Nao Iwamoto's Catalog Gets the Free-Read Treatment
Shogakukan launched a free reading campaign on its Fura Comi Like! digital platform on June 1, giving international-curious fans and newcomers alike a chance to dive into the works of Nao Iwamoto before her biggest title hits the small screen this fall.
The headliner is The Seven Knights of the Marronnier Kingdom (マロニエ王国の七人の騎士), a fantasy romance serialized in Shogakukan's Monthly Flowers magazine since 2016. The series — which topped the women's category of the Kono Manga ga Sugoi! rankings in 2018 — follows the seven sons of Barybara, a female general in the Marronnier Kingdom, as they're dispatched to neighboring nations as ambassadors tasked with finding their destined partners. Each brother has a distinctive quirk (nicknamed everything from "Sword Master" to "Hungry"), and the story mixes court politics with romantic comedy across eight rival kingdoms.
The first two volumes are completely free through the end of June. Through June 14, volumes 1 through 5 are available under Fura Comi Like!'s "wait-to-read-free" system, where chapters unlock after a set cooldown period. Two more Iwamoto titles are also part of the campaign: Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom (金の国 水の国), which was adapted into a 2023 theatrical anime film by Madhouse, and Machi de Uwasa no Tengu no Ko (町でうわさの天狗の子). Each title has different free-read windows and episode ranges — check the Fura Comi Like! page for specifics.
A Title-Page Popularity Poll and Signed Prizes
Alongside the free campaign, Shogakukan is running a popularity poll for The Seven Knights of the Marronnier Kingdom's monochrome title-page illustrations — a celebration of both the anime announcement and the manga's 10th serialization anniversary. The winning illustration will be reproduced as a signed photo print, with ten lucky voters selected by lottery to receive one.
It's a neat touch for a series that's built a loyal readership over a decade in Monthly Flowers. Iwamoto is well-regarded for her detailed fantasy worldbuilding and warm character work, and the title-page art has always been a showcase for that.
The Anime: J.C.Staff, NHK E-Tele, October 2026
The TV anime was announced on June 1 with a teaser visual and a short special video. J.C.Staff (Food Wars!, DanMachi) is handling animation production, with Seiko Sayama directing and Shinzō Fujita on series composition. Yuriko Maeda is designing characters, Jin Aketagawa serves as sound director, and Yoshimasa Fujisawa composes the music.
No voice cast has been announced yet. The anime will air on NHK E-Tele starting in October 2026 — the public broadcaster's educational channel, which has previously hosted family-friendly anime hits.
Looking Ahead
The October 2026 premiere on NHK E-Tele gives the adaptation a prime slot on Japan's public broadcaster, though international streaming partners haven't been announced. NHK-produced anime have historically landed on Crunchyroll or Netflix for international distribution, but nothing is confirmed for this title yet.
On the manga side, The Seven Knights of the Marronnier Kingdom doesn't have an official English-language release — a gap that could narrow once the anime generates international demand. Volume 11 of the Japanese edition releases on June 10, 2026. Iwamoto's Gold Kingdom and Water Kingdom is available in English from Seven Seas Entertainment, so there's precedent for her work crossing over.
The free reading campaign on Fura Comi Like! is live now. If you can read Japanese, it's the easiest way to get a taste of the series before the anime arrives in the fall.