Key facts
- Kodansha is establishing a company in India to print manga, a first for a major Japanese publisher.
- The move aims to tap into India's growing market for Japanese content and combat piracy.
- Popular titles such as 'Attack on Titan' and 'Blue Lock' are slated for local printing.
- This strategy is part of Japan's broader effort to export its cultural influence through manga.
- Kodansha previously partnered with JICA on a comic addressing gender awareness in India.
Kodansha is set to become the first major Japanese publisher to establish a company in India for printing manga, a strategic move to capitalize on the growing demand for Japanese content in the region. This initiative aims to bypass piracy issues by localizing production and directly engaging with India's substantial young readership.
The company plans to print popular titles such as 'Attack on Titan' and 'Blue Lock' in India. This strategy is part of Japan's broader effort to leverage manga as a significant cultural export, targeting a nation with 1.4 billion people and a median age of 28.
This move contrasts with Western publishers, who are seen as lagging in recognizing manga's global sales potential and often relegate it to niche sections. Japan, conversely, views India as a primary market, employing strategies like simultaneous English edition availability and leveraging literary festivals to promote manga's narrative sophistication.
Previously, Kodansha collaborated with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to publish 'India Calling Me Now' in both Japan and India on April 12, 2024. This comic series addresses gender inequality and aims to promote societal shifts, utilizing manga's expressive storytelling to engage the younger generation and foster cultural exchange.