Shinobu Seguchi’s Manga to Launch Digitally in English This Summer
Shinobu Seguchi's manga to launch in English digitally in North America this summer.
Manga creator Shinobu Seguchi is set to bring two of his notable works to a broader audience. This summer, North American readers will gain digital access to Shūjin Riku and Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix-, as confirmed by Akita Shoten and a recent interview with Seguchi. This marks the first official English-language release of these titles.
Shūjin Riku is a long-running manga that was published from 2011 to 2018 in Weekly Shōnen Champion. It has 38 volumes. The story is set in a future Tokyo, ten years after a meteorite destroyed the city. It follows Riku Kurita, a 13-year-old boy living in the slums. He is wrongly accused of a crime and sent to a remote prison for 30 years. Even in tough conditions, Riku stays strong and fights for his freedom.
Shinobu Seguchi’s Manga to Launch Digitally
Seguchi’s newer project, Oedo Fire Slayer -The Legend of Phoenix-, adapts the first volume of Shōgo Imamura’s historical fiction series Ushūboro Tobigumi. The manga started in Weekly Shōnen Champion on April 24. It takes place in Edo-period Japan and follows brave firefighters who face strange fires spreading through the city. The story blends history, action, and drama.
Anime Adaptation and Literary Roots
The Ushūboro Tobigumi novel series launched in 2017. Since then, the series has released 12 volumes and a side story collection. It won the Yoshikawa Eiji Bunko Award in 2021, showing its strong impact. An anime based on the first novel, Hikuidori, is also being made by Synergy SP and is set to air in winter 2026.
Panel Appearance at Anime Expo
Fans can also look forward to Seguchi’s appearance at Anime Expo in Los Angeles. On July 6, Shinobu Seguchi will appear at a special panel with Kazuhiro Nishikawa, president of Dandelion Animation Studio and producer of The First Slam Dunk. The panel, titled “Amuse Creative Studio Presents: How the Pros Make Anime & Manga,” will take place at 12:45 p.m. PDT in room 411.
Written By Manika Kayal, Intern, India Today Gaming.