Reincarnating Histories: A Fresh Twist on Feudal Japan through Manga
In the bustling world of manga, originality is key. "Tensei! Hanbei Takenaka: Surviving the Warring Feudal Japan with Fellow Tensei Warlords" brings a unique reincarnation tale. This manga, crafted by Yu Aoyama and illustrated by Akira Kazumiya, was first unveiled in 2019 on Futabasha’s Gaugau Monster website. Its innovative storyline hits differently in a genre rich with fantastical tales.
A Curious Destiny: From Cubicles to Battlefields
The plot centers on an office worker in his 30s. He wakes up one day to be reborn as Hanbei Takenaka, a legendary strategist serving Hideyoshi Toyotomi. He is not alone in this twisted fate. Seven other modern men find themselves as notable Sengoku era warlords.
In an ethereal white void, they discover a tool of survival—a PC with a "Chat-Shitsu" page. This page allows communication between them. Their mission? Collaborate to outsmart history’s most seasoned warlords like Nobunaga Oda and Ieyasu Tokugawa.
From Digital Launch to Paperback Farewell
Aoyama initially shared this reincarnation yarn back in 2016 on the Shōsetsuka ni Narō site. By February 2022, updates to the tale came to a silent halt, but not before Futabasha unveiled the fifth and final novel volume in May 2020. Kazumiya’s manga adaptation, which began in 2019, has now expanded to its seventh volume as of November 2023.
Orange Inc., a trailblazer in AI localization, propelled "Tensei! Hanbei Takenaka" into the digital realm. This move came during their expansion of the "emaqi" e-bookstore service at the cusp of 2024.
Streamlining Manga Access: The Emaqi Revolution
The emaqi service launched in September, traversing boundaries to the U.S. and Canada. It kicked off with around 6,000 manga volumes from 13 publishers. Orange Inc. announced ambitious plans—adding at least one new, untranslated title each week. They secured crucial rights for translation and distribution from notables like Shonengahosha and Akita Publishing.
Additionally, their collaboration with Shueisha means more manga magic. Readers can enjoy freshly translated one-shot stories from Shonen Jump+ each week, for free. The simultaneous publishing arrangement with both emaqi and Shueisha’s MANGA Plus ensures fans stay ahead of upcoming manga waves.
A Platform with Potential
At its heart, emaqi is web-based, offering free account creation for manga enthusiasts. Each title boasts synopses and sample chapters, enticing readers into new realms. Whether purchasing a single volume or subscribing to a series, emaqi adapts to every manga appetite.
Young or seasoned, casual or committed, manga fans find that emaqi aims to transform access to this lustrous literary art. What’s next? As Orange Inc. weighs a mobile app launch next year, the anticipation builds. The evolution of manga consumption is here, and it’s just a sign-in away.
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