Kodansha’s K Manga service has announced the addition of Tomoko Ninomiya’s popular manga, Nanatsu-ya: Shinobu and Her Jewelry Box (also known as Nanatsuya Shinobu no Hōsekibako), to its English-language offerings. This move expands the digital platform’s diverse library, making the comedic mystery series accessible to a wider audience of U.S. readers.
A Glimpse into the World of Nanatsu-ya: Shinobu and Her Jewelry Box
The story centers on Shinobu, a second-year high school student whose family runs Kurata-ya, a long-established pawn shop in a lively central Tokyo neighborhood. Shinobu helps manage the shop when she’s not at school, possessing a unique gift: the ability to discern the “aura” emitted by gemstones.
Beyond her supernatural talent, Shinobu’s personal life adds another layer of intrigue. She finds herself without a boyfriend, yet has a fiancé, Akisada Kitagami, who was chosen for her by her grandfather. Akisada, a member of a prestigious family, was taken in by Kurata-ya at a young age and now works as a salesman for a high-end jewelry brand. However, he harbors a considerable number of secrets, adding a mysterious element to their relationship and the overall plot.
Publication History and Genre
Tomoko Ninomiya launched Nanatsu-ya: Shinobu and Her Jewelry Box in Kodansha’s Kiss magazine in November 2013. As of May 2024, the manga has released 24 compiled book volumes. The series has experienced several hiatuses between 2018 and 2019 due to the author’s health. The manga is categorized under genres such as josei (manga for adult women), comedy, drama, romance, and slice of life, often featuring themes like age gap relationships, arranged marriages, and family business.
About the Creator: Tomoko Ninomiya
Tomoko Ninomiya is a celebrated Japanese manga artist, best known for her highly acclaimed series, Nodame Cantabile. Debuting in 1989 with London Doubt Boys, Ninomiya’s work frequently focuses on everyday life, often featuring protagonists who are more than average. Nodame Cantabile, a comedic drama centered on classical music students, ran from 2001 to 2009 in Kodansha’s Kiss and received the 2004 Kodansha Manga Award for shōjo manga. This series was highly successful, leading to three television anime adaptations, as well as live-action drama and film adaptations.
Other notable works by Ninomiya include Tensai Family Company (Genius Family Company), Green, and Heisei Yopparai Kenkyuujo (Heisei Drunk Research Center). Her works often receive positive reviews and cater to a primary audience of women in their 20s and 30s, though they also attract a significant male readership.
K Manga’s Growing Library and Accessibility
K Manga, Kodansha’s official manga distribution service, launched on May 10, 2023, exclusively for U.S. readers. The platform aims to increase accessibility for American manga fans by simultaneously releasing the latest chapters of original serialized manga from Kodansha’s weekly and monthly magazines.
Upon its launch, K Manga boasted approximately 400 titles, including 70 ongoing manga series. The service offers official translations by industry professionals. Users can read a limited number of free manga chapters daily, with the amount varying by title. Additional chapters can be unlocked using “tickets” for limited-time access or “coins” for permanent ownership. K Manga’s diverse catalog spans multiple genres, including action, thriller, isekai, romance, and fantasy. It also features popular series such as Attack on Titan, Blue Lock, Rent-A-Girlfriend, The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse, and Don’t Toy With Me, Miss Nagatoro. Kodansha manages the service with its editorial team, ensuring a satisfying reading experience directly from the publisher. While initially exclusive to the U.S., Kodansha has expressed intentions to expand K Manga into other countries in the future.
