While piecing together Slam Dunk's English publication history last year, I spoke with a few industry veterans about the challenges faced by sports titles in the North American market. One of those experienced pros was Ed Chavez, the publisher of Denpa. As we chatted about these sports-specific hurdles, Chavez and his team were deep into the production of the English-language version of Mitsuru Adachi's Short Game. At the time, Chavez planned to release the baseball-focused short story anthology by the end of 2024, but a series of unforeseen delays pushed it to late June of 2025.

Unplanned setbacks are nothing new for Denpa, with another one of their highly anticipated titles, Moto Hagio's They Were Eleven, experiencing bumps on the road to publication. However, the publisher's dedication to frequent, frank, and transparent updates on their social media channels is a breath of fresh air in the face of situations that regularly result in radio silence. After taking a good, long look at the final product in my hands, I can most assuredly say that the wait was worth it. Short Game is such a shockingly refined release, no wonder it's up for an American Manga Award.

Originally published in 2014, this anthology features a collection of five short stories centered on the relationships forged through high school baseball. Be it a blooming teen romance, a slightly stormy team reunion, or the hopes fathers have for their sons, the sport is used as a glue to bring these characters together, but it isn't the focus. If you're looking for a more nuts-and-bolts sports story, something like Slam Dunk or Yowamushi Pedal will probably be up your alley. Not to say that those titles don't have a similar heart behind them, but Short Game isn't too concerned with the actual particulars of baseball.

Between each story is a quick, interstitial bit that sheds a little light on Adachi's day-to-day life as an author. He's dealing with questionable pitches to his editor, long nights in the office, and taking a nap before flicking on a baseball game and getting back to work. He even takes a moment to poke fun at his biggest hit. These bits feature generally lighthearted experiences that any creative can relate to—I know I did. The alternating stories and bits give the anthology a smooth and breezy flow, allowing readers to either blaze through or savor each story.

Regardless of how Short Game is read, it's undeniable that Denpa has given this title the royal treatment. As soon as my copy arrived, I noticed the satisfying matte finish to its front and back covers, along with their dust cover-like folds. Despite being a larger paperback title, the material attention to detail on the exterior alone put it right up there with some of my favorite hardcover releases. When I started to properly flick through Short Game's pages, I couldn't help but say, “This might be the most polished book I've looked at all year.” The paper used is so nice, thick, and pulpy—it's not printer paper, newsprint, or anything but the most premium ply Denpa could realistically spring for.

There's a special sort of tactile delight that comes with handling a release this superb. Short Game joins a very small club of fantastic premium titles that are not only great reads, but are comfortable to read with one hand—something that can often be a struggle with deluxe releases such as Kodansha USA's Ashita no Joe omnibuses. But after getting myself worked up over the material strengths of this title, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how that attention to detail is applied to the page itself. Working off of Matt Schley's stellar translation, the team at Denpa tackled Short Game's lettering and effects with a refined, understated approach that makes Adachi's storytelling shine.

From top to bottom, Short Game is one of the most meticulously crafted releases of the year. After all those delays and the obvious hours upon hours put into bringing this title to market, Chavez and his team at Denpa should be incredibly proud of the final product. I sincerely hope that the glowing critical response to They Were Eleven, Short Game, and their American Manga Award nominations will provide Denpa with the additional resources to help them more easily clear these hurdles in the future. Because I've got to say, it's dead clear to me that Short Game is an absolute home run.