Kaoru Mori’s long-running historical series A Bride's Story (Otoyome-Gatari) is set to return this winter. The new release, titled A Bride's Story Continues 1, marks a shift in publishing strategy for the series. Unlike previous volumes, this entry will be released by the new publisher Yukiwarisō (Hepatica, Inc.) and will feature an oversized A4 format. The volume is confirmed to contain three brand-new chapters totaling roughly 80 pages, which will bypass magazine serialization entirely.
This announcement follows the conclusion of the series' tenure in Kadokawa’s Aokishi magazine. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Mori would seek a new form of publication for the manga after the magazine underwent a restructuring. While Yukiwarisō handles this upcoming release, Kadokawa will remain involved with the franchise, as the publisher is slated to manage digital distribution for the series starting with the 16th volume.
Beyond this new installment, Mori’s bibliography is seeing a wider resurgence. The third volume of her Shirley manga—the first new content for that title in over a decade—also revealed that the first two volumes of Shirley will receive updated editions to match the style of the new release. Additionally, a new collector’s edition of her seminal Victorian-era work, Emma, is currently in development.
Why it matters: The shift to a new publisher for these specific releases suggests a move toward boutique or collector-focused distribution for Mori's work. With the 15th volume having shipped in Japan in late 2024, readers should watch for further announcements regarding how these new, non-serialized chapters will eventually integrate into the broader digital collection managed by Kadokawa.
