Star Fruit Books Announces New Licenses for 2025-2026

Star Fruit Books shared exciting news over the weekend with two major manga licensing announcements.

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"The Final Strike" Set for 2026 Release

Star Fruit Books revealed that it has licensed The Final Strike (Saigo no Strike), a bowling-themed manga by Chikae Ide. The company plans to release the English version in 2026 and is likely to crowdfund the project.

"This will be the first of a handful of works that we will be working on with sensei! Please support. Coming 2026. We will most likely crowdfund this title. More info by the end of the year. Will be available worldwide!"

— Star Fruit Books Twitter

The Final Strike originally ran in Shueisha's Ribon magazine back in 1970 and consists of a single volume released in 1971.

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"When Pink Falls 4: Sweet Pain" One-Shot Coming This Summer

Additionally, Star Fruit Books licensed a new 24-page one-shot titled When Pink Falls 4: Sweet Pain by Yoiyu. The manga is scheduled for release in late summer 2025.

Pre-order customers will receive three original art postcards by Yoiyu as a bonus.

"24 pages. Coming late summer 2025. Each order includes 3 postcards featuring original art from the author. A preorder window will be announced soon for when these bonuses become available!"

— Star Fruit Books Twitter

The When Pink Rain Falls series, a BL manga first published in 2020, has previously seen releases of volumes 1, 2, and 3 by Star Fruit Books. The third volume When Pink Rain Falls 3: Under The Mistletoe was released around the holiday season last year. Both When Pink Rain Falls and its sequel have also been added to the digital manga service Azuki.

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About the Creators

• Chikae Ide's The Final Strike is a classic from the 1970s centered on the sport of bowling.
• Yoiyu is known for the popular BL series When Pink Rain Falls and continues to expand the storyline.

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Sources:

• Star Fruit Books' X/Twitter account
• Star Fruit Books' X/Twitter announcement