KUMA has announced a new Boys’ Love manga license: Ogeretsu Tanaka’s Mermaid Prince. The publisher revealed the title during its Anime Expo 2026 panel, with its official X post saying that Mermaid Prince Vol. 1 is its newest license.
The announcement came during “Manga Licensing with DENPA and KUMA Books,” an Anime Expo panel held July 4 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. in room 404AB. Anime Expo listed the panel as a returning appearance for DENPA and KUMA, with the publishers set to discuss new acquisitions and publishing insights.
Mermaid Prince, originally titled Mermaid Prince / マーメイド♡プリンス in Japan, is a BL fantasy comedy by Ogeretsu Tanaka. The Japanese edition is published by Shinshokan under its Dear+ Comics label.
The story follows Shinkai, a broke young man whose life changes after suspicious men suddenly arrive with an impossible offer. According to Japanese listings, Shinkai’s genes may make him capable of having a child with an endangered male mermaid. If he succeeds, he will receive 100 million yen. Confused but tempted by the money, Shinkai begins a strange “baby-making quest” surrounded by an attentive childhood friend, a hungry older man, a beautiful singer, and a frightening yakuza-like figure.
The title marks another Ogeretsu Tanaka work for KUMA’s BL catalog. KUMA already publishes Happy of the End in English, with the official KUMA listing crediting Ogeretsu Tanaka and offering the series in digital and paperback formats. Ogeretsu Tanaka is also known to English BL readers for works such as Yarichin Bitch Club, Escape Journey, and Daisy Jealousy, all of which have previously appeared through SuBLime.
KUMA has not yet announced an English release date, price, format details, or retailer listings for Mermaid Prince Vol. 1. More details are expected to follow through KUMA’s official website and social media channels.
