Kadokawa has begun the English simultaneous publication of The Villainess Is a Boy! (Akuyaku Reijō, Ore) manga, with the first chapter launching on July 26, 2025, on the BookWalker Global site. This new release allows English-speaking fans to read chapters of the manga as they are released in Japan.
About The Villainess Is a Boy!
The manga, written by Noa Nekoyashiki and illustrated by Seira Minami, who is also known for her work on The Rising of the Shield Hero light novel series, introduces a unique twist on the popular “villainess” trope.
Plot Overview
The story follows an ordinary working man from Japan who is unexpectedly reincarnated into the world of a popular otome game called “Love Revolution Kingdom.” He finds himself in the role of Asuka, the game’s villainess, and his primary goal is to avoid the dire fate of execution. To do this, he must prevent the villainous prince from falling in love with Asuka. However, his attempts to act indifferently towards the male characters in the game backfire, as his unconventional behavior only serves to attract them, including the very prince he aims to avoid. Trapped between the pitfalls of love and friendship, his only desire is to live his own life.
Creative Team Behind the Manga
The Villainess Is a Boy! marks Seira Minami’s debut as a manga artist. Minami is widely recognized for her illustrations in Yusagi Aneko’s The Rising of the Shield Hero light novel series, as well as its comedic spin-off light novels, The Reprise of the Spear Hero. Both of these light novel series are published in English by One Peace Books.
Kadokawa’s Simulpub Initiative
This release is part of Kadokawa’s broader strategy to directly translate and distribute its manga and light novel titles in English, aiming for simultaneous release with their Japanese counterparts. This initiative began in earnest in October 2021, with Kadokawa stating that it would usually take six to twelve months for titles released in Japan to be translated and published in English-speaking countries. By directly handling the localization, Kadokawa aims to provide fans with quicker access to official versions of their content and to combat piracy. The company plans to expand its simulpub offerings, with expectations to exceed 100 titles in the near future.
