Press
L'inspired Magazine: How a Comic Book Cultivated a New Culture of Wine
NOV. 01, 2019
One of the most phenomenal Japanese comics to come out in the last decade isn’t about superheroes, ninja assassins, or crime-solving teenagers. The Drops of God series, created by siblings Shin and Yuko Kibayashi (under the nom de plume Tadashi Agi) is all about wine—and its runaway popularity is so tremendous that Japan’s All Nippon Airways reworked its in-flight wine list to meet the demand for wines enjoyed by the manga’s protagonist, Shizuku Kanzaki. The international wine market has felt the impact of its reported 300 million fan base as well—with sales of Umberto Cosmo’s Colli di Conegliano Rosso increasing by 30% after appearing in the series. The award-winning manga’s even widely credited with developing a new wave of wine appreciation throughout Asia. Now the beloved fictional universe, which includes 44 volumes and a spin-off television series, has inspired an eponymous online wine salon and community that debuted stateside last month—and L’Inspired was lucky enough to cover its launch event in Beverly Hills.
麟感：《神之雫》漫画引领品酒新浪潮
NOV. 01, 2019
《神之雫（The Drops of God）》是过去十年间最受欢迎的日本漫画之一，由姊弟漫画家拍档树林优子（Yuko Kibayashi）与树林伸（Shin Kibayashi）以笔名亚树直（Tadashi Agi）共同创作，其内容无关超级英雄、忍术、或侦探少年，而是以葡萄酒为核心题材。其惊人的受欢迎程度，让ANA全日空航空公司（All Nippon Airways）为因应旅客想品嚐漫画主角神咲雫喜爱的酒款，重新设计机上的酒单。据称全球约三亿的粉丝，更足以撼动国际葡萄酒市场——意大利布恋达酒庄（Umberto Cosmo）的科内利亚诺精选红酒（Colli di Conegliano Rosso）在出现于漫画中后，全球销量暴增30%。屡获殊荣的漫画在亚洲掀起了一股葡萄酒品鑑新浪潮。这个备受喜爱的虚构世界共有44册漫画，另有一部电视剧集，而今，在美国更成立同名线上品酒沙龙与社群，且在上个月首次与酒迷们见面，L’Inspired麟感杂誌有幸参与採访在比佛利山庄（Beverly Hills）举办的系列开幕活动。
Decanter: Cult wine-themed manga comic Drops of God gets English translation release
NOV. 01, 2019
A Japanese manga comic which has become a cult phenomenon in Asia and helped to shift case upon case of premium wine has been released in an English translation version.
Bloomberg: Cut and done?
By the Way
OCT. 31, 2019
Pop the corks: The Drops of God manga series has finally been translated into English. The tale of two half-brothers who compete to inherit their father's vast wine collection by identifying 13 rare wines from his notes has already sold hundreds of millions of copies in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. Amazon’s ComiXology Originals and partner Kodansha have just released the first 11 of 44 volumes. The rest will arrive next year along with an online wine club.
Bloomberg: Wildly Popular Japanese Manga Storms U.S., With Wine in Tow
OCT. 30, 2019
The Drops of God manga series might be the only comic ever to move cases of wine. Now, with an English translation on Amazon’s ComiXology, you can read—and drink—along with its wine subscription club and digital salon.
Wine Industry ADVISOR: The Drops of God Wine Salon Successfully Launches in the United States
OCT. 30, 2019
Shin and Yuko Kibayashi, the sibling authors who created the wildly popular “Drops of God” manga series, recently launched the manga-themed Drops of God Wine Salon in California, marking the national debut of their paradigm-shifting new wine club.
NEXTSHARK: Legendary Manga Artists Teach Us How You’re Suppose to Drink Wine
OCT. 29, 2019
Everyone has a glass in their hand and a smile on their face, but perhaps the happiest people in the room are Shin and Yuko. Like glamorous movie stars, they wear sunglasses inside from all the lights and camera flashes constantly bombarding them, but steadily sipping the whole night, they can’t help but crack smiles left and right.
世界日報：美食+美酒 神之雫品酒沙龍重現漫畫精髓
OCT. 22, 2019
日本葡萄酒主題漫畫「神之雫」在全球擁有超過3億的粉絲，人氣超高。漫畫作者亞樹直姊弟近期推出的「神之雫品酒沙龍」(Drops of God Wine Salon)的新形態跟粉絲互動，替粉絲把關推薦好酒。沙龍的首次南加亮相活動於21日在比佛利山和米其林大廚合作舉行，讓愛好者們感受一次美食和美酒的「結婚」。
世界日報：姜理得談酒莊 美酒配佳餚
OCT. 22, 2019
「天下美食千千萬，當年在義大利旅遊時鄉村大媽用自家雞蛋、自家釀製大橄欖油、鄰居家的香料，和自己手擀麵做成的那頓飯，一輩子都記得」，酒商姜理得（Peter Chiang）12日在世界日報秋季旅展上分享美酒與美食心得，「帶有感覺，留下回憶」，才是最高境界。
Forbes: Wine-Oriented Manga ‘The Drops Of God’ Makes A Splash With Digital Debut, Luxury Tasting Event
OCT. 15, 2019
The Drops of God made a splash when it debuted in 2011, earning kudos from both the wine press and the comics press. The LA Times described it as “Speed Racer crossed with Wine Spectator.” It appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list and made several gift-guides over the years.
CBR.com: The Drops of God Manga To Finally Be Completed in English
OCT. 15, 2019
For years, the majority of the bestselling wine manga The Drops of God has been unavailable in English, despite widespread acclaim for the series. However, this all changed when comiXology and Kodansha Comics announced they'll be making the entire series available in English on the digital comics platform, along with the opening of a wine club inspired by the series.
First Comic News: Raise a Glass, ComiXology & Kodansha Comics to Complete the International Bestselling Manga Series The Drops of God in English for the First Time
OCT. 16, 2019
Today, comiXology and Kodansha Comics announced they will complete the international bestseller The Drops of God manga series in English for the first time. The first eleven volumes debut today and can be read digitally as part of the comiXology Originals line of exclusive content at no additional cost for members of Amazon Prime via their Prime Reading benefit, Kindle Unlimited and comiXology Unlimited, and for purchase on Kindle and comiXology. Thirty-four of the forty-four volume series have never been translated in English. Today’s release sees the previously published volumes 1-8 re-edited with new cover art and volumes 9-11 appearing today in English for the first time ever. More volumes will be added at a later date.
Taylor Network of Podcasts: The Drops of God Manga to be Completed in English for the First Time via comiXology Originals
OCT. 15, 2019
Raise a Glass, ComiXology & Kodansha Comics to Complete the International Bestselling Manga Series The Drops of God in English for the First Time.
Wine Industry ADVISOR: The Drops of God Wine Salon Set to Debut This Month
OCT. 15, 2019
Born from the manga series, The Drops of God, created by siblings Shin and Yuko Kibayashi, this game-changing wine salon provides for fans of the manga and wine, a thread between the old world benchmarks first pursued by protagonist, Shizuku Kanzaki, and the wines soon to be offered to salon members.
Wine Spectator: Beloved 'Drops of God' Wine Manga Gets Full English Translation
OCT. 14, 2019
The 44-volume hit comic series about high-stakes wine adventures will finally be available for English-speaking readers.
kodanshacomics: Full Q&A with The Drops of God creators + info on their appearance in Napa/L.A. Oct 20-21
OCT. 17, 2019
Now attendees of the Drops of God Wine Salon events can meet the writers of the world’s most famous wine manga—”Tadashi Agi,” the pen-name taken by siblings Shin and Yuko Kibayashi. The Drops of God Wine Salon is a “full-service online wine salon” inspired by none other than the Kibayashis, in partnership with vintner Peter Chiang.
Robb Report: One of Japan’s Most Popular Comics Is About the World’s Best Wines. Now, Amazon Is Bringing It to the US
OCT. 16, 2019
Japanese comic fans have a slightly more adventurous palette than their American counterparts. Whether you’re an ambitious high school basketball player, a rabid board game fiend or an exhausted salaryman, there’s probably a manga series or three out there for you. But one of the country’s biggest hits is also its most unlikely: The Drops of God does not center around a superhero; it’s about the world’s best wines—and it’s so wildly popular that Amazon is giving it a digital debut in the US.
NEXTSHARK: Legendary Manga Artists Team Up With Winemaker to Launch Exclusive Wine Club
OCT. 11, 2019
During the 17th and 18th century in Europe, prominent individuals (mostly women) would host private gatherings in their homes called “salons”. These gatherings were reserved for the elite who would gather together to debate and discuss topics surrounding literature, philosophy, and current events. Over time, salons became a key to the birth of new political ideas that would affect the course of world events.
世界日報：Kanpai！科技之子姜理得的酒莊故事
SEP. 30, 2019
從矽谷菁英之子，到米其林三星廚師，再到加州納帕谷(Napa Valley)的酒商，華商姜理得(Peter Chiang)和家人在剛入葡萄酒行業第一年，就遭遇納帕谷大山火，也正是這場大火催生了家族出品的「火之鳥」葡萄酒。
聯合新聞網：結合人氣漫畫「神之雫」 姜理得推「品酒沙龍」與粉絲互動
SEP. 16, 2019
以葡萄酒為主題的日本漫畫「神之雫」從2004年開始連截便意外爆紅，對國際葡萄酒市場竟造成重大影響，漫畫中出現的酒大都身價翻倍。ANA全日空航空公司因應旅客想品嚐漫畫主角喜愛的葡萄酒，重新設計機上的酒單；義大利布戀達酒莊·科內利亞諾精選紅酒（Umberto Cosmo‧Colli di Conegliano Rosso）因為漫畫裡出現，銷售量成長30%。
Drink Business: Drops Of God Founders To Launch Online Wine Club
