VIZ launches shojo manga YUKARISM on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014

Yukarism © Chika Shiomi 2011/HAKUSENSHA, Inc.

TRAVEL BACK TO EDO-ERA JAPAN WITH THE LAUNCH OF THE

SEXY NEW SHOJO MANGA SERIES YUKARISM FROM VIZ MEDIA

Dreamy Historical Romance Depicts A Teenage Writer’s

Extraordinary Past Life As A Courtesan In Edo-era Japan;

New Series From The Creator Of YURARA And

RASETSU Debuts In Print And Digitally!!

VIZ Media entices shojo manga (graphic novel) readers with the print and digital launch of the new series – YUKARISM – on December 2nd.

The nostalgia-tinted historical romance comes from creator Chika Shiomi, who is widely known among manga fans for her series YURARA and RASETSU (both available from VIZ Media). YUKARISM will be published under the Shojo Beat imprint and is rated ‘T’ for Teens. Print MSRP will be $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN.

A digital version of YUKARISM, Vol. 1 also debuts on December 2nd for $6.99 (USD/CAN) from VIZManga.com and through the VIZ MANGA App for the Apple iPad®, iPhone® and iPod® touch, Android-powered smart phones. Digital volumes of YUKARISM can also be purchased through the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks and GooglePlay stores. Future editions of this 4-volume manga series will be released in-print and digitally on a quarterly basis.

YUKARISM introduces readers to Yukari Kobayakawa, an accomplished author at the age of 17 who writes with amazing accuracy about historical Japan. As it turns out, he has the ability to slip into his past life in the Edo period – as a beautiful, renowned courtesan named Yumurasaki!

“YUKARISM is a sexy romance about past lives and gender-bending reincarnation that will captivate readers with its exquisite artwork, cute male characters and suspenseful plot,” says Amy Yu, Editor. “Creator Chika Shiomi weaves an enticing story that links each of the main characters’ past and present lives and generates some potent sexual tension as readers learn more about Yukari’s past. The gender-bending aspects also offer plenty of hilarious moments!”

Creator Chika Shiomi debuted with the manga, Todokeru Toki o Sugitemo (Even if the Time for Deliverance Passes), and her other notable works include the supernatural series YURARA and RASETSU. Her hobbies include reading manga, traveling and listening to music; favorite artists include Michelangelo, Hokusai, Bernini and Gustav Klimt.

For more information on YUKARISM, or other Shojo Beat manga titles published by VIZ Media, visit www.VIZ.com.