Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC

Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC was established in New York City on July 1, 2008, as the North American subsidiary of Kodansha Ltd., Japan's largest publishing house. The company was created to formally localize and distribute Japanese content, primarily manga, for English-speaking audiences, consolidating earlier licensing efforts under a dedicated U.S. entity. Over the following decade, it absorbed several related imprints, including the former Del Rey Manga line and Vertical, Inc., unifying its operations under the Kodansha Comics brand by 2016. This reorganization streamlined its identity and strengthened its market position as a leading official English-language manga publisher.

Kodansha USA's primary product is manga, published under imprints like Kodansha Comics and Kodansha Trade Paperbacks. It releases popular series such as Attack on Titan, Sailor Moon, Fairy Tail, Akira, Vinland Saga, and Blue Lock in print and digital formats. Beyond manga, the company publishes books on Japanese culture, literature, and art, including works by Haruki Murakami (e.g., Norwegian Wood) and nonfiction titles on Japanese history and design. Services include digital distribution via platforms like ComiXology and Kindle, as well as direct sales through its website, kodanshacomics.com.

Kodansha USA is the second-largest English-language manga publisher in North America by market share, behind Viz Media (owned by Shueisha and Shogakukan) but ahead of Seven Seas Entertainment and Yen Press. It holds a significant portion of the U.S. manga market, which was valued at over $1.5 billion in 2023, driven by hits like Attack on Titan and Sailor Moon. Its parent, Kodansha Ltd., is Japan's largest publisher, with a 2022 revenue of approximately ¥150 billion (≈$1.1 billion), though Kodansha USA's specific revenue is not publicly disclosed.[edit]