Manga author Aya Kanno will launch her new series, Makoto no Kuni , in the April issue of Bessatsu Hana to Yume (BetsuHana) magazine on February 26. The series will focus on Saitō Hajime and Hijikata Toshizō of the Shinsengumi, the police force from the Bakumatsu era that spelled the end of the shoguns' rule over Japan. (Historical Japanese names are listed family name first, while modern names are listed family name last.)

Kanno first delved into the Shinsengumi with her Hokusō Shinsengumi manga, and it has been eight years since her last Shinsengumi manga, Kōtetsu no Hana. The new story will be set in the Aizu region of northern Japan.

Kanno confirmed that she is ending her Otomen romantic comedy on November 26. Viz published the 13th volume in North America in September. The story inspired a 2009 live-action television series with Masaki Okada and Kaho as the main leads.

[Via Manga News]