Weekly Young Magazine

June 16, 1980 marked the arrival of Weekly Young Magazine on Tokyo newsstands. Kodansha launched this periodical as a biweekly publication before switching to a weekly schedule in 1989 to better compete with other major magazines. The magazine targets adult men and distinguishes itself through mature storytelling that blends action, drama, comedy, fantasy, and ecchi elements. Readers often flip past the cover to find color gravure photography featuring popular idols, a tradition maintained since the first issue.

The publication serves as the primary launchpad for influential serialized manga that later appear as collected volumes under the YoungKC imprint. Series like Attack on Titan, Golden Kamuy, One Outs, and Kaiji found their home here. These works tackled gritty or controversial themes, setting them apart from the more formulaic tropes found in shonen anthologies. The magazine's willingness to publish diverse stories helped it build a loyal readership over four decades.

In July 2025, Kodansha expanded its reach by launching a dedicated English-language edition for the American market. This special U.S. release featured over 1,000 pages of new manga content created by both emerging and established artists, distributed freely to introduce Western audiences to fresh talent. A reader poll selected five winning titles for simultaneous English serialization following the launch. As of August 24, 2026, the U.S. edition continues to serialize new works, including Kami Nishio's Still You, marking a pivotal moment in the magazine's global strategy. [edit]