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Digital Manga's PeCChi Imprint Launches Kickstarter for Kodomo no Jikan Manga

North American manga publisher Digital Manga Inc.'s new PeCChi imprint announced on Thursday that it has launched a Kickstarter campaign to publish Kaworu Watashiya's Kodomo no Jikan ~ A Child's Time manga in English. The campaign is seeking to raise US$157,000 by July 5 in order to release the 13-volume series in five omnibus volumes, and the additional volume "Houkago" (After School).

If funded, the project is slated for an October 2017 release date. Stretch goals include color pages, improved paper quality, and a hardcover release. Backer rewards include merchandise—such as a poster, clear file, tote bag, pillowcase covers, rubber charms, and a fleece blanket—as well as art by Watashiya.

As of press time the project has earned US$16,645.

PeCChi describes the series:

Newly hired Aoki Daisuke becomes a teacher to a 3rd grade class after the previous quits. He thought teaching was going to be a breeze until he meets troublemaker Rin Kokonoe. Rin wreaks havoc on Daisuke's job by attempting to seduce him. Due to Rin's odd behavior, Daisuke decides to make a visit to her caretaker. Little does he know, Rin has a traumatic past hidden away behind her innocent face.

Kodomo no Jikan is a school life comedy by day, and a psychological drama by night. As Daisuke attempts to remedy the complex challenges his students face outside of school grounds, the reader is forced to ask oneself, is Rin really just an innocent child? Or was Daisuke the innocent one after all?

Watashiya launched the manga series in Comic High! in 2005 after a one-shot version ran in 2004, and she ended the series in 2013. Watashiya published the additional "Houkago" collection of shorts at the same time as the final volume of the manga.

The manga inspired a television series in 2007, and it was followed by manga-bundled original anime DVDs and a video anime series.

North American publisher Seven Seas Entertainment had licensed the manga under the name Nymphet, but canceled its plans due to content.