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Shoujo License Request: Ao Haru Ride by Io Sakisaka

Geez, I started this post umm, two years ago it looks like. I just never came back to it, because I thought, “Hey, we got Strobe Edge, guess we’ll get Ao Haru Ride.” But two years later, no Ao Haru Ride. Now with the anime finished and all these readers flocking to talk about the series, people want to read the manga. And do we have it here in North America – nope. WHHHYYYY???!!! I’m dying here!!!  Besides Japan, it’s been published in Germany, France, Italy, China and Poland.



So I’m really wanting to know if it’s a licensing issue, or if it’s on the table and hasn’t been finalized, or just isn’t announced yet. Throw us a bone, publishers! I’m looking at you, Viz!



Editor’s note: Apparently if we really want Ao Haru Ride, then we have to buy up Strobe Edge according to Shojo Beat. I’ve got my copies, how about you?

Cover 1 From Margaret Comics

Cover 1 From Margaret Comics


In case you’ve been under a rock for the past summer anime season, Ao Haru Ride, or Blue Spring Ride as it was translated, was animated up through the first 14 chapters. Or the first 4 volumes. But there are 44 chapters currently published through Betsuma magazine from Shueisha. There’s 11 volumes currently published in Japan.  A LOT more story is left to tell. Viewers on Crunchyroll want a second season. There’s a live action movie premiering in theaters in December in Japan that will cover more of the manga. But that brings me back to the point – we still have no English translation of this well-loved shoujo series. So what’s it about?



The Gist: Yoshioka Futaba has a few reasons why she wants to “reset” her image and life as a new high-school student. Because she’s cute and had a demure personality she was ostracized by her female friends in junior high, and because of a series of misunderstandings and mishaps, she couldn’t get her feelings across to the one boy she has always liked, Tanaka Kou. Now in high school, she is determined to be as unladylike as possible so that her friends won’t be jealous of her. While living her life this way contentedly, she meets Tanaka-kun again, but he now goes under the name of Mabuchi Kou. He tells her that he felt the same way as she did when they were younger, but that they cannot go back. Will Futaba be able to continue her love that never even started from three years ago?

AHR_paneling

Paneling from Volume 5





The “Give Me” Factor:  Besides wanting to read the rest of the story, this series has beautiful artwork and storytelling. Io Sakisaka is one of the best shoujo mangaka when it comes to character development and emotional portrayal. Strobe Edge was enjoyable, but Ao Haru Ride is just much deeper and has rounder characters with real faults. You really get emotionally invested in the story. Ask any fangirls out there which ship they sail – geez you’ll get some passionate responses! As a shoujo manga fan, this series is one I just HAVE to have in my collection. I LOVE it to death, and can read it over and over.



The Audience: This is a typical high school setting shoujo manga. It’s perfect for the teen/tween audience. However the plot touches on aspects of grief, depression, first love, regret. It can connect with many readers regardless of age or gender, as witnessed through the anime forums. It will be a well selling series if we can get it here in North America.

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15 Comments

  • I also keep checking Viz now and then hoping to find Ao Haru Ride on the list but it just wont come up. This series is just absolutely adorable and I really wish I could have the actual books but reading in french is just not same. I’ve read the manga and watched the series more than once. I honestly don’t understand why they won’t publish a series that would defenitely sell, probably way more than Strobe Edge (though I also love Ninako and Ren, unfortunetely I’ve only been able to buy two volumes so far cause my list is just sooo damn looong!! ). I wish we could make a petition or something online…

    • I wish they would listen to the readers because I have heard from so many people that say they want this in print. I feel like they don’t listen to their audience, though.

  • I support this and would buy each volume! Make it happen one day. :///

  • Still hoping for an announcement for Ao Haru Ride at NYCC in October. All Viz has licensed so far this year has been supernatural series, so a slice of life will probably be licensed, and I’d love it if it would be this one!

    • Nope. It’s more Vampire Knight for Viz.

  • I would love for Ao Haru Ride to get licensed it’s at the top of my list and I’ve already bought the anime dvd but having the manga licensed would be awesome!!

    • Same! I really want this series in English in print.

  • I have watched the anime twice, and just finished reading the manga online but I want to buy the manga and read it again because it is such a wounderful story and I qantws to support the artist (and the artwork is so amazing). If you hear that they have started the english copies please let me know. Until then I think I will try out strobe edge XD

    • Yes, please buy Strobe Edge. It’s very good as well. I am not sure we will ever get the manga in English. I’ve actually started buying Japanese copies. I’ve read this series about 4 times now, and watched the anime twice. I would love to own it in my native language. So believe me, I will be one of the first out there to announce it if it ever happens!

    • Hi… Just want to ask is this manga only until chap 49 … I’m really hopping that there’s another chapter that I may miss … So,may I know where do you read the manga online?

      • There were not anymore chapters. That’s it. ?

  • I have my copy of Strobe edge, I complete in the summer and I would love to have Ao Haru Ride. My daughter bought in Japanese, but I can read it. I buying L_DK too, love it.

  • Third this request!

  • I would also love this to be licensed!

  • Yes, I second this request.

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