News
Kodansha to Launch Monthly Manga Magazine in China
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
The Japanese publishing company Kodansha is partnering with the Guangxi Publishing & Media Group Co. to release a monthly magazine in China starting in March 2012. The magazine will target boys aged 10-15, and local artists will draw for the magazine.
Kodansha will hold a 49% stake in the venture, and Guangxi Publishing & Media Group Co. will hold a 51% stake. Kodansha will provide expertise in marketing strategies and how to create the works. In addition, Kodansha will also work with the Chinese company to publish compiled volumes of the serialized works, create anime adaptations, and license merchandise.
Last year, Kadokawa Holdings China partnered with publisher Hunan Tianwen to create the Guangzhou Tianwen Kadokawa Animation & Comics Co. The company translates manga and light novels and also creates original Chinese manga and anime. As in the case with Kodansha, Kadokawa also holds a 49% stake in the new company, and Hunan Tianwen holds a 51% stake.
Kodansha established the Kodansha USA holding company to publish and directly sell manga volumes in North America in 2008. Kodansha has also bought 46.7% of manga publisher Vertical.
Source: Anime Anime Biz, Nikkei
