Seven Seas Entertainment have officially licensed the survival idol manga series IDOL x IDOL STORY! by author Shotaro Tokuno (NEW GAME!) for an English release. IDOL x IDOL STORY! Volume 1 will release for English audiences in April 2025 as a print and digital release.
The story follows Mimi Nagisa, a former aspiring idol who enters an entertainment survival show. Sixteen girls enter the idol competition, but only a few of them will debut as a group. Entering along with her is Ibuki Nanakusa, who it turns out was inspired by Mimi to become an idol in the first place.
Seven Seas describes the plot of IDOL x IDOL STORY! as follows:
“Meet Mimi, a college grad working part-time at a convenience store. Once an aspiring idol, she abandoned her dream when her group failed to make it big. Enter Ibuki, a rising star inspired by Mimi’s past. Their unexpected encounters reignite Mimi’s passion for the spotlight. Together, they decide to audition for a high-stakes idol competition show. Can they achieve their dreams and forge an unbreakable bond, or will the intense rivalry tear them apart?”
IDOL x IDOL STORY! began serialization on August 25, 2022 and is published digitally in Japanese by Comic Fuz. The first chapter is available to read in Japanese for free. A new chapter is released for the series every two weeks, along with special chapter art on the author’s Twitter, and fictional behind the scenes updates in between chapters. There are currently five Japanese volumes released, with a different idol character and logo style as the focus for each cover.
Manga author Shotaro Tokuno previously created the popular yuri video game development series NEW GAME! This previous series started publication in January 2013 and ended in August 2021 with 13 volumes released (also by Seven Seas). It was a 4-koma style, comedy slice-of-life, workplace story and part of the Manga Time Kirara Carat manga magazine. The manga is now being re-released in Japan as an omnibus Complete Edition.
NEW GAME! also received a two season anime adaptation in Summer 2016 and 2017 by studio Doga Kobo that was directed by Yoshiyuki Fujiwara (Sing Yesterday for Me, Plastic Memories, GJ Club). The anime is available to watch now on Crunchyroll.
Are you excited for the IDOL x IDOL STORY! manga? Let us know in the comments!
