Back
Dear Citizen, We appreciate your loyalty, especially during these troubled times when people seem unmotivated and apathetic. You may be wondering why nothing is being done to stop this decline. Rest assured, we are taking measures to address the issue. Starting immediately, we will randomly select a citizen each day and they will be notified of their demise within 24 hours. This will serve as a reminder of how precious life is and the importance of being a productive member of society. Thank you for your attention and cooperation. Congratulations, you have been randomly selected by the government to participate in this reminder. Note: This piece was nominated for the Angoulême International Comics Festival in 2009.
Sex is an intimate and exposed act that often necessitates an immense amount of faith. Misuzu grappled with this vulnerability, dejectedly abandoning both intimate relationships and dating entirely after being informed that she lacked proficiency in bed. Despite this, Misuzu eventually summoned the bravery to re-enter the world of romance when her coworker Mikage-san propositioned her years later. Sadly, she soon discovers that Mikage-san too struggles with sexual hang-ups. Will they be able to disregard their anxieties and cooperate to construct a resilient, gratifying bond?
This is a requiem for those who are lost, wandering, and anguished in their lives after reaching 50. Amidst Japan's start of a new era, the protagonist of this story is Shiosawa. Once an editor for a prominent manga publisher, he has since retired early and finds himself questioning the significance of manga in his life. Is it merely a profession to him, a means of self-expression, or a source of companionship?
On a rainy day almost a month ago, Kumo Shirasagi disappeared without a trace. In hopes of finding her, a group of six classmates convenes to search the Bird Forest, an abandoned amusement park on a remote hill in the countryside. Among these students is Gin Kurobe, a boy whose reasons for coming are as mysterious as his habit of muttering under his breath. The group's search takes them to the foreboding structure looming over the park known as the Birdcage Castle. In an instant, they are knocked unconscious—and when they awaken, they find metal collars around their necks, each connected to another person. The game they unwittingly entered is simple: they cannot turn back from any chosen path, and they must always move in pairs. The punishment for breaking either of these rules is certain death. With their lives on the line, Gin and his classmates must ascend through the bloody castle, battling the mind games thrown at them while searching for Kumo.
In their shared classroom, Rin Sakura was the target of bullying while Yuuya Komine, a studious and conflict-avoidant student, kept to himself. They had never spoken until one moment when Yuuya succumbed to peer pressure and told Rin to kill herself. In response, Rin leapt from the window but survived the fall, blaming Yuuya for her actions. Overcome with guilt, Yuuya desperately apologizes to Rin and pledges to do whatever she wants. Surprisingly, Rin requests something unexpected: his love.
Oboreru Knife tells the story of Natsume, a sixth-grade girl who has to move from Tokyo to a decidedly different town in the countryside. Upon meeting a boy named Kouichirou there, "something" stirs inside her. The story depicts a "teen heart on the brink of ruin."
Cat Eyed Boy is a half-human, half-monster child whose mostly human appearance bans him from the demon world. He lives hidden in the shadows of the human world, hated by humans and demons alike. Wherever he goes, awful events occur as the humans and demons interact. In stories of revenge and retribution full of disturbing images, Cat Eyed Boy acts as a trickster, saving the innocent and helping the wicked receive the punishment that fate metes out.
After breaking the chains of fate and achieving the ultimate world, Rika Furude and her comrades can finally enjoy ordinary lives in Hinamizawa's mountain village. Rika believes her hardships and heartaches are over until she is involved in an accident that proves her wrong. Upon waking up, Rika realizes she's in a different world than the one she knows. This new reality contrasts her original world, with her once loyal friend Satoko Houjou becoming cold towards her, her longtime friend Keiichi Maebara never moving to Hinamizawa, and her parents still alive. Though this world may not be perfect, it still appeals to Rika, leaving her with a tough decision: stay in this new world or return to the world that she struggled to improve.
Haru and Gaku, two friends, conspire to amass an amount of money that would grant them the power to obtain any material possession they desire, a sum of one trillion dollars.
At 25 years old, Shizuka Yamauchi works as a housekeeper while Makiko Mitarai, who is 46 years old, is an amateur model and impeccable homemaker. Despite their unfamiliarity, the two have a history that Shizuka seeks to rectify in order to vindicate her mother. However, Makiko harbors her own secrets, and Shizuka must be cautious in her pursuit of the truth to avoid being harmed.
Silent and dark arrivals are the norm for them. Descending from the skies, these creatures hunger for the taste of human flesh. They infest every corner of the planet, surviving by invading and dominating a human host. Once inside, they can transform into any dangerous form desired, from monsters with teeth like giants to winged demons and even those with blade-like hands. Yet, they mostly choose to disguise their deadly nature with an ordinary human appearance. Their secret is only known to one average high school student, Shin. Battling to regain control of his own body from an alien parasite, he must find a way to warn humanity of the terrors on the horizon.
Temperamental Detective Kurose Nozomi is renowned for his ability to uncover infidelity. Presently, he's focused on investigating the Skyward Hotel and closely monitoring the interactions between Nakata, a congressman, and the hotel's well-known concierge, Shiraishi Ritsu. Kurose, who is famous for never refusing a request, begins to question if Shiraishi has overstepped the mark. However, can the friendly concierge, who openly takes pride in his accommodating demeanor, really be capable of misconduct?
