Yen Press Licenses Manga Series “Bocchi The Rock!”

Apr 9

Publisher Yen Press announced during their Sakura-Con 2023 panel the license acquisition of the hit manga series “Bocchi The Rock!” by Aki Hamaji.

“Bocchi The Rock!” manga was first serialized in Manga Time Kirara Max in 2017. The on-going comedy series currently has 5 volumes in print in Japan. According to the publisher, the manga has reached 2 million copies in circulation in Japan following recent reprints of all the volumes. In addition, Houbunsha's Comic Fuz manga app and website recently announced a spin-off manga with a teaser visual (below).

“Bocchi The Rock!” Volume 1 is schedule to be release Fall 2023.

Yen Press “Bocchi The Rock!” Synopsis: Bocchi finally takes the stage in English, and she’s brought her best friend— crippling anxiety! Hitori Goto just wants to make friends, but the thought of approaching a stranger on her own makes her so nervous that she’s spent the entirety of middle school teaching herself how to shred on the guitar—to moderately successful (albeit anonymous) YouTube fame—in the hopes of seeming cool enough for someone else to reach out to her instead. After bringing her guitar to school provokes zero interest, Hitori’s just about ready to shrivel up and die...which is when Nijika Ijichi comes across her moping in a playground and begs her to fill in for her band’s flaky guitarist for their first-ever live performance! It’s like her wish came true...but does this most antisocial of introverts have what it takes to perform in front of real people?!

The manga received an anime adaptation by CloverWorks. The anime premiered in Fall 2022 and quickly became a hit with viewers in Japan. Crunchyroll simulcast the anime as it aired and all 12 episodes are currently available to stream in subtitles.

Sources: Manga Time Kirara Max Twitter and website. Yen Press website, press release and Twitter. Aki Hamaji Twitter. Comic Fuz Twitter. Crunchyroll website.