer horror story.
Creator TNSK brings Jun’s peaceful country life to vivid life, masterfully balancing sweetness, dark comedy, genuine terror, and curiosity through distinct character designs. Fans of unsettling yet adorable series like Made in Abyss, combined with the nostalgic dread of classic cursed-tape horror and a touch of Spirited Away, will find plenty to love here.
Additionally, Kodansha highlighted several new titles joining the Print Club lineup:
Title: How to Grill Our Love (Yaiteru Futari)
Creator: Shiori Hanatsuka
Debut Date: September 2026
Synopsis: Romance can get complicated when your primary love language is barbecue. Kenta, a down-to-earth pitmaster, finds himself smitten with Chihiro, an immaculate and seemingly unflappable office professional. Terrified of exposing their true, geeky selves, the two bond over delicious grilled meals. However, just as their feelings blossom, Kenta faces a sudden job relocation. Unwilling to let their connection go, Chihiro suggests they jump straight into marriage. Trying to make a long-distance marriage work is a challenge on its own, especially when you barely know each other! It’s a charming, mouth-watering romance where dating awkwardness meets a blazing passion for outdoor cooking.
Title: Abe-kun’s Got Me Now! (Abe-kun ni Nerawaretemasu)
Creator: Aki Iwai
Debut Date: December 2026
Synopsis: The cheerful Akari couldn’t care less about Abe-kun, despite him being her school’s star karate athlete bound for the national championships. Large and blunt, he is the complete opposite of her gentle childhood friend, Takuto. But when Abe-kun injures his arm shielding Akari from danger, she rushes to his side—and uncovers a surprising side to him. Suddenly, this sharp-tongued girl who claims to despise jocks finds herself matching wits with a fiercely devoted martial artist who has his sights set squarely on her!
Title: I Want to Hold Aono-kun So Badly I Could Die (Aono-kun ni Sawaritai kara Shinitai)
Creator: Umi Shiina
Debut Date: December 2026
Synopsis: Yuri-chan might be a bit of an airhead, but her grief over the tragic loss of her boyfriend, Aono, takes a supernatural turn when he returns as a ghost. How can a romance survive without physical touch? Blurring the lines between deep devotion and haunting possession, the couple navigates an unconventional path to stay together by any means necessary—gradually drawing everyone around them into their boundary-pushing relationship. This acclaimed hit series blends horror, absurdity, and a dangerously intense love story.
Title: Matcha Made in Heaven (Kono Koi, Chaban ni Tsuki!?)
Creator: Umebachi Yamanaka
Debut Date: January 2027
Synopsis: Seeking refuge from a persistent stalker ex-fiancé, Chako Hananoki returns to her family’s tea farm to start fresh. However, a lot has changed in her absence: she has a sweet young niece she has never met, her widowed brother has turned reclusive, and a rough-around-the-edges young farmer named Isshin has stepped in to run the struggling business. Eager to help, Chako immediately clashes with the seemingly dismissive Isshin, who expects her to run off again at the first sign of trouble. But when her dangerous past catches up with her, a fabricated lie forces the two to pretend to be a married couple, slowly turning their prickly dynamic into something much sweeter.
Title: Changes of Heart (Honnō Switch)
Creator: KUJIRA
Debut Date: January 2027
Synopsis: After a painful breakup, Koyori seeks comfort in a drinking session at the home of Hijiri, her friend since childhood—only to end up waking up the next morning having spent the night with him. To complicate matters further, Hijiri confesses his love. Koyori struggles to shift her lifelong perception of her old friend into a romantic perspective, especially knowing that a failed relationship could cost her their lifelong bond. To make things even messier, her ex-boyfriend suddenly tries to win her back, leaving Koyori scrambling to figure out what she truly wants before she loses everything.