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Dark Horse Licenses Ms. Koizumi Loves Ramen Noodles Manga

Dark Horse Comics confirmed with ANN on Thursday that it has licensed Naru Narumi's Ms. Koizumi loves ramen noodles (Ramen Daisuki Koizumi-san) manga. Dark Horse Comics did not confirm the release date for the first volume of the manga, but Amazon is listing the volume with a September 24 release date. The listing describes the manga:

Let cool, mysterious high school student Ms. Koizumi and her girlfriends show you around the authentic ramen culture of everyday Japan in this fun food manga. The noodles, the toppings, the broth--the street stalls, restaurants, and home cooking...and yes, cup ramen too! You'll slurp down a whole new knowledge of Japan's greatest fast food that even many Japanese don't know...but Ms. Koizumi does!

Dark Horse Comics manga editor Carl Horn noted that the manga is Dark Horse's first food manga. He added that Ayumi Kato Blystone, a Portland-based Japanese chef, is translating the manga, as the company is "interested in the nuances of Japanese ramen culture, including its social aspects." The manga will also contain a bonus feature that will detail ramen shops and food carts in local areas including Portland where Dark Horse Comics is based.

Narumi launched the manga in Takeshobo's Manga Life Storia magazine in 2013, and Takeshobo published the sixth compiled book volume on January 30.

The manga inspired a live-action television series in 2015, followed by a New Year's Special in January 2016 and a New Year's Eve Special in December 2016. Most recently, the manga inspired a television anime that premiered in January 2018. Crunchyroll streamed the series as it aired in Japan.

Source: Email correspondence, Amazon