1st 13 episodes to ship in premium edition BD/DVD box with hardcover artbook on April 9

The North American distributor NIS America confirmed with ANN on Thursday that it has licensed the Hanasaku Iroha television anime series. NIS America will release the first 13 episodes in the series on Blu-ray Disc and DVD in a premium edition on April 9 for US$69.99. Extras will include a 36-page full-color hardcover artbook, clean openings and endings, and Japanese trailers. The release will include Japanese audio and English subtitles.

The story of Hanasaku Iroha centers around Ohana Matsumae, a 16-year-old Tokyo native who ends up working with her grandmother at an onsen ryokan (hot spring inn). Matsumae has yet to decide her future.

Masahiro Ando (Sword of the Stranger, Blast of Tempest) directed the series at P.A. Works. Mari Okada (anohana, Black Butler, Toradora) handled the series composition, and Mel Kishida (So-Ra-No-Wo-To ) handled the original character design. Shiroh Hamaguchi (One Piece, Tari Tari, Gurls und Panzer) handled the music. The series stars Kanae Itō as Ohana Matsumae, Aki Toyosaki as Nako Oshimizu, Ayumi Tsunematsu as Takako Kawajiri, and Chiaki Omigawa as Minko Tsurugi.

The 26-episode series originally premiered in April 2011, and Crunchyroll streamed the series outside of Japan as it aired.

NIS America also revealed that it will release standard editions of Arakawa Under the Bridge season one, Ghastly Prince Enma Burning Up, and Bunny Drop on January 29. The Arakawa Under the Bridge release will have both Blu-ray Disc and DVD editions, the Ghastly Prince Enma Burning Up standard edition will be on Blu-ray Disc only, and the Bunny Drop standard edition will include both Blu-ray Discs and DVDs.

Update: Added Via information and press release link.

[Via WTK]