Kodansha’s K Manga digital platform has officially launched the English serialization of Nikki Asada’s romantic historical manga, The Serenade of Spring Thunder (original title: Yawahada ni Shunrai). The service made the first 10 chapters available to readers on Saturday, November 15, offering a new period romance to English-speaking audiences.
Unveiling The Serenade of Spring Thunder
The Serenade of Spring Thunder plunges readers into a tale of deception and unexpected romance set during Japan’s tumultuous Sengoku era. The story centers on Kagaribi, described as the most gorgeous shinobi, tasked with a perilous mission: to infiltrate hostile territory and “steal the heart (and body)” of Rindo, the priestess of their enemy’s dragon god shrine.
The manga’s premise, as described by K Manga, involves “Hoodwinking with love, feigning romance… It was all supposed to be deception…” but things quickly take an unforeseen turn, leading to a “mismatched Priestess vs. Shinobi romance.” Asada originally launched the manga in Kodansha’s Be Love magazine on April 1.
Nikki Asada’s Acclaimed Portfolio
Nikki Asada is a well-regarded mangaka with a diverse body of work. She is widely recognized for her manga Tsukuyomi-kun no Kindan Oyashoku (Mr. Tsukuyomi’s Forbidden Midnight Snack), which concluded with its sixth and final volume in October 2024 and inspired a live-action series in 2023. Beyond manga, Asada is also celebrated as the novel illustrator and original character designer for the popular Sound! Euphonium franchise.
Kodansha USA Publishing has previously brought several of Asada’s other works to English readers, including The Prince’s Romance Gambit, The Dorm of Love and Secrets, and The Springtime of My Life Began with You. The addition of The Serenade of Spring Thunder further expands her presence in the English digital manga market.
K Manga’s Platform and Accessibility
K Manga, launched by Kodansha on May 10, 2023, is Kodansha’s official manga distribution service designed exclusively for U.S. readers. The platform’s primary goal is to provide increased accessibility to a vast library of manga titles, including simultaneous releases of the latest chapters from Kodansha’s original serialized manga and weekly/monthly magazines in Japan.
The service offers officially translated, high-quality manga across various genres, directly managed by Kodansha’s editorial team. K Manga operates on a ticket and point system, allowing users to access chapters, with some limited free chapters available daily. Upon its launch, K Manga featured approximately 400 titles, including 70 ongoing series.
English readers can now dive into the first 10 chapters of The Serenade of Spring Thunder on the K Manga app, with new chapters expected to update every Saturday. This release provides fans of historical romance and Nikki Asada’s distinctive storytelling with a new series to follow directly from Japan.
