Milan-based Atlantyca Entertainment has signed a five-year deal with Japanese publisher Kodansha to release the Geronimo Stilton funny tales book series throughout Japan.

Kodansha will release the first title in the series through its Children’s Books division this June. Atlantyca’s Japan area manager Rosamaria Pavan and Kodansha Children’s Books division editor Yuri Tawara brokered the deal.

“We are honored to be working with one of the most prolific publishers in the world and proud to make Geronimo Stilton a part of Kodansha’s enduring mission to bring the joy of reading to as many children as possible at a time that is seeing such enormous growth in the children’s marketplace,” says Claudia Mazzucco, chief executive officer of Atlantyca Entertainment. “All of us at Atlantyca are committed to supporting Kodansha on this project as they work to conduct business as usual while faced with the unimaginable effects of the recent natural disasters.”

“I have loved the Geronimo Stilton books since first seeing them,” says Abe Kaoru, Kodansha Children’s Books division director. “We are dedicated to maintaining Geronimo’s strong traits and high virtues, all of which have made him one of the most loved characters globally. Japanese children could learn from him how to overcome difficulties.”