JManga
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Digital comics, Online community |
| Founded | December 2010 |
| Fate | Discontinued services in June 2013 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | Global |
| Products | Digital manga platform, manga reader, mobile application, manga-related services |
JManga was a U.S.-based digital platform and global online community dedicated to the promotion, distribution, and monetization of digital comics, along with the creation of manga-related services. Established in December 2010 with support from 36 publishers affiliated with the Japanese Digital Comics Association, JManga sought to offer a legitimate alternative to scanlation websites and combat online piracy. The platform discontinued its services in June 2013.
Early history
JManga emerged from a collaboration between Crunchyroll, Inc., a streaming service specializing in East Asian content, and Bitway Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Toppan Printing and a distributor of digital comics. This partnership, initiated in mid-2010, aimed to develop the first worldwide legal online manga platform. The initial focus was on creating an affordable and sustainable system for manga digitization outside Japan. This effort resulted in a white-label platform equipped with a manga reader, social media features, and a mobile application intended for licensing to regional publishers and distributors.
Regional distributors had the option to utilize JManga’s platform flexibly—ranging from simple viewer access to acquiring licenses for the full Crunchyroll publishing package to rebrand locally. Crunchyroll supplied the technological foundation, while Bitway capitalized on its connections with Japanese publishers to negotiate digital licenses, particularly targeting U.S. publishers who held print rights but required separate agreements for digital distribution.
The business strategy was designed to grow the digital manga market by enabling established firms and startups with adequate funding to initiate digital manga distribution operations. Revenue was generated through facilitating development and licensing processes for these licensees.
Official launch
At the July 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, editors from Japanese manga companies discussed industry challenges such as piracy, scarcity of licensees, and retail closures, which contributed to declining sales despite an increase in fan attendance. Consequently, JManga shifted its focus from simply enabling licensees to offering a lawful alternative to unauthorized scanlation platforms.
The North American launch occurred on August 17, 2011, featuring a carefully selected lineup of titles that were unlikely to be licensed in English elsewhere. The platform provided free access to certain works alongside an online store offering paid titles and exclusive content. Nonetheless, the initial library of 48 complete works was considered limited compared to the projected goal of 10,000 titles by 2013. Critics also pointed out issues such as high pricing, geographic restrictions, and lack of mobile device compatibility.
In response to community feedback on social media, JManga permanently reduced prices from $8.99 to $4.99 by November 2011 and reiterated plans for mobile applications and worldwide availability. The platform became accessible globally on February 28, 2012, following user-led campaigns opposing region-locking.
On June 22, 2012, JManga adopted a "pay as you go" payment system that eliminated distinctions between members and free users to increase accessibility. During San Diego Comic-Con in July 2012, the company announced upcoming native iOS and Android applications planned for release in October and introduced the "Manga Translation Battle," a competition sponsored by Japan’s Ministry of Cultural Affairs aimed at engaging both amateur and professional translators.
Ending of service
On March 13, 2013, JManga declared the discontinuation of its JManga and JManga7 platforms. The subscription for JManga7 had previously concluded, and JManga stopped offering points for purchase, rendering any remaining points unusable.
See also
- Weekly Shonen Jump Alpha, a digital shōnen manga anthology released in North America by Viz Media.