Kodansha and Yen Press show a united front at MCM London for the second time

Yen Press and Kodansha showed a united front at MCM London taking place at Excel during the weekend of 27-29 November 2023. It’s the second time that the two manga giants have joined hands, both times happening at MCM London. As Yen Press representative Mark De Vera put it jokingly, the two companies are rivals in NYC (USA) where they are based, but London can be considered a neutral ground. Tomo Tran was the representative for Kodansha USA.

Tran and De Vera delighted the attendees with manga and manhwa recommendations in different genres that have been recently released or will be released soon:

ACTION AND ADVENTURE

• Overgeared by Saenal, Team Argo and Monohumbug (Ize Press)
• The Darwin Incident by Shun Umezawa (Kodansha)

SLICE OF LIFE

• Nichijou by Keiichi Arawi (Kodansha)
• Touring After the Apocalypse by Sakae Saito (Yen Press)

ANIME – the recommendations are based on shows airing Autumn 2023

• Shy by Bukimi Miki (Yen Press) – Released on Crunchyroll in October 2023
• I’m Giving the Disgraced Noble Lady I Rescued a Crash Course in Naughtiness by Ichiho Katsura and Fukada Sametarou (Kodansha) – Released on Crunchyroll in October 2023
• A Returnee’s Magic Should Be Special by Wookjakga and Usonan (Yen Press) – Released on Crunchyroll in October 2023
• Shangri-La Frontier by Ryosuke Fuji (Kodansha) – Released on Crunchyroll in October 2023
• MF Ghost by Shuichi Shigeno (Kodansha) – Released on Crunchyroll in October 2023
• After-school Hanako-kun by Aidalro (Yen Press) – Released on Crunchyroll in October 2023

HALLOWEEN

• Witch Hat Atelier Kitchen by Hiromi Sato (Kodansha) – It’s an actual cookbook
• The Illustrated Guide to Monster Girls by Suzu Akeko

ROMANCE (and its spicy level!)

• Stray Cat & Wolf by Mitsubachi Miyuki (Yen Press) – 3/5 spicy
• Virgin Love by Tina Yamashina (Kodansha) – 3/5 spicy

BOYS LOVE

• My Summer of You by Nagisa Furuya (Kodansha)
• CLAMP Premium Collection Tokyo Babylon by CLAMP (Yen Press)

RIVAL RECS – De Vera and Tran recommend books from the other’s company

• Boys Run the Riot by Keito Taku (Kodansha) – Recommended by De Vera
• Yokohama Station SF by Yuba Isukari and Tatsuyuki Tanaka (Yen Press) – Recommended by Tran
• Yotsuba&! by Kiyohiko Azuma (Yen Press) – The winner of this recommendation per my humble opinion as it was recommended by Tran’s daughter

UPCOMING FROM KODANSHA

• Origin by Boichi
• My Lovesick Life as a 90’s Otaku by Nico Nicholson
• Vinland Saga Deluxe

UPCOMING FROM YEN PRESS

• One More Step, Come Stand by My Side by Toryumon Takeda
• The Villainess Turns the Hourglass by Antstudio and Sansobee
• Dark Moon: The Blood Altar by Hybe and Enhypen
• Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint by Sleepy-C, Umi and singNsong

If you didn’t attend MCM London in May 2023, you maybe thought you had missed out on the exclusive Yen Press and Kodansha tote bags—the only item with both companies’ logos. Well, they are back for MCM London November 2023, and I hope the rivals’ partnership will continue in London, because the gadgets provided and the banter between De Vera and Tran is gold.

Unfortunately there wasn’t any exclusive announcement either from Yen Press or from Kodansha this time, but who knows what the next MCM will bring. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that De Vera and Tran will attend in 2024 and have some good news for us, both for manga and manhwa.