In a major development, Orange Inc. launches long-promised emaqi Platform, a digital comics store for comics readers in the United States and Canada. According to the company, the name “emaqi” itself is a tribute to Japanese historical scrolls. picture objectis considered the forerunner of modern comics.
emaqi’s launch catalog consisted of approximately 6,000 titles from 13 publishers. The platform also plans to launch at least one new game every week that has not been previously published in English.
Orange Inc. also stated that no more than 10% of the content on emaqi will be translated using artificial intelligence support at the time of publication, and the company has formulated future methods for publishing and translation volume. The company will also showcase existing English-translated works on the platform, as well as works translated by Studio Mikan’s in-house studio.
Orange Inc. also touted a new partnership with Shueisha that will allow localization from Shonen Jump+. Shueisha has announced plans to release selected singles in September over the Labor Day weekend, with simultaneous distribution in Japan Comics moreconfirmed that the Japanese conglomerate is working directly with Orange Inc. to localize selected one-off shots for the campaign. The first of the new measures currently offered is deep sea of words go through See helpwith more to come throughout the month.
The emaqi platform is web-based and optimized for mobile devices, with plans to launch a dedicated smartphone application in the future. Features such as personalized recommendations and curated content are also in development. Below is a partial list of available titles.
- Stop (Shōnen Pictorial Agency) – The protagonist is the ultimate desperado. This exciting gangster comic tells the story of a low-level gangster with no prospects for advancement in the underworld who runs freely in society. A 100% thrilling story of chivalry and mayhem…
- Naughty girl Anjo (Shōnen Pictorial Agency) – A diligent, humble boy in his class finds himself constantly being approached by the stylish, charming girl Anjo. A shocking youth romantic comedy!
- even if you don’t (Futabasha Publishing Co., Ltd.) – Although the relationship with the husband is not bad, there is still something missing… This work truly depicts the psychological struggle of two couples dealing with a sexless marriage.
- KIMONGAI -Demon City- (Shōnen Pictorial Agency) – After suffering an unfair tragedy, the protagonist exchanged his soul for great power. This battle action comic depicts an epic struggle against a monumental fate.
- the morning after (Shōnen Art Newspaper) — After spending the night together, enjoy a special bittersweet breakfast together. This is a collection of short stories about food love stories with a hint of melancholy.
- tokyo girls (Shōnen Pictorial Company) – A kaleidoscope of human stories set in Tokyo, with characters struggling between true emotions and reason… A short comprehensive comic about adults who cannot be honest with themselves.
- scarlet mask (Shōnen Pictorial Agency) – Masks Have a Will of Their Own – This classic fighting fantasy follows the journey of a young mask merchant who creates masks that grant abilities when worn. What is his past, and what is the real purpose of his trip?
- Can I take your photo? (Boyen Pictorial Agency) – A female high school student struggling with self-confidence discovered photography and established a connection with the world through the lens of the camera. This unique slice-of-life comic depicts the interactions between the girls through their shared love of photography.
- lever leaf (Misumisou – Futabasha Publishing Co., Ltd.) – A girl transfers to a school in a snow-covered rural town, only to face relentless bullying. This psychological horror comic depicts her shocking and gruesome revenge in vivid detail, telling a chilling story of revenge.
- Baji Baji (Akita Publishing Co., Ltd.) – A famous sumo wrestler is betrayed and expelled from the sumo world, leaving behind a son whose father’s last words are etched in his heart. This authentic sumo manga depicts the story of a son trying to reach the top of the sumo world (yokozuna) in order to fulfill his father’s wish.
As the Japanese publishing industry adopts AI-powered tools for publishing in various ways, the fact that emaqi is now launching with Shueisha as a primary partner lends additional credibility to the platform. Orange Inc. is quickly establishing a foothold in the manga industry, as it also has partnerships with Japanese publishers such as Shonengahosha, Futabasha and Akita Publishing, and has secured additional distribution rights from Kodansha in the United States.
