Inklore Licenses Tomoko Yamashita's "Ikoku Nikki" Manga Series
Platform Inklore has announced that it has acquired the English license for the award-winning series "Ikoku Nikki" (異国日記) by renowned Japanese mangaka Tomoko Yamashita. The company aims to release the first volume in summer 2027. According to Anime News Network, Inklore's translation and editorial team has already begun preparations.
"Ikoku Nikki" begins when Takara, an adult author, is forced to take in Asa, the daughter of her older sister who died in a traffic accident. The series depicts the delicate, distant but gradually warming relationship between the two, and is noted for its character-driven storytelling and emotional depth. Following Tomoko Yamashita's works such as "Ame no Melancholy" and "Kimi no Yoru ni Fureru", this manga has been serialized in Shodensha's FEEL Young magazine since 2017 and has reached 11 tankōbon volumes.
The manga has received full marks from both readers and critics in Japan; it was nominated for the Manga Taishō award in 2020 and won the Jury Special Prize at the Kodansha Manga Award. Yamashita's simple yet striking art offers a calm but impactful questioning of the modern family concept. The English license for the series has long been anticipated by fans; Inklore's previous hosting of popular josei and shojo series such as "Yona of the Dawn" and "A Sign of Affection" shows this decision is strategic.
In a statement from Inklore, "Our admiration for Tomoko Yamashita's elegant storytelling and her characters drove us to acquire this license." The company stated that the translation process for the first volume is being conducted meticulously, and that digital and physical releases will be simultaneous. Although 2027 is still a few years away, new readers who have come to know Ikoku Nikki through its anime adaptation are sure to be pleased with this decision. The remaining volumes are expected to be published at regular intervals – for now, it's time to keep an eye on the schedule.
