Following the announcement of Kodansha’s special edition U.S. Young Magazine release, Final Weapon had the opportunity to interview Young Magazine USA editor-in-chief Hidemi Shiraki to learn more about the commemorative issue. In our interview, Shiraki discusses the creation of the new Young Magazine issue for the North American market, some of the issue’s included titles, main takeaways from the issue, and much more.
Manga and anime fans will have the opportunity to obtain a copy of the new Young Magazine issue at the Kinobuniya booth during Anime NYC 2025, which takes place from August 21 to 24 at the Javits Convention Center in New York. Further, Young Magazine will also be available at participating Kinokuniya locations from August 21 to November 10.
Get the full interview below:
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your background for our readers?
Hidemi Shiraki: I’ve been with Kodansha for 11 years now, and throughout that time, I’ve consistently worked in the Young Magazine editorial department. When I was a child, I actually dreamed of becoming a manga artist myself—that’s how strongly I was drawn to the medium. These days, though, I channel that same passion not into creating manga, but into bringing it to the world.
Some of the titles I’ve worked on include BOYS RUN THE RIOT, The Witch and the Beast, Nezumi’s First Love, Manchuria Opium Squad, and Jashin no Bento Yasan. Each of these works conveys raw, authentic character voices, a real sense of how the characters live and struggle, and strong perspectives on society, all of which I believe represent the unique depth of seinen manga.
In 2019, I had the opportunity to take part in Kodansha’s overseas training program, where I visited publishers and events in the US, France, Germany, Russia, and Poland. That experience left a strong impression on me. I felt both pride in how far Japanese manga had reached globally, and frustration that there were still barriers left to break through. That feeling directly inspired my work on the Young Magazine USA project.
Before I knew it, I’d become completely immersed in the world of Seinen manga. I want to bring that powerful, emotionally moving experience that manga can offer to more people around the world—across borders, cultures, and languages.
Young Magazine celebrates its 45th anniversary this year with the release of a special edition magazine issue in the U.S. Could you share some insight into what led Kodansha to decide to release the magazine outside Japan? And can readers expect more issues to be released in English going forward?
Shiraki: This issue will be treated as a one-time commemorative issue, but in the future we would like to make it a regular publication with a view to selling it in bookstores. In addition to publication as a magazine, we are also considering a wide range of other developments via the Web and apps.
As the Young Magazine editor-in-chief, what were your experiences like working on this project?
Shiraki: The editor-in-chief of Young Magazine is someone else; I serve as the editor-in-chief of the special edition Young Magazine USA. I was entrusted with leading this special issue as part of Young Magazine’s 45th anniversary project under the supervision of the main magazine’s editor-in-chief. Please be careful not to confuse my role with that of the main Young Magazine editor-in-chief.
In fact, this is my first time taking on the role of editor-in-chief for a magazine launch. I had never experienced creating a magazine from scratch before, and since this was the company’s first challenge of this kind, it was extremely demanding. On top of that, this was a special edition aimed at the North American market.
The process involved countless difficulties—from the precise translation of manga works totaling over 1,000 pages, to printing and shipping over 20,000 copies to North America, to figuring out how best to promote the manga’s appeal to North American readers, as well as preparing English press releases and distribution events. Translation, in particular, was a massive task that took an enormous amount of time, including the proofreading stages.
Additionally, creating a “cool” design that would resonate with American readers was not easy. We sought extensive feedback from native speakers on elements like cover taglines. Although I was initially uncertain about keeping the magazine’s original name, Young Magazine, the encouragement we received from native speakers ultimately gave us the confidence to move forward with it unchanged.
The year-long preparation was extremely tough, but the insights we gained will undoubtedly be invaluable moving forward.
What are some themes from the selected titles that you think will resonate with the American audience?
Shiraki: Stories about the struggle to accept oneself as different from others, yet feeling that society won’t allow it, certainly resonate with American readers as well. Titles like BOYS RUN THE RIOT – IN TRANSITION – and Is My Love Strange? are prime examples, exploring personal identity and bodily experience in depth.
Additionally, as the U.S. is a powerhouse of entertainment, we believe that grand worlds of sci-fi and dark fantasy are well received there. That’s why our lineup also includes works that contemplate existence in space, as well as stories depicting the “later life” of a great mage who has lost their magical powers.
What are some of the main takeaways that you would like anime and manga fans to acknowledge after reading the new issue?
Shiraki: “Manga is more than just entertainment.” That’s the power behind this issue of Yanmaga USA. We want readers to discover not just Shōnen manga but also the appeal of Seinen manga. You’re sure to find stories that stir your emotions and leave you with questions to ponder.
The new special edition issue will be distributed for free at Anime NYC 2025, and authors Minetaro Mochizuki (Dragon Head) and Kengo Hanazawa (UNDER NINJA) will also be present at the event. Are there other plans that Kodansha has in mind for Anime NYC and upcoming events?
Shiraki: While we can’t share the details just yet, starting with Anime NYC, we are considering collaborations with events and bookstores across the U.S. We aim to create more opportunities to connect directly with readers. Please stay tuned for announcements on our official X account: https://x.com/yanmaga_usa
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Shiraki: In the American manga market, shōnen manga still holds overwhelming presence.
But that’s not the whole story of “MANGA.” That belief is where Young Magazine USA began.
Young Magazine has always told stories about those who don’t quite fit in, who find themselves stuck somewhere along the way. Stories of friction with society and the discomforts within oneself. We’ve faced those raw, unfiltered emotions head-on.
Our tagline this time is “UN-filtered MANGA.” We wanted to deliver the atmosphere born in Japan as it is—unpolished and bare. With that intention, we gathered these works.
This isn’t just a magazine. It’s a special issue born from the belief that something new is about to begin here.
The genres and creators are all over the place, to be honest, quite diverse.
But that is exactly the essence of this magazine.
No matter the culture or language, there must be universal moments that move people’s hearts. We believe that somewhere within these pages, there is a story that will touch you deeply.
Please, take this first step with us.
