Starting our updated list today is the manga adaptation of the rom-com light novel, Chitose-kun wa Ramune Bin no Naka (Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle).

Unlike most rom-com protagonists, the titular Chitose Saku is doing pretty well – he’s in the top social caste of the school, the “normies,” surrounded by pretty girls and handsome boys. Chosen to lead his second-year class, Chitose is tasked with acclimating a fellow student who’s been shut away in his room for months.

Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle isn’t the usual rom-com fare, with poignant moments reminiscent of Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Come wa Machigatteiru (My Youth Romantic Comedy is Wrong, As I Expected). For curious readers, the reference to the popular Japanese soda, Ramune, refers to the glass marble that blocks the top of a Ramune bottle that cannot be removed without breaking the bottle.

You can pick up the first volume of Chitose Is in the Ramune Bottle in July 2022.

Would you like a romance that’ll make you cry your eyes out? Then do we have a manga for you! The manga adaptation of the 1985 short story, Josee to Tora to Sakana-tachi (Josee, the Tiger and the Fish), arrives this year after the critically acclaimed 2020 film of the same name.

Starring a university student studying marine biology and a paraplegic woman who dreams of conquering her fears, everything about Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is designed to tug on your heartstrings. Without spoiling too much of the plot, it’s safe to say that whether you read the original story, watch the film, or read the manga, you’ll end up in tears.

This emotional story about love, injury, and conquering your demons will begin serializing in August 2022.

This prize-winning manga comes from Konishi Asuka, the mangaka behind Haru no Noroi (Haru’s Curse), with Raise wa Tanin ga Ii (Yakuza Fiancé) taking home the 2018 Tsugi ni Kuru Manga Taishou awards.

Yoshino is the granddaughter of Osaka’s biggest mafia boss, and with a reputation preceding her, she’s passed through school without ever attracting a boyfriend. That all changes when her grandfather arranges a marriage for her with the grandson of another yakuza…but Yoshino’s new partner isn’t just a gangster, but a masochist to boot! Can their strange relationship find a happy ending?!

With praise from critics and readers alike, Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii offers a look into the real world of Japan’s yakuza, without the over-the-top dramatization of other series. This is a more complex read than the usual romance manga we recommend, but definitely one for mature readers looking for layered characters in a seinen romance.

You can find Yakuza Fiancé: Raise wa Tanin ga Ii at all good bookstores in November 2022.

After those two heavy recommendations, how about something fluffier and more fantastical?

An isekai romance starring a Hokkaido hunter who gets bested by a bear, this rom-com adventure takes place in another world with beautiful elves and some pretty vicious wildlife. Armed with only a Remington shotgun, Shin Nakajima begins his new life alongside the gorgeous elf, Saran, who shares his mutual love of nature, hunting, and adventure!

Hokkaidou no Geneki Hunter ga Isekai ni Hourikoma Rete Mita - Elf Yome to Meguru Isekai Shuryou Life (Hunting in Another World With My Elf Wife) has gathered praise from readers for avoiding some of the standard isekai tropes (like a vastly overpowered main character) and for a surprisingly in-depth discussion about Japanese firearm laws (which are far more complex than you might expect).

Get ready to go hunting in another world when Hunting in Another World With My Elf Wife hits the shelves in October 2022.

Our top pick for new romance manga of 2022 is One Room, Hiatari Futsuu, Tenshitsuki (Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included). This sweet and innocent romantic comedy stars a literal angel (straight from Heaven itself!) and some of the most precious artwork we’ve seen in years.

High-schooler Shintaro’s lonely life gets turned upside down when he encounters the mysterious girl, Towa, on his balcony. Far from being a random stranger, she’s actually an angel descended from the heavens above — and thus begins Shintaro and Towa’s sweet and endearing romantic comedy!

You can experience a touch of heaven yourself when Studio Apartment, Good Lighting, Angel Included arrives in July 2022.

Kicking off our list today is Witch Watch, an adorable romantic comedy that has the classic tropes of childhood sweethearts and oblivious male leads. Morihito has the bloodline of an ogre, and his childhood friend is the teenage witch, Nico. When Morihito becomes her sworn protector, they’ll have to live together under the same roof…but he’s completely oblivious to Nico’s crush on him!

We read a few chapters during serialization on the Shonen Jump (Manga Plus) app, and can tell you that Witch Watch is definitely a manga to look out for – it’s sweet, enjoyable, and funny to boot! Nico is utterly endearing in a clumsy-love-interest way, and Morihito is stubbornly dumb and extremely serious about his role. Watch out for your Witch (see what we did there?!) early this year!

We’ve been anxiously awaiting this series’ publication for a while now, as it sounds like an excellent harem and ecchi comedy. Our main character Aijo is unlucky in love, and after asking out his hundredth girl (and promptly being struck down), he prays for heavenly guidance…only to learn that a god made a mistake, and his rejections were a celestial mishap! To remedy the situation, the god makes each girl Aijo’s destined soulmate, but there’s a catch – he’ll have to return each and every one of their feelings, or else they’ll each die in horrible accidents.

With the added supernatural twist, there’s a more reasonable justification for the harem setup than we usually see – Aijo is not just a lucky protagonist, but an almost unlucky protagonist thanks to the high stakes involved! We’ll definitely be surprised if there’s not an anime announcement sometime soon, given that the series has been selling well in Japan (with eight volumes already published) and has a growing following online!

With a huge number of light novels already available, not to mention the rather excellent first season of the anime, Shin no Nakama Janai to Yuusha no Party o Oidasareta node, Henkyou de Slow Life Suru Koto ni Shimashita (Banished from the Hero's Party, I Decided to Live a Quiet Life in the Countryside) is now making the customary transition to manga.

The series stars Red, a former hero rejected from the Hero’s party when it seemed like he was holding them back. Disenfranchised with the adventuring life, he journeys to the far-flung frontier and opens his very own apothecary, living a simple life as the resident physician. Despite having overtones of fantasy, this series is best known for the warm and endearing romance between main character Red and his former traveling companion, Rit.

Honey’s Anime called Banished from the Hero’s Party “the best romance anime of 2021”, so if you’re interested in reading the manga adaptation, keep your eye out for the release early this year.

Office romance is a growing genre, and Ookami Buka-kun to Hitsuji Joushi-san (I’m a Wolf, but My Boss is a Sheep!) looks to spice things up with a literal take on “wolf among sheep”. Oogami is a salaryman with a huge crush on his supervisor, and he gets his lucky (or unlucky) break when he’s transferred to her department. There’s just one problem – he’s a literal wolf, and his coworkers are sheep!

There are some pretty obvious animal personalities here, and the character designs all have literal animal parts, so this series offers a very unique spin on the ubiquitous phrase. We’re looking forward to some animal-based puns and great artwork in this unusual office comedy-romance!

Our most anticipated read of the year so far, Chitose-kun wa Ramune Bin no Naka (Chitose is in the Ramune Bottle) is seeing a dual release, with the light novel debuting early in the year and the manga adaptation starting up later on.

The story features Saku Chitose, the top dog of his high school, surrounded by popular kids and enjoying his amazing social life. His life takes a strange turn when he’s asked to rehabilitate Kenta, an anti-social shut-in – but Chitose isn’t one to back down from a challenge. Thus begins his journey to educate otaku nerd Kenta and transform him into one of the popular guys!

It’s pretty rare to see a light novel get illustrated so quickly, but it’s not surprising when you look at the success it’s had overseas – six light novels, three manga volumes, and nearly 300,000 copies of the novels in circulation as of December 2021.

Chitose is in the Ramune Bottle has a catchy title, beautiful artwork, and is set to deliver an introspective look at popularity and perceptions in high school cliques when it arrives in the middle of this year.