January is always a busy time, with resolutions, restarts, and reading slumps galore! So, it’s easy to lose track of releases – especially in the ever expanding world of manga! But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with the must-read Yen Press titles from January 2025 you may have missed!
HELL IS DARK WITH NO FLOWERS
Regular readers of these recaps will recognize this title from a few months back when I recommended the first volume of the light novel by Yoru Michio, and I’m happy to say that the manga adaptation is just as unsettling, haunting, and beautiful as the original book! Ruka Todo’s art perfectly compliments the eerie vibes of the book, balancing the notable beauty of the mysterious Shiroshi with the downright disturbing illustrations of the yōkai within.
Hell is Dark with No Flowers tells the story of a deadbeat named Seiji Tohno who has a peculiar gift that allows him to see people as monsters. Unable to hold down a job, he sleeps in internet cafés and eats convenience store foods just to survive. When he comes across a western-style mansion and a bewitchingly beautiful boy named Shiroshi Saijou who introduces himself as a consultant for a business that acts as a proxy service for the king of the underworld that banishes sinners to hell! I am obsessed with this dark series; it fills the painful hole that came after the final volume of Phantom Tales of The Night and mixes traditional Japanese folklore with modern storytelling excellently. This is a must read for fans of titles like Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, Kurosagi Corpse Delivery Service, and Phantom Tales of the Night. The second light novel is also out!
TAKAHASHI FROM THE BIKE SHOP
OH, MY HEART! This was a surprise favorite of the many releases that dropped in January. This cozy little slice-of-life follows an office drone named Tomoko Hanno – nicknamed Panko – who moves from day to day with little care. So long as she can clock out on time and get home to her food and anime, she knows things will be alright (despite the unwanted advances of her superiors and her chronic inability to say no to her coworkers). One day she meets the guy who runs the bike shop next door, Takahashi, and his delinquent-appearance makes her uneasy.
When he offers to fix her bike and they bond over superhero movies and delicious food, Panko starts to realize that she has more in common with the scary-looking Takahashi than she first realizes. Getting to know him and his friends opens her up to a world of unfamiliar comforts, and sets the stage for a sweet romance filled with self-discovery, being true to who you are, and never judging a book by its cover. Yes, it’s a simplistic story, but Arare Matsumushi’s tale feels so genuine that it’s hard not to get swept up in the narrative. It has that comfort of a Ghibli film but with a mature-lean to its story, that kind of grown-up magic you’re desperate to hold onto when the lull of life gets to be too much, and I will definitely return to this series again and again when I’m feeling down.
I’M HERE, BESIDE YOU
I’m Here, Beside You by TEA Natsuno is a surprisingly touching BL-adjacent series about unrequited love that takes a super fun turn partway through its debut volume. Ibuki Doi is a young man with an unrequited high school crush, Mikami Baba, that still lingers even in his adult life. When he discovers Baba has gotten engaged to a man, Ibuki realizies that he missed his chance and starts to spiral in his emotions. Devastated, he wakes up the next day and realizes he’s traveled back in time to high school!
Realizing he could use this as a second chance to get closer to Baba, Ibuki struggles to hide his intimate knowledge of his crush’s life from years of social media stalking and obsession. He knows it’s going to be impossible to win Baba over – especially after he gets shot down for a date – so he decides to pivot and man, does the mid-way twist really amp up the tension! I won’t spoil it, but this time-traveling coming of age story switches up genres and really makes it a must-read. I’m dying for volume two and love the dynamic between the leads, as well as the introspective look at sexuality, how rumors and public perception can change one’s identity, and the importance of trust. It’s a really engaging manga that I can’t recommend enough!
OTHER RELEASES TO CHECK OUT
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Ako and Bambi, vol.4
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Associate Professor Akira Takatsuki’s Conjecture, vol.5 (Light Novel)
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Beware the Villainess!, vol.2
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Blade & Bastard, vol.3 (Light Novel)
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Bungo Stray Dogs: Dazai, Chuuya, Age Fifteen, vol.3
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Call the Name of the Night, vol.5
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Cheerful Amnesia, vol.5
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Even A Replica Can Fall I Love, vol.2 (Light Novel)
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Everyone’s Darling Has A Secret, vol.1
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From Old Country Bumpkin to Master Swordsman, Vol. 2: My Hotshot Disciples Are All Grown Up Now, and They Won’t Leave Me Alone
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Hell is Dark With No Flowers, vol.2 (Light Novel)
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Lord Hades’ Ruthless Marriage, vol.3
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Love Unseen Beneath the Clear Night Sky (Light Novel)
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Sasaki and Miyano, vol.10
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She Loves to Cook, and She Loves To Eat, vol.5
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Shy, vol.9
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Solo Leveling: The Ominbus
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Spring Storm and Monster, vol.2
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Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun, vol.21
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Tsubaki-chou Loney Planet, vol.9
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The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse, vol.1
These are only a handful of releases in the YP catalouge from January, from light novels to single chapter uploads to manwha and beyod! So make sure you check them out!
