The Manga World in Japan is Buzzing: Three New Series Meet Readers
It is a very busy day for the manga world! As of April 24, three ambitious new series, each in different genres, have met readers in Japan's most prestigious magazines and digital platforms. Among these series is the new work by the legendary name of the military strategy genre, Kaiji Kawaguchi.
The most notable news of the day came from the master of military and political dramas, Kaiji Kawaguchi. Kūbo Ibuki CHOKEPOINT, which began in Shogakukan’s Big Comic magazine, appears as the third installment of the famous Kūbo Ibuki (Aircraft Carrier Ibuki) series. Aiming to continue the success of the first series published between 2014-2019 and the subsequent Kūbo Ibuki Great Game, this new production sees the return of familiar characters like Kaoru Kaburagi. Prepared in collaboration with Katsuhiro Yagi, Masato Ushio, and Osamu Eya, the series focuses on modern geopolitical tensions and naval strategies. As a reminder, the original series sold over 8 million copies and won the 63rd Shogakukan Manga Award in 2018.
For history and drama enthusiasts, the series Nokorimono ni wa Meshi ga Aru (There is Food for the Leftovers) by Megumi Tsuji has started on the Champion Cross platform. Focusing on the difficult years of post-World War II Japan, the story tells the struggle for survival of a group of young people trying to live in the shadow of the black market through food culture. This emotional struggle, which people gave not only to fill their stomachs but also to hold onto life after the destruction of the war, reflects the atmosphere of the period with an impressive language.
Finally, for those who love sports and youth stories, Eiga Yoshino's manga Kaze to Kumo (Wind and Cloud) debuted in Big Comic Superior magazine. Focusing on the passionate story of young people who dedicate their entire existence to the sport of Kendo, this series deals with themes of discipline, friendship, and competition. Reflecting the spirit of Kendo, one of the traditional Japanese martial arts, the manga focuses on the personal development of the characters and the challenges of the sport.
These three new series once again show how much the manga industry values both established names and fresh stories. Especially the continuation of a series by a giant like Kaiji Kawaguchi has created great excitement among military fiction fans. We will see together how the popularity of these series will increase in the coming months and whether they will find a place on international platforms.
