VIZ Media Launches SHURIKEN AND PLEATS Manga Series By Matsuri Hino

Dive Into A Tale Of Intrigue And Modern-Day Ninjas In The Latest Shojo Manga Series By The Creator Of VAMPIRE KNIGHT

San Francisco, CA, February 16, 2016 – VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), the largest distributor, publisher and licensor of manga and anime in North America, announces the launch of famed creator Matsuri Hino’s new manga (graphic novel) series, SHURIKEN AND PLEATS, on March 1^st.

SHURIKEN AND PLEATS, the story of a schoolgirl who’s also a ninja in modern-day Japan, is the latest title from Hino, who created the pivotal shojo series, VAMPIRE KNIGHT (also published by VIZ Media; rated ‘T+’ for Teens).

SHURIKEN AND PLEATS is rated ‘T’ for Teens and will be published in print under the Shojo Beat imprint with an MSRP of $9.99 U.S. / $12.99 CAN. The series also launches digitally on March 1^st via VIZManga.com and the VIZ Manga App (iOS and Android), as well as from the Nook, Kobo, Kindle, iBooks, comiXology, and GooglePlay stores. New volumes of the series, which is ongoing in Japan, will be released twice a year.

When the master she has sworn to protect is killed, Mikage Kirio, a skilled ninja, travels to Japan to start a new, peaceful life for herself. But as soon as she arrives, she finds herself fighting to protect the life of Mahito Wakashimatsu, a man who is under attack by a band of ninja. From that time on, Mikage is drawn deeper into the machinations of his powerful family.

“Matsuri Hino returns with SHURIKEN AND PLEATS, a story about a skilled female ninja who is striving to find a new life for herself,” says Nancy Thistlethwaite, Senior Editor. “We invite readers to savor all the action and intrigue in this beautifully illustrated new manga series.”

Matsuri Hino burst onto the manga scene with her debut title, Kono Yume ga Sametara (When This Dream Is Over), which was published in Japan in LaLa DX magazine. Already possessing strong artistic talent, Hino became a manga artist a mere nine months after she decided to pursue it as a professional career. With the success of her popular series, CAPTIVE HEARTS and MERUPURI (both also published by VIZ Media), Hino has established herself as a major player in the world of shojo manga. 

For additional information on SHURIKEN AND PLEATS or other manga titles distributed by VIZ Media, please visit www.VIZ.com.

About VIZ Media, LLC

Headquartered in San Francisco, California, VIZ Media distributes, markets and licenses the best anime and manga titles direct from Japan.  Owned by three of Japan's largest manga and animation companies, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Co., Ltd., VIZ Media has the most extensive library of anime and manga for English speaking audiences in North America, the United Kingdom, Ireland and South Africa. With its popular digital manga anthology WEEKLY SHONEN JUMP and blockbuster properties like NARUTO, BLEACH and ONE PIECE, VIZ Media offers cutting-edge action, romance and family friendly properties for anime, manga, science fiction and fantasy fans of all ages.  VIZ Media properties are available as graphic novels, DVDs, animated television series, feature films, downloadable and streaming video and a variety of consumer products.  Learn more about VIZ Media, anime and manga at www.VIZ.com.