The manga tells of the "life and death" voyages of Ming Dynasty Chinese explorer Zheng He. (Source: Anime News Network)

As humankind stops its evolution and goes towards extinction, Akane and her group aim to become masters in order to obtain the scripture of legend. When Akane is asked to get rid of evil spirits in a village she stops by, she and her companions find an unconscious young man in an abandoned mine where evil youma lurk. His legs have been chopped off and he lacks the orb that identifies him as a human being. One of her companions realizes the truth—this young man is the abandoned prince of the country of Sai. To the surprise of her companions, Akane makes the decision to take the man with them on their journey—where they await youma unlike anything they've ever seen. (Source: Kodansha, translated)

**Tokeimawari no Natsuyasumi:** Ichihara and Takase are dating but recently all they do is fight. Soon there is a summer festival in their town, will Takase remember the good times before they started fighting and what has happened to Ichihara? Include six other one-shots from different mangakas: Mashou no Onna - ichtys Papurika, piman, tougarashi - Yoshino Satsuki DEAREST LOVER - Matsumoto Satoya Change! - Tsukuda Hanna Neko to Kemuri - Hanazawa Chika Sensei, Ano ne - Hotta Kiichi

The world of Monster Rancher was once a highly advanced technology-oriented civilization. The people of this society were especially skilled at genetic engineering. Using gene manipulation, they were able to develop special designer pets and store their genetic information on stone tablets known as "disks", similar to CDs. Using these disks, the artificial animals could be regenerated at special shrines. However, war broke out between the countries of the civilization. The pets were modified into biological weapons, and the war of the monsters began. The great civilizations completely annihilated each other, leaving nothing but relics behind, and much of the world's technology was lost. The monsters were sealed into their mystery disks and hidden away. Centuries later, as humanity was just beginning to rediscover basic technology, people found the artifacts owned by the so-called "Ancients" and attributed divine properties to them. They also discovered the lost disks and shrines. Using these, monsters were again born. Only through the power of the phoenix could the lost discs be revived back into living monsters. Thus started a popular new sport, Monster Breeding. Breeders or trainers raised monsters for battle to compete in nation-wide tournaments to see who could raise the strongest beast.

Juliet, a young baroness accepts an unexpected proposal to marry the Earl William of the prestigious Basil family who rules Castlevania...but the Earl is known as the "Devil Earl". Will Juliet regret her decision?

Does everyone know how to become a Santa Claus...? Yukimura Kiyoka is a 14-year-old 'Santa apprentice' who is working her hardest to achieve her dream of becoming a real Santa. The problem is she's still not good enough! She can barely drive her sleigh correctly! Will intensive training from her cousin be enough to help her pass her exam on Christmas. *Note: Includes the one-shot "Dreaming Santa Claus".*

Iwao Asakura, a.k.a. Gen, president of Asakura Corporation, a subcontractor demolition company, regains his passion as a world-class demolition engineer when Keiko Otsuki, an employee of major general contractor Sanyu Heavy Machinery Lease, brings him a demolition job. He accepted her invitation to join the "Sanyu Group" and established the company "Sanyu Blasting Co. Later, he added an old acquaintance, Roku Iwashita a.k.a. "Roku the Tugger", a wooden construction specialist, Hideo Tokita a.k.a. Hide, a crane engineer who was about to commit suicide due to debt, and Hikaru Nakahara, a truck driver and former TV personality, to his team. However, in order to become "Japan's No. 1 demolition company" that is not bound by the traditions of bid-rigging that persist in the construction industry, he leaves the Sanyu Group and reestablishes himself as Itsumo Blowup Co. This is one of the longest manga of all time, with 100 volumes as of May 2023.

In the edo period, the second son of a town official works as a flute player under kabuki master Ichikawa Danjūrō V at the Nakamura-za theater. However, when his older brother is killed he must once again learn to become a warrior. At the same time, a serial killer is targeting young girls in Edo. **Note:** Won the Grand Prize in the 20th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize awards in 2016.

"Alice Turn Back Clock" is Inoue Shinkai's take on Alice in Wonderland, complete with a bunny-eared schoolgirl and aliens from outer space. *Note: Published in COMIC Yuri Hime 2005 vol. 1*