Japanese publisher Kodansha has announced they’re launching Young Magazine, their popular weekly anthology magazine, in the United States.
The very first issue of Young Magazine for the USA will feature 19 brand new chapters created exclusively for American audiences. The most popular titles will be chosen by fan votes and will be locked in to be serialized later as tankobon volumes under their YoungKC prints, every couple months. You can view the first volume’s cover featured above.
“For our selection, we held an open call and received submissions from over 100 manga creators,” said said Hidemi Shiraki, Editor in Chief of Young Magazine in a press release. “Ultimately, 19 titles were carefully selected for your enjoyment. We hope to introduce the potential of Seinen manga—which explores themes and ideas beyond the scope of Shonen—to more readers in North America, the largest manga audience outside of Japan.”
He added, “Immerse yourself in a deeper reading experience through complex themes and rich world-building that push beyond the boundaries of Shonen manga.”
Originally launched back in 1980, Weekly Young Magazine has provided seinen (young adult male) fiction and was the birthplace for legendary series like AKIRA, Ghost in the Shell, and more. The weekly publication pushes beyond what you’d typically find in shonen manga or anime (for young boys) and typically has themes of violence, drugs, sexuality, and more, as well as photos of gravure pinup girls.
Anime and manga fans can also expect new debuts from famous authors like Shuzo Oshimi, Masaaki Nakayama, Shuichi Shigeno, and Kengo Hanazawa alongside the other titles, the latter of which are eligible for voting:
- New Titles (Eligible for voting)
- BOYS RUN THE RIOT: IN TRANSITION – Keito Gaku
- Fasciation – OUGA
- Godmother – Rin Shimokawa
- GOUMA The Blade that Slaughters Gods – Hiroki Ishizawa
- Into the Dark – Anri Morikuma
- Is My Love Strange? – Hikari Azuma
- KIKIKAIKAI – Kyuri Yamada
- Pregnant – Denchi Matsumoto (Story), Keita Nishijima (Art)
- PROJECT METALLIA – Yukito Iwai
- Protocol Ryugu – Daisaku Tsuru
- Still You – Kami Nishio
- The Graveyard Shift – Yoshimi Sato
- The Journey of a Dark Elf with Fading Powers – Daisuke Itabashi
- The Knight of Blasphemy – Ray Kindo
- THE LAST TERRAN – Hiroshi Takashige (Story), Tatsumi Hitomoji (Art)
- To Dusk and Twilight – Robico
- Bonus Titles (Not for voting)
- ME AND BOB DYLAN (AND MY FATHER) – Shuzo Oshimi
- The Silent Forest – Masaaki Nakayama
- Subaru and Subaru – Shuichi Shigeno
- UNDER NINJA – Kengo Hanazawa
A specific release schedule for when Young Magazine launches in the USA wasn’t shared, though voting on the debut titles will run from August 21st through November 10th. The winners will be announced on December 15th, 2025.
Lastly, anime and manga fans attending Anime NYC from August 21st through the 24th can get their hands on a print copy of the debut Young Magazine USA, for free (while supplies last) as well as Kinokuniya stores across the USA. The official website and Twitter/X account for Young Magazine USA were also launched.
