Manga creator Takeshi Nogami (Sailor-fuku to Jūsensha, Yamato Nadeshiko Zero Zero Seven) launched the online manga Marine Corps Yumi at the Sai-Zen-Sen website on Tuesday. The story follows an ordinary Japanese high school student Yumi as she pursues her goal of joining the Marine Corps of "Amerigo." (In real life, the name "America" was coined after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.)

The first chapter is available online for free and features a cameo by U.S. President Barack Obama.

In addition to his original manga, Nogami authored several dōjinshi and spin-off manga based on the Strike Witches franchise. Kadokawa Shoten's online magazine Kadokawa Niconico Ace published his Strike Witches: The Witches of Andorra manga with an English translation. He also co-created The Witches of the Sphinx dōjinshi with Takaaki Suzuki, the historical advisor on the Strike Witches anime series.

[Via Okazu]