Glacier Bay Books has announced its acquisition and upcoming English release of Konomi Oumi’s manga collection, Universe From the Balcony (original Japanese title: Veranda kara Uchū). The publisher confirmed the collection, which features eight distinct stories by Oumi, is slated for release later this year.
Konomi Oumi is recognized for her unique contributions to the independent manga scene in Japan. Her work often explores themes that are both ethereal and deeply human, ranging from “ethereal beings that slip into the cosmos” to “impossible love” and “wordless plant spirits”. Universe From the Balcony is described as presenting “a mind-expanding panorama of Konomi’s stories sure to inspire and delight.”
This upcoming release follows Glacier Bay Books’ previous collaboration with Oumi, having published her manga From This Flame in 2021. Oumi also contributed to the third volume of Glacier Bay Books’ Glaeolia indie manga anthology series. These prior releases have established Oumi as a notable voice within the indie manga landscape translated by the publisher.
The English edition of Universe From the Balcony will be translated by Matthias Hirsh and lettered by Tim Sun, bringing Oumi’s “quiet, vividly beautiful stories” to an English-speaking audience. The original Japanese version of the manga was initially released by Oumi herself at the COMITIA 145 event in September 2023. The collection is anticipated to feature approximately 180 pages of Oumi’s carefully constructed narratives.
