Maybe it was because this was the biggest Thursday I’ve ever seen, and Friday was packed to the gills with stuff, but this Saturday did not seem as insane as Saturdays of the past. There were long lines, and the corridors were jammed, but you could actually find seating when you got lunch! And using the bathroom did not take over an hour! It was also an easier panel run for me, given that Friday was packed. That said, I still started first thing in the morning, with Yen Press. They talked about being the biggest publisher of light novels and Korean titles, and one of the biggest manga publishers. They talked about all the Summer 2026 anime that have Yen Press manga. They talked about Overgeared, which I guess is getting an anime? And then we got announcements, starting with the Korean titles.
Solo Levelling: Ragnarök is a sequel to the original series, focusing on the son of the main character, who I’m sure will be just as OP as dear old dad. They also said that the series (light novel, manwha, and audiobook) is coming out in Spanish! This got a pretty good reaction, and I guess is something that folks want to see, given someone asked about Spanish-language at the J-Novel Club panel. And also, hot on the heels of the Delicious in Dungeon game, we see Solo Levelling: The Board Game. It’s exactly what you think it is, and there’s also a deluxe edition with even more bells and whistles. And, if you want a title that’s Korean but NOT Solo Levelling, we get Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid, which is somehow based on The Little Mermaid but not Goodbye Lara. It’s a hugely popular webtoon, has won awards, and has a live-action series coming out.
The first light novel licensed was Cause I’m Freedom! (Datte, Watashi wa Freedom!), a new series from the creator of Last Round Arthurs. A girl grows up in a family of swordsmen, and longs to be just like them… then she finds ancient ruins with gun technology. Her strict, purist family kick her out, but she’s determined to strike out on her own, with cool future weapons! The other title was The Witch’s Conviction, the Beast’s Redemption (Majo no Danzai, Majū no Shokuzai), illustrated by the Our Last Crusade artist. A starving orphan resorts to cannibalism, is caught, arrested, and experimented on. Now he’s a beast. Then he meets a supposedly evil witch. I’ve seen a lot of this type of genre lately, with a hapless guy being carted around by a powerful yet eccentric woman.
The first manga announcement was Seal My Lips with a Kiss ((Kiss de Funaide, Barenaide.) is from the magazine Suki Shite? Momoiro Nikki. An office worker doesn’t like her cold boss, but she has a crush on her friendly co-worker. Then one day she gets lcoked out of her office, it’s raining, hey, why not stay over at co-worker’s place? Only… his roommate is that boss! There’s only one solution: hide in the closet. This is classic josei smut fodder, and looks fun. They then talked about the already announced short story collections from the Delicious in Dungeon creator, out this fall, as well as the Yen Press titles that were honored by the American Manga Awards.
Übel Blatt II: Knights of the Fallen King (Übel Blatt II: Shiseru Ou no Kishidan) is exactly what you think it is: a sequel to Übel Blatt. It runs in Big Gangan. This has been simulpubbing digitally, but there is now print coming. The Gray Exorcist (Haiiro Onmyōji) is a fantasy title from Weekly Shonen Champion. An exorcist hides a monster rather than destroying it… only the laws now say that’s treason. Can I Call You Unnie? (Unnie tte Yonde Mo Ii desu ka?) is a yuri series that runs on Comic Walker. A K-pop fan decides to finally give in and try a dating app… and finds she’s now dating her favorite idol! Showbiz drama ensues. Unnie seems to be one of those words we’re supposed to just know now.
After plugging Then Shall I Kill in Your Stead, a BL title that asks “what if your lover was a yandere who would literally kill for you?”, they talked about Interdimensional Memoir (Ikoku Memoir), a KADOCOMI series about a boy who finds life boring… till he meets a metaphorical white rabbit, a boy who whisks him away to another world! The art apparently has that cute/creepy balance so beloved by fans. Make it an Eternity (Eikyū Shimei Onegaishimasu!) is a lengthy (15+ volumes) shoujo series from Koisuru Soiree. A girl who lost her parents has become a shut-in, and her brother supports them both… in a host club. And now his fellow club members are invading her home! And they’re hot! OH NO! And for BL fans, there’s lots of BL tease, and her brother is canonically bi.
Speaking of BL, their final license was “old man yaoi”, Hot Nights at the Hot Springs, Secret Trip No. 241 (Onsen de Himitsu no Otomari, 241 Kaime), which runs in Comic Fleur. Two older men have been hiding their relationship… but every month they go to a hot spring, and they feel younger. In more ways than one. This was called “wholesome” and “adorable”.
After that, we had the debut panel for a “brand new” publisher, Kaze! Yes, that’s actually the French and German publisher, now making inroads into the United States after getting bought by Crunchyroll, then Crunchyroll’s manga arm in Europe was bought by HarperCollins. It’s also a rebranding of the HarperAlley imprint, which mostly did children’s graphic novels but also dabbled in manga, mostly the series Plus-Sized Adventures in Love, which they were giving away copies of, and is now a Kaze title according to Amazon. They plan to launch with manga in 2027 – 3-5 titles that year, then revving up for 28 and 29 with more stuff. No specific genres, they’re here for everything.
They also plugged an OEL manga, Sol Sistah, by Saxton Moore and Phillip Johnson. “Ultraman meets Power Rangers, Pan-African, kaiju-smashing, teen slice of life”, and yes, that also means they’re open to pitches for other OEL titles. Sol Sistah should be out next year. They’re going to do more conventions, promotions, the whole shebang. And, most importantly, they reassured people that they would pay actual translators and not use AI. So while there were no new Japanese manga titles announced, the people at the panel seemed very excited about what was to come.
After lunch, it was time for the J-Novel Club panel. Sam always knows what we’re there for, and did not even have the “for those who don’t know, what is J-Novel Club?” slide, we went straight to the announcements. Starting with Middle-Aged and Mid No More: Rising in Ranks over Drinks with an Elite Priest (Mannen Silver Rank no Ossan, Shijо̄saikо̄ no Bо̄kensha to Naru ~Party of Tsuihо̄sareta Yakezake Shitetara Otonari no Shinkansan to Ikitо̄dо̄-shite Ichiya wo Sugoshita Ken, Tte Omae Saikо̄ Rank no Bо̄kensha ka yo~), a series with art by the artist behind I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed Out My Level. A 30-ish guy with a reputation for always being good but not good enough it ready to call it quits, when he meets a legendary (and beautiful) priest who could really use his help.
There was a lot more BL than folks were expecting, starting with Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Who Ate the Poisoned Apple, Core and All? (Kagami yo Kagami, Doku Ringo o Tabeta no wa Dare?). A struggling idol finds himself the “muse” of a famous photographer… and yes, the muse part includes sex. But it’s good for his career… unless another muse turns up. Elegance in Exile: From Alchemy to Luxury with My Ardent Knight (Tsuihо̄sareta Akuyaku Reijо̄ wa [Renkin Skill] de Kareinaru Cheat Seikatsu wo Mankitsu-suru) is the first J-Novel Heart title of the night. The artist, kyozip, also does Sister Mafioso and Canon Fodder’s Ascension. It’s a broken engagement story, with a side order of exile. Little does everyone know that the trauma of this awakens past memories of her life in Japa… wait, no, of her life as a powerful magic user! Now she’s ready to start a new life, and possibly find a way to trust other again.
Fleet-Footed Dungeon Delver: Tune in for Magical Girls and Motion Blur! (Shinsaku no Dungeon Tansaku-sha) is from the creator of Sexiled and Dragon Daddy Diaries. The artist also does Fruit of Evolution and Buying My Classmate Once a Week. In this world, dungeons are everywhere… and so streaming your dungeon adventures is big business! Our heroine can’t figure out why her stream keeps crashing… will she meets another adventurer, who explains it. Together, they will move on up to the top! This is less yuri than “buddies”, but it looks fun. Keep Me Close: Finding My Home in You (Watashi ga Kaeritai Basho wa ~Ibasho o Nakushita Reijо̄ ga “Tokenai Hyо̄zо̄” to Uwasa Sareru Ryо̄shu-sama no Moto de Shiawase ni Naru made~) is a Heart title that, again, has a familiar premise. Our heroine has her father die, meaning she’s at the mercy of stepmom and sister. Now a servant, she’s bullied… then framed and thrown out of the house. And forced to be with a man who has a reputation as a cruel, horrible person. If you’ve read any of these, you know what happens next.
Fraudulent Fiancés (Tamanokoshi Goyо̄i Shimashita) is a Knight title. A man who has to resort to scamming people to live is caught by a handsome CEO and given two choices: go to prison, or be the CEO’s fake boyfriend. He chooses the latter, but may regret it. Being Famous Is NEET! Going Sister-Rank on Livestream (Imо̄to no Meikyū Haishin wo Tetsudatteita Ore ga, Ukkari S Rank Monster Aite ni Musо̄ shita Kekka ga Kochira desu) stars a guy who is trying his hardest to support his sister’s dungeon livestreaming (I guess this is a genre now?). But when he has to punch out a monster going after his beloved sister, suddenly his strength is drawing attention! This is for those who love guy surrounded by girls in love with him.
An Otaku Prince Finds Love in Akiba (Otakuouji to Akiba de Koi wo) is another Knight series, this one about a foreign prince who travels to Japan to find the creator of the game he’s obsessed with… and finds it’s this introverted guy with no confidence. Can the power of being a really hot foreign prince and also gay help bring the guy around? Déjà Vute: Betrayal Begets New Beginnings (Imо̄to ni Subete o Ubawareta Reijо̄ wa Konyakusha no Uragiri wo Shiri Kaiki-suru) is a Heart title that may, again, have a familiar premise. Betrayed by her fiancé and her sister, our heroines ends up… in the past, two years earlier! She’s determined to change her fate… but her fiancé, all of a sudden, is devoted to her? The artist for this also does The Most Heretical Last Boss Queen.
The most light novel-pilled title of the day was Grinding My Way to a Happy Ending: If Only My OP Big Bro Didn’t Make Things So (Sister) Complex! (Bad End Mokuzen no Heroine ni Tensei Shita Watashi, Konse de wa Renai-suru Tsumori ga Cheat na Ani ga Hanashite Kuremasen!?). This is a long-runner (10+ volumes), and also has an anime coming. An OL finds she’s now in her favorite game… as the heroine! (Yes, not a villainess story.) Unfortunately, she doesn’t have the memories of her fictional self, and the game she’s in is really hard and will try to kill her off. Fortunately (?), she has an obsessed brother to help her. Lastly, the sole manga they licensed was Crybaby Love Song (Amaenbo to Love Song), a Chara series about a musician who had a panic attack on stage and cost his band the competition. He now avoids music altogether… and his mom is remarrying, so he has a new stepbrother! Who’s cute! Yes, this is BL.
They then had several print announcements, some of which they already announced at AX. there’s the contest winner Beautiful Daydream, the Private Tutor to the Duke’s Daughter manga, Now I’m a Demon Lord! 2-in-1s, Pens Down Swords Up, and the big news, Chivalry of a Failed Knight in deluxe, fancy 3-in-1 omnibuses. Sadly, it’s still not as good a series as The Asterisk War. Another contest winner, ATLAS, is getting an audiobook… as well as a manga adaptation in Japan! And speaking of Apothecary Diaries, the audiobook debuts next month. Lastly, they plugged the 3rd Original Light Novel contest, and submissions open September 1st. The Grand Prize gets a substantial cash reward, for those writers who are really good but also possibly broke.
And that was my final panel of the day, as I went off for a deserved cider at a bar. Tomorrow’s the final day! And, as always, the quietest.