From Ponent Mon: Seventeen authors (nine from France or French-speaking countries, eight from Japan) brought together in the same book, a succession of freely created short stories about the same universe: Japan. The French, of course, journeyed to Japan for the occasion. Each cartoonist was sent for two weeks to a different city in the archipelago (Joann Sfar in Tôkyô, Emmanuel Guibert in Kyôto, Nicolas de Crécy in Nagoya, etc.) to bring back an original creation. The Japanese tell us about their district, the city where they live or where they originally come from (Kazuichi Hanawa's story being about the northern island of Hokkaido, Jiro Taniguchi's about the town of Tottori, etc.) The result is often inspired, always surprising: Japan through new eyes. "Japan" will appear simultaneously in French, Japanese, Spanish, Italian and English. Along with "A Patch Of Dreams" by Hideji Oda, it is the first step in a series of international creations with left-to-right reading direction, created for us by some of the best European and Japanese comic book artists. List of included short stories: At the Seaside - [TAKAHAMA Kan](https://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=4331) The Gateway - David Prudhomme Summer Sky - [TANIGUCHI Jiro](https://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=714) Now I Can Die! - Aurélia Aurita Osaka 2034 - François Schuiten & Benoît Peeters Shin.Ichi. - Emmanual Guibert The New Gods - Nicolas de Crécy *Kankichi* - [MATSUMOTO Taiyou](https://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=361) The Tokyo of Qualtérou - Joann Sfar The Sunflower - [Little Fish](https://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=19995) The Song of the Crickets - [ANNO Moyoco](https://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=152) In Love Alley - [Frédéric Boilet](https://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=6069) The City of Trees - Fabrice Neaud The Festival of the Bell-Horses - [IGARASHI Daisuke](https://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=2216) In the Deep Forest - [HANAWA Kazuichi](https://www.mangaupdates.com/authors.html?id=2080) Sapporo Fiction - Étienne Davodeau

Mizuno Iruka is a high school girl who spends her every day perfectly peacefully and ordinarily. She has someone she likes, but she always looks at him from afar only. Then one day, Moriyama-kun, the one she's always admired, asked her out out of the blue, and they're suddenly getting closer!! But there's a deep reason behind it...?! *Notes: \- Includes the one-shot "Maigo no Kokoro wo Tsukamaete". \- Includes the one-shot "Koi no Ashioto".*

Shou Takahata is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Facing imminent death having stumbled across the world of magician's, she's struck a bargain with one such magician: to befriend his apprentice and become "dear" to him. The main problem with this arrangement? The apprentice in question can only feel emotion when he slaughters those he holds "dear"! (Source: Yen Press)

Therese, the daughter of an impoverished marquis, works hard day and night to save every penny she can just to scrape by. One day, she's offered a chance to change her status and situation—by competing to become the next royal consort. Therese hesitates, unsure that someone as poor as herself could ever be a consort, and decides to decline the opportunity. That is until she learns that just being a candidate could lead to a high-paying position as a lady-in-waiting! Determined to take the chance, she decides to go for it. But when she arrives at the castle, she realizes that this competition is way more cut-throat than she anticipated! Can Therese's down-to-earth attitude keep her safe and above the fray? Or will this contest cost her everything? (Source: Seven Seas Entertainment)

Yamamuro Yuuki is a talented star who has caught the eyes of many people. He's been toying with a young and seemingly innocent actor named Sawaki Mitsuru, who stars opposite him in a drama. To make matters worse, Ootaki, the producer of "Casual Lover", is also after Sawaki. The curtains have lifted on the game of love between these proud men! (Source: Dangerous Pleasure)

This time around, we follow Kana Ichikawa, Kyotaro’s big sis! She’s got a ton of gal pals, but she’s never had a guy friend before, let alone a boyfriend. She’s given up on ever being popular with the guys, and is just trying to focus on living her best life. But it seems maybe there’s someone harboring secret feelings for her after all. Maybe now she’ll finally get to experience the young love she never got as a teenager? (Source: Seven Seas Entertainment)

Healer Carol is an E-rank... even among adventurers, it's the absolute weakest. Even though I was told that I’d be useless... I tried my best for my comrades and continued creating medicines but… in the end, I was still thrown out of the party! I don’t have enough money to get back home and the future looks bleak in this strange town. In the meantime, Carol met a dying adventurer, Kaido, by chance. She treated him with the medicine which she had created for free. While doing that, for some reason, the medicine received extremely high praise---!?

Alfred, the head of the Duc de Besculey family, is known as the "Bandaged Duke" and is feared by everyone for the mummy-like wrappings all over his body. One day, the king suddenly orders him to get married. Even more shocking—his blind bride-to-be, Sierra, is somehow head-over-heels for him! The story of the marriage between a lonely duke and a songstress with the blessing of a goddess begins! (Source: Manga UP!)

Twin sisters Himari and Mio are perfect copies on the outside, but their personalities couldn't be any more different. When Himari decides to stay home from school due to an unfortunate incident, Mio decides the best way to convince her to return is to take her place! (Source: Yen Press)

A girl on the wheel of reincarnation and an ever vigilant maid walk the halls of the tragic mansion… You awaken in a decrepit old mansion where you find a Maid who claims you are her Master. She wishes to show You the myriad tragedies the mansion has witnessed… Let the tales of tragedy and suspense begin! (Source: Sekai Project)

A fox and a raccoon living together?! Modern day Japan. A fox and raccoon have been driven into dwelling with humans. Two are chosen to live in the village as humans and protect their mountain. They are: the ever-fighting fox Yugao, and the raccoon, Shitara. Unlike Shitara who finds it to be an awful disaster, the always cold Yugao doesn't seem to agree... "A disaster? Far from it! This is heaven!!!" Yugao's made up his mind to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and be more upfront with Shitara, the raccoon he's always secretly loved. Will Yugao be able to tell Shitara how he feels after years of complicated built-up fantasies!? (Source: Renta!)

The son of a rich and conceited aristocratic family leads an easy life of luxury. With servants to wait on him hand and foot and his every wish granted with the right amount of money, life is easy. But, what happens when a mysterious thief steals something very important and irreplaceable from that young boy? (Source: Juné) *Includes oneshots "Kiss Scandal" and "People Are What They Seem"*