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Kodansha USA

From Alfawiki
Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryPublishing
FoundedJuly 1, 2008; 18 years ago (2008-07-01)
FateIntegration of Kodansha Advanced Media and Vertical in 2020
Headquarters
New York City
,
United States
Area served
English-speaking market
Key people
Alvin Lu (President and CEO)
ProductsManga, Japanese culture books, novels
OwnerKodansha (Japan)
ParentKodansha
Websitekodansha.us

Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC operates as a subsidiary of Kodansha, Japan's foremost publishing company, and is headquartered in New York. Established on July 1, 2008, its publishing portfolio centers on works related to Japan, including Japanese culture and manga. The company issues manga titles under its Kodansha Manga imprint, previously known as Kodansha Comics.

In 2020, Kodansha USA Publishing integrated Kodansha Advanced Media along with Vertical into its organizational structure. Alvin Lu, who served as general manager at Kodansha Advanced Media, was promoted to president and CEO. This leadership transition was aimed at reinforcing the company's strategic direction and expanding its presence in the market.

On March 9, 2021, the company revamped its website and consolidated Kodansha Comics, Kodansha USA International, and Vertical under the unified Kodansha brand. Concurrently, Kodansha Comics was rebranded as Kodansha Manga. This initiative simplified the corporate framework and improved brand alignment across international markets.

Kodansha Manga

Kodansha Manga—previously known as Kodansha Comics—functions as an imprint of Kodansha USA Publishing dedicated to translating and releasing Kodansha's manga titles for the English-speaking audience. Launched in 2009 to commemorate Kodansha’s centennial anniversary, its early offerings included notable works such as Masamune Shirow's Ghost in the Shell and Katsuhiro Otomo's Akira, both of which had earlier been available in English through Dark Horse Comics.

After Tokyopop’s licenses expired, Kodansha Comics acquired several series previously under Tokyopop’s purview. Despite bearing the Kodansha name, it was not initially the exclusive distributor of Kodansha manga; Del Rey Manga handled many titles until it ceased operations in 2010. Following Del Rey’s closure, Kodansha Comics began publishing certain titles with distribution support from Random House.

On March 9, 2021, the imprint formerly called Kodansha Comics officially adopted the name Kodansha Manga.

Vertical

Vertical is an imprint under Kodansha USA Publishing specializing in Japanese novels and manga. Founded by Hiroki Sakai in 2001, it became partially owned by Kodansha (46.7%) and Dai Nippon Printing (46.0%) following its acquisition in February 2011. Vertical was merged into Kodansha USA Publishing in 2020. Based in New York City, Vertical publishes a wide variety of genres including science fiction, fantasy, mystery, fiction, nonfiction, crafts, and culinary books. Distribution is managed by Penguin Random House Publisher Services.

Titles

Vertical’s catalog encompasses an extensive selection of literature such as prose fiction, manga series, nonfiction works, craft manuals, and cookbooks.

Novels

Short story anthologies

  • Birthday by Koji Suzuki
  • Boy authored by Takeshi Kitano
  • Dark Water written by Koji Suzuki
  • Season of Infidelity by Oniroku Dan

Non-fiction and assorted works

  • A Slow Death produced by the NHK-TV team behind “Tokaimura Criticality Accident”
  • Aranzi Aranzo
  • The Honda Myth authored by Masaaki Sato
  • Iron Chef Chen's Knockout Chinese by Chen Kenichi
  • J-Horror written by David Kalat
  • Nintendo Magic by Osamu Inoue
  • North Korea Kidnapped My Daughter authored by Sakie Yokota
  • Saying Yes to Japan by Tim Clark and Carl Kay
  • Sayonara, Mr. Fatty! written by Toshio Okada
  • Slow Sex Secrets by Adam Tokunaga
  • The Toyota Leaders authored by Masaaki Sato
  • Walking Your Way to a Better Life by Kimiko

Manga

Vertical’s manga lineup features critically acclaimed series such as:

  • 5 Centimeters Per Second, created by Makoto Shinkai and Yukiko Seike
  • 7 Billion Needles, authored by Nobuaki Tadano
  • After the Rain, a work by Jun Mayuzuki
  • Ajin: Demi-Human, written by Gamon Sakurai
  • Andromeda Stories, a collaboration between Ryu Mitsuse and Keiko Takemiya
  • Avant-garde Yumeko, created by Shūzō Oshimi
  • Works including Ayako, along with other titles like Apollo's Song, Black Jack, and Buddha, all by Osamu Tezuka
  • Tsutomu Nihei’s notable series such as Blame! and Knights of Sidonia
  • Blood on the Tracks, authored by Shuzo Oshimi
  • The beloved series Chi's Sweet Home, created by Kanata Konami
  • The comedic manga CITY, written by Keiichi Arawi
  • Dark fantasy series like Devil's Line, authored by Ryou Hanada
  • Horror manga such as Dissolving Classroom, created by Junji Ito
  • The popular romantic comedy series Don't Toy with Me, Miss Nagatoro, by Nanashi
  • Classic work Dororo, penned by Osamu Tezuka
  • The mystery series The Drops of God, authored by Tadashi Agi and Shu Okimoto
  • Psychological drama series like The Flowers of Evil, created by Shūzō Oshimi
  • Adaptations such as From the New World, based on Yusuke Kishi’s novel
  • Works including GTO: 14 Days in Shonan and other titles from Tooru Fujisawa
  • Fantasy manga like Guin Saga Manga: The Seven Magi, created by Kaoru Kurimoto and Kazuaki Yanagisawa
  • Titles such as Helter Skelter and additional works from Kyoko Okazaki
  • The superhero manga series Heroman, developed collaboratively by Stan Lee, BONES, and Tamon Ohta
  • Thriller series like Immortal Hounds, authored by Ryō Yasohachi

...among numerous other distinguished titles spanning multiple genres.

This diverse collection highlights Vertical’s strategic dedication to publishing superior Japanese literary works and manga, reinforcing its distinct position within specialized global publishing sectors.

Kodansha Advanced Media

Established on December 4, 2014, in San Francisco, Kodansha Advanced Media, LLC operated as a subsidiary of Kodansha until its integration into Kodansha USA Publishing in 2019. This entity concentrated on digital distribution of Kodansha Comics manga alongside select Vertical publications, overseeing the Kodansha Comics online platform.

Created to manage English-language digital dissemination for Kodansha Comics, the company formed a joint venture with Digital Garage in 2015 aimed at expanding manga distribution across North America through websites and mobile applications. Kodansha Advanced Media also coordinated film releases and promotional campaigns, including launching an app for Yamada-kun and the Seven Witches, targeting English-speaking audiences.

To address piracy concerns and improve market penetration, the company adopted simul-translation and simul-publication tactics, delivering digital content ahead of print editions. In December 2015, Kodansha Advanced Media broadened accessibility further by offering Kodansha Comics titles digitally via North American public libraries through OverDrive.

Leadership included President and CEO Hiroaki Morita alongside General Manager Alvin Lu. The company’s operational model focused on leveraging digital channels to enhance revenue streams while fortifying Kodansha’s competitive stance within the international manga marketplace.

References


External links

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