Shueisha’s new global digital manga service, has launched to commemorate the publisher’s 100th anniversary on August 8
Launch of the Global Manga Service MANGA MILLION ©SHUEISHA Inc. All rights reserved.
The limited time manga distribution service can be used without registration and is scheduled to remain available through the end of December 2027. It offers approximately 400 Shueisha manga titles, totaling one million pages translated into more than 100 languages, free of charge to readers worldwide. Only part of the service is accessible in Japan.
Around 400 Manga Titles Available in More Than 100 Languages
Launch of the Global Manga Service MANGA MILLION ©SHUEISHA Inc. All rights reserved.
Leading the catalog is ONE PIECE, which has been translated into 107 languages. The lineup also includes major shonen and seinen manga such as NARUTO, BLEACH, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Jujutsu Kaisen, Kingdom, Oshi no Ko, SPY x FAMILY, and Chainsaw Man.
The service also features more than 150 shojo manga and manga for women, including works loved across generations such as NANA and Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You. In total, approximately 400 notable manga titles are included. The number of available languages and the distribution range vary by title.
All translations have been produced by professional translators. Shueisha says the official translations preserve the appeal of each work and the voices of its characters while maintaining a level of quality unique to an authorized service.
Although the number of languages varies depending on the title, approximately 300 works are receiving official English translations for the first time. Titles are also available in Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, French, Arabic, Turkish, Tagalog, Korean, Polish, and many other languages from around the world.
Through the service, Shueisha aims to overcome national borders and language barriers while introducing global audiences to the free and diverse forms of expression cultivated by Japanese manga culture.
Bulgarian Language Version ©Eiichiro Oda/SHUEISHA
Myanmar Language Version ©Eiichiro Oda/SHUEISHA
Hindi Language Version ©Eiichiro Oda/SHUEISHA
Near Simultaneous Distribution of Current Manga Chapters
Beginning in mid August, Shueisha plans to launch what it calls near simultaneous distribution for approximately 30 works currently serialized in its magazines.
The latest chapters will be released sequentially around two to three weeks after their publication in Japan. ONE PIECE is scheduled to be distributed in 96 languages, including Italian, Mongolian, and Swahili.
The other approximately 30 titles covered by the initiative have not previously received simultaneous distribution through MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA. These works will be released in English.
Through this initiative, Shueisha aims to deliver authorized versions of the latest chapters to a wider range of readers more quickly than before, while creating more opportunities for readers around the world to discover new manga.
A Global Project Across Shueisha
MANGA MILLION was developed as a project spanning multiple departments within Shueisha.
The service was made possible through the cooperation of numerous manga creators and licensing partner companies around the world.
Shueisha explained that it will deliver a broad variety of works, including shonen manga, shojo manga, manga for women, and seinen manga, to readers worldwide so that they can enjoy the best possible manga experience.
Comment From Shueisha President Hideaki Hayashi
“One of a publisher’s most important missions is to connect talent with society. Japan’s manga culture has developed with the support of manga creators and readers, growing into a culture loved across national borders.
“As Shueisha marks its 100th anniversary, I hope MANGA MILLION, which was made possible through the tremendous cooperation of manga creators, will create new connections with readers around the world.
“I also hope it will provide a place where people can experience the rich expansion of manga culture and ultimately contribute to the emergence of future MANGA creators.”
Comment From Project Leader Shuhei Hosono, Editor in Chief of MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA
“This project began with a simple idea: It is Shueisha’s 100th anniversary, so would it not be interesting to translate manga into 100 languages across one million pages?
“However, as we explored the idea further, we began to see it as an ideal project for addressing questions such as whether there are still countries where manga has not reached and whether certain works remain unread because of language barriers.
“I hope MANGA MILLION, an unprecedented translation project spanning 100 languages and one million pages, will become the best possible opportunity for readers around the world to discover Japanese manga.”
- COMIC
- ONE PIECE
- NARUTO
