Darkness Walk with Me
So everyone is talking about the launch of Insidescanlation.com, a new website dedicated to the history of scanlation. More than offering information about the evolution of our hobby and the people involved, the website also puts a lot of things in perspective for people like me who have only been living on the “fringe” of the community. Although Kotonoha has been around for a few years I still feel like we have barely outgrown our infant state, for the simple reason that we never went through any dramatic changes. Sure, there was the recent hiatus, but other than that things are still almost exactly the same as it was when I created the group. Does this mean we are existing in our own bubble? If so, do we have to destroy the bubble to evolve or is the bubble what gives Kotonoha its identity? Ah geez, look what you did, Insidescanlation.com, getting me all sentimental! 
Anyway, enough of this self-centered crap, let’s talk releases, which will hopefully be the only things Kotonoha is remembered for. Today we are launching the 4th volume of Soil with two chapters that set the mood for the entire volume. If you think the previous volumes have been weird and creepy I’m sorry to inform you that things are only going to get worse, or better depending on your expectations. Kaneko has been slowly amassing ammunition, only giving us small peeks at the supernatural force at work in “Soil.” Over the course of the next three volumes, he’s going to lob one grenade after another at us while laughing like a maniac in the dark. At times you will get frustrated at the lack of resolution, but keep in mind that Kaneko has a plan, even though we have to wait till volume 10 to appreciate its full scope.
Fortunately, you don’t have to wait that long to see the end of Kaikisen, because we are giving it to you today! I think the ending fits well with the straightforward story. For what it’s worth, Kaikisen showcases Kon’s early talent (it was his first manga) to tell a gripping story with strong visuals. His style might have evolved a lot since then, but it’s always interesting to trace an artist’s roots.
To make up for the fact that we didn’t release a short story last week, we’re now releasing two instead. Both are from an author most of you should already be familiar with. We scanlated his first work and will no doubt return to him sooner or later. Also note that these short stories represent Kotonoha’s first attempt at creating “SHQ scanlations” (for the lack of a better term). I have long considered taking this step but we didn’t have a good candidate that would actually benefit from the treatment. However, now that the gate has been opened, expect most of our new projects to be done this way.
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About Kotonoha
Since the group's inception in 2004, Kotonoha has established itself as the premier source of off-beat, sophisticated manga scanlations aimed at both the seinen and josei demographics. Among our most influential titles are Soil by Atsushi Kaneko, The Hour of the Mice by Kei Tōme, The Music of Marie by Usamaru Furuya, and the works from Inio Asano.
Help us buy manga!Latest Releases
- Green Blood v2 ch8
- Green Blood v1
- Raqiya v2 ch16
- All-Rounder Meguru v7 ch62
- Udon no Hito v1 (complete)
- All-Rounder Meguru v7 ch61
- All-Rounder Meguru v7 ch59-60
- Raqiya v2 ch15
- Wandering Emanon (complete)
- Raqiya v2 ch14
- Ran to Haiiro no Sekai v2 ch9
- Wolfsmund v2 ch5
- Raqiya v2 ch13
- Raqiya v2 ch12
- Raqiya v2 ch11
- Garden ch7 part1
- Soil v7
- All-Rounder Meguru v7 ch58
- All-Rounder Meguru v7 ch57
- Ran to Haiiro no Sekai v2 ch8
- Raqiya v1
- Wolfsmund v2 ch4
- Gunjo v1 ch10
- Wolfsmund v1
- All-Rounder Meguru v6
- Hideout v1 (Complete)
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That’s a lot of manga.
SHQ scanlation indeed; insane quality. Ever since I’ve gotten a new high-res monitor manga has always seemed a bit smaller than it was before. I suppose I won’t have to worry about that if you follow through with this.
Thanks.
Thanks for the Inio one-shots. Made my day.
thanks for the hour of the mice
Thank you
Ivory tower of interesting mangos more than a bubble!
Thank you so much for doing more Inio Asano’s work. Love his stuff. And thanks for finishing Kaikisen. Keep up the good work.
I just Introduced to asano’s world through goodnight punpun … still didn’t decide…. hope those oneshots will help me understand his style better
oh .. & Thanx for soil
Kaikisen was gorgeous. Shoujo Nemu is so gently sweet. Soil keeps on getting better and weirder. Tokyo thoroughly kicked my ass. Thanks!
Sweet. More Inio Asano is always great.
Also, nice Twin Peaks reference.
I dare to ask you to plz give me a link to the awsome picture in black and white with the sunset. I searched for 2 hours with google every picture on the internet in black and white with a bicycle in the sunset and nothing.
@Chris: That’s a page from Inio Asano’s “The End of the World.”
Great releases as usual and thanks for finishing up Kakisen so quickly. I know I won’t ever be forgetting about Kotonoha anytime soon.
Thank you for the lovely releases!
Since you mentioned Inside Scanlation, I can’t help but wonder, how come there’s no interview and/or spotlight for Kotonoha? I would certainly love to read about the inner workings and stories of my favorite scanlation team.
Thanks a lot for the one-shots! hope I see them here more often.
I’ll have to check myself to know what SHQ means, but from the sound of it, I think it’s gonna be great.
Keep up!
If Kotonoha is in a bubble, that can only be a good thing.
It keeps the group from being contaminated by the others.
Your group has consistently put out high quality releases of various intriguing subjects and styles with one thing in common – they’re all good. I don’t even have to know what the story is about beforehand; if Kotonoha is in the file name, I’ll read it and enjoy it. This is one of the few respectable groups left.
BTW, releasing two Asano one-shots in SHQ is a great way to “evolve” while still being yourself.
Thanks for another pile of fine releases.
@SeeTheSea: Haha, I believe that will be the shortest interview ever since I honestly don’t know what to say. Kotonoha has always been a fairly straightforward group. My first rule when it comes to scanlation is to keep things simple and sexy. Besides, I’d rather that our work speak for us than some fancy interview.
Is there a chance that i could get that beautiful picture as a wallpaper for 1680×1050???
There should be a standalone story included in the Kaikisen volume, no?
And of course all your work is appreciated. Kotonoha does HQ with such small file sizes, I’ve always noticed. Just another sign of quality that puts Koto a cut above other scanlators.
btw Nomad soul … i’m a big fan of jiro matsumoto .. & i think u too … because everything i have for jiro comes from kotonoha except freesia … so i was wondering about WENDY … why it not scanlated until now ????
@js, the standalone, Summer of Tension has been scanlated, I believe.
To Nomad Soul, and the Kotonohians (for a lack of a better term): I love you.
thanks so much for scanlating… rofl @ego kotonohians… koto-nians… hahaha whatever the term we just love your very much given time… specially giving shoujo nemu it’s translation… *Big slap on the back*