Orange Inc.’s digital manga platform, emaqi, announced on Friday, October 17, 2025, the addition of three new seinen manga series from publisher Shonengahosha to its e-bookstore service. The newly available titles are Yuji Shiozaki’s Ikki Tousen, the Ryū Asahi and Tow Ubukata collaboration Bye-Bye, Earth, and Hyakumanjou Labyrinth.
The expansion further solidifies emaqi’s growing catalog, which aims to provide a diverse range of manga to its North American audience. The platform, known for leveraging AI-assisted translation alongside human editors, continues to introduce both established and lesser-known works to English-speaking readers.
Noteworthy Additions to the emaqi Catalog
The three series, all from Shonengahosha, bring a mix of action, fantasy, and adventure to emaqi’s platform. Each title offers a distinct narrative for manga enthusiasts.
Ikki Tousen: A Busty Brawler’s Saga
Ikki Tousen, created by Yuji Shiozaki, follows the powerful high school girl Hakufu Sonsaku, who transfers to Nanyo Academy under her mother’s orders. Despite her seemingly goofy demeanor, Hakufu possesses immense strength and potential, driven by a strong desire to fight. Her journey is complicated by her mother’s wish for a quiet life and a constant threat from assassins seeking to eliminate her. The manga originally debuted in April 2000 and was previously released in English by Tokyopop under the title Battle Vixens. The popular series has inspired four television anime adaptations and five original video animations (OVAs).
Bye-Bye, Earth: A Human’s Quest in a Demi-Human World
Bye-Bye, Earth, with story by Tow Ubukata and art by Ryū Asahi, presents a unique take on the fantasy genre. The story centers on Belle, a “plain human” in a world dominated by demi-humans with various animal forms. Belle embarks on a journey to find others like herself, driven by the fundamental question of finding a reason to live. The manga adaptation by Asahi ran in Shonengahosha’s Young King Ours magazine from January 2020 to July 2022. Ubukata’s original fantasy novels first shipped in December 2000 and inspired a television anime in July 2024, which received a second season on April 4. The emaqi release includes an exclusive bonus chapter novel.
Hyakumanjou Labyrinth: Delving into the Maze
While specific plot details for Hyakumanjou Labyrinth were not extensively detailed in the announcement snippets, its inclusion alongside Ikki Tousen and Bye-Bye, Earth highlights emaqi’s commitment to expanding its range of seinen manga offerings. The title promises to add another layer of intrigue and adventure to the platform’s library.
emaqi’s Growing Presence in Digital Manga
emaqi, operated by Orange Inc., officially launched its e-bookstore service in the U.S. and Canada in September 2024, followed by its app launch in May 2025. The platform boasts a substantial collection of over 13,000 manga volumes across approximately 1,700 series, including nearly 50 exclusive titles. Orange Inc. has also committed to adding 100 never-before-translated manga series to the app by the end of 2025, further diversifying its content.
The company emphasizes its hybrid approach to localization, utilizing AI technology for initial Japanese-to-English translation, which is then refined and finalized by a team of native-speaking translators and editors. This method aims to significantly increase localization capacity while maintaining quality, ensuring a steady stream of new content for readers.
