Azuki Adds 17 Manga Including Two Titles from Kaoru Tada: Deborah Is My Rival; Love Me, My Knight; Hachi/Ritsu; The Mermaid Prince; Flower Demon Door of the Sakaimeya; & More
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Digital manga subscription service Azuki is adding nine manga series and eight one-shots from Media Do International, Inc. and MediBang! to its library, part of a deal to add over 150 series in 2023. The 17 manga — including DEBORAH IS MY RIVAL; Love Me, My Knight; Hachi/Ritsu; The Mermaid Prince; and Flower Demon Door of the Sakaimeya — are available now (including select free chapters) on the Azuki website and iOS and Android apps. Synopses for the nine series are below (one-shots not featured):
DEBORAH IS MY RIVAL by Kaoru Tada published by Kaoru Tada and distributed by Media Do:
The handsome blonde boy next door goes by “Deborah”.
As a first-year student at her new University, Asayo is scared to be on her own until she encounters the beautiful boy living next door. He says he's a girl on the inside and wants to enter a fake relationship - he comes from a very traditional family famous for their tea ceremonies and wants to get out of an arranged marriage to a stranger. Asayo accepts but finds herself growing closer with the mysterious “Deborah”.
Will they end up finding themselves to be more than just friends in this not-so-straight rom-com?
Love Me, My Knight by Kaoru Tada published by Kaoru Tada and distributed by Media Do:
Yakko's an extremely Normal Girl who helps out at her parents' okonomiyaki restaurant where she encounters a wide range of interesting people. One of her regulars, Sammy, shows interest in her and confesses his love but she has her eye on his bad boy best friend and the lead singer of their rock band, Goh.
Will she stay a good girl or will she choose to go down the path of rock'n roll??
Hachi/Ritsu by Sanba Maekawa published by TORICO with an English version by MediBang!:
Hachi & Ritsu were childhood friends who grew up in the countryside doing everything together despite their vastly different backgrounds. Hachi begins viewing Ritsu in a different light and, plagued by thoughts he deems impure, runs away from his beloved Ritsu.
Can Ritsu confront his friend and learn the real reason why he ran away all those years ago?
Another Love Story Between My Trainee and I by Nanameguri published by TORICO with an English version by MediBang!: The sequel to “A Love Story Between My Boss and I” by Nanameguri!
As Takanashi and Tokunaga are enjoying their romantic relationship in the office and outside of the office, a drastic change causes emotions to rise.
The company transfers Takanashi to another department and though he tries to remain optimistic, his mind begins to race about his relationship.
Can they overcome this test of their love, or will their relationship come to an end?
The Mermaid Prince by Yuana Kazumi published by Coamix Inc. and distributed by Media Do:
The beautiful mermaid I fell in love with became human but when she transformed she became… a man?
Manato Koganei, a part-time worker on the brink of despair meets a beautiful mermaid shining in the moonlit night?! She says she wants to “become human and fall in love”, and is successfully reborn as a very beautiful man. Manato tangles with his own feelings for his former mermaid, now human companion while also trying to help him navigate human culture.
Will they fall in love or will their love sink to the bottom of the ocean?
Flower Demon Door of the Sakaimeya by Mako Oikawa published by Coamix Inc. and distributed by Media Do:
“To all the yokai, I am here to make sure you live peacefully together with the humans.”
Minoru Hanabusa is in charge of teaching the yokai that enter the human world how to live peacefully alongside humans. Join him as he teaches yokai how to use their unique abilities and interests to build a meaningful life in the human world in this feel-good manga about what it truly means to be human. If you're a fan of Natsume Yuujin-cho, this series is a must-read!
Gourmet Glutton by Shigeru Tsuchiyama published by TORICO with an English version by MediBang!:
Mantaro Ohara is an ordinary salaryman with an above average appetite and a love for good food until he meets professional competitive eater, George Hunter, who introduces him to the world of competitive eating. Will this unexpected "dark horse" be able to escape the fiercely competitive world of eating or will he devour his competition and make a name for himself?
Ekikoi: The Young Miss Falls for the Station Attendant by Betty Nanasato published by TORICO with an English version by MediBang!:
After a harrowing encounter on the station platform, Botan, an innocent high schooler, falls in love with Koganei, the handsome station attendant who helped her that fateful day. Kogane's well-liked by everyone at the station and his popularity makes Botan frantic. She has to confess before someone else does!
Will her confession go the way she planned? Why does Kogane seem so different from his usual self?
Botan! Don't get fooled by his appearance!
SUMMERLESS by E.B.D (Education Bureau Director) published by TORICO with an English version by MediBang!:
People can breathe in the sullied air of the world only with stix, a device powered by human limbs. Tonika, a rich nobleman, falls from grace when his father's plan to take over the government fails. Now poor and unable to afford the limbs needed to power his stix, Tonika faces the challenge of learning how to live on the other side of the class pyramid.
One-shots: Country Called America, Sammy and Onokoro, Ninja Rookie, The Night of No Return, The Princess' Circumstances, Memories of the Sand, Playboy, and Interplanetary Intercourse
Azuki is available on the web at www.Azuki.co and in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store. The app features over 200 series, including international hits like Attack on Titan and acclaimed new series like Natsume & Natsume, Crescent Moon Marching, and My Dear Detective: Mitsuko's Case Files.
Start reading for free with advertisements today, or upgrade to Premium and access the full catalog for just $4.99 a month. A 14-day free trial and discounted annual plan are also available. All titles are available worldwide (except Japan). Stay up to date on the latest announcements by following Azuki at twitter.com/ReadAzuki, facebook.com/ReadAzuki, and instagram.com/readazuki.
About Azuki and KiraKira Media Inc.
Azuki is created by KiraKira Media Inc., a company dedicated to improving access to legally licensed manga led by a small team of passionate manga fans and tech experts in San Francisco, CA.
About MediaDo
Tokyo-based Media Do Co., Ltd. is one of the largest eBook distribution companies in the world and retains the largest share of Japan's eBook market. Media Do International, Inc. is based in San Diego, California. Media Do Group's mission is to make more content available for more people. NetGalley and its owner, Quality Solutions/Firebrand Technologies, were acquired by Media Do in 2021. Firebrand and NetGalley provide leading marketing and technology services to more than 500 publishers worldwide. NetGalley, LLC operates websites in the US, UK, France, Germany, and Japan. Supadu Ltd. was acquired by Media Do in 2022. Supadü is the lead provider of website and e-commerce solutions for publishers. For more information on Media Do's services and corporate divisions, please visit: https://mediado.jp/english.
About MediBang!
A dedicated manga localizer and distributor. Translating manga in-house with native speakers and sharing them to the rest of the world.
