Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC
The United States publishing subsidiary of Kodansha, specializing in English-language manga, Japanese literature, and books about Japan and Japanese culture.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Kodansha USA Publishing, LLC is the New York-based United States publishing subsidiary of Kodansha, one of Japan’s major publishing houses. Established on July 1, 2008, the company was created to develop Kodansha’s English-language publishing presence in the United States and to make Japanese books and manga available to readers outside Japan. Its publishing scope includes translated manga, fiction, nonfiction, reference works, and books concerned with Japan, Japanese culture, crafts, cooking, and related subjects. The company’s best-known publishing activity is its manga program. The program was launched in 2009 under the Kodansha Comics name, coinciding with Kodansha’s centennial. Its initial releases included English editions of Ghost in the Shell by Masamune Shirow and Akira by Katsuhiro Otomo, titles that had previously appeared in English through Dark Horse Comics. The imprint subsequently expanded through both new licenses and the transfer of series whose earlier English-language licenses had expired, including titles previously associated with Tokyopop. During the transition following the closure of Del Rey Manga in 2010, Kodansha Comics also became a publisher for selected Kodansha titles that had been handled by that imprint, with Random House serving as distributor for the Kodansha Comics program. Kodansha USA’s publishing operations have also incorporated businesses and imprints with different editorial strengths. Vertical, an independent Japanese literature and manga publisher founded in 2001 by Hiroki Sakai, became substantially owned by Kodansha and Dai Nippon Printing in 2011. Vertical’s list included prose fiction, manga, nonfiction, cooking, crafts, and other illustrated or specialist books. Kodansha Advanced Media, established in 2014, supported digital distribution of Kodansha manga and selected Vertical titles, and worked on digital delivery, applications, events, and film-related releases. In 2020, Kodansha consolidated Kodansha Advanced Media and Vertical into Kodansha USA Publishing. Alvin Lu, previously general manager of Kodansha Advanced Media, became president and chief executive officer of the consolidated company. The company has increasingly combined conventional print publishing with digital distribution and rapid translation. Kodansha Advanced Media’s digital work included simultaneous or accelerated English releases intended to reduce the appeal of unauthorized copies and to meet demand for current Japanese series. In December 2015, Kodansha announced that Kodansha Comics titles had become available digitally through OverDrive for North American public-library users. On March 9, 2021, Kodansha USA announced a website relaunch and a unified brand structure. Kodansha Comics was renamed Kodansha Manga, while Kodansha USA International and Vertical were brought under the broader Kodansha identity. The change positioned the company less as a collection of separate labels and more as Kodansha’s unified English-language publishing operation. Today, Kodansha USA remains focused on licensing, localizing, publishing, and distributing Japanese-origin content for English-language readers, with manga as its most visible line and books about Japan and Japanese culture as an important complementary area.
History
Kodansha USA Publishing was established in New York on July 1, 2008, as the United States subsidiary of Kodansha. Its role was to publish and distribute English-language editions of Japanese books, with particular emphasis on manga and works concerning Japan and Japanese culture. The company’s creation gave Kodansha a more direct publishing presence in the North American market rather than relying exclusively on third-party licensees. In 2009, the company launched Kodansha Comics, an imprint dedicated to Kodansha’s manga catalog in English. Its first releases included Ghost in the Shell and Akira, both of which already had histories in the English-language market through Dark Horse Comics. The imprint later expanded its catalog through new licenses and by taking on series whose previous English-language arrangements had expired. The end of Del Rey Manga in 2010 also created an opportunity for Kodansha Comics to publish additional titles associated with Kodansha, with Random House acting as distributor for the imprint. A second important part of the company’s history came through Vertical. Founded in 2001 by Hiroki Sakai, Vertical published Japanese fiction, manga, nonfiction, cooking, crafts, and other books. In February 2011, Kodansha and Dai Nippon Printing each acquired substantial stakes in Vertical. Vertical subsequently operated within the broader Kodansha publishing structure while retaining a distinct editorial identity. Kodansha also developed a dedicated digital operation in the United States. Kodansha Advanced Media was established on December 4, 2014, in San Francisco, to support digital distribution of Kodansha Comics manga and selected Vertical titles. Its work included digital delivery through websites and smartphone applications, support for English-language releases, and involvement in events and film-related activities. In 2015, Kodansha and Digital Garage announced a joint venture connected with digital manga distribution in North America. Digital publication, including rapid or simultaneous translation, was also used as part of the company’s response to unauthorized copying. Later in 2015, Kodansha Advanced Media announced availability of Kodansha Comics titles through OverDrive for North American public-library users. In 2020, Kodansha consolidated Vertical and Kodansha Advanced Media into Kodansha USA Publishing. Alvin Lu, who had been general manager of Kodansha Advanced Media, was appointed president and chief executive officer of the consolidated operation. The restructuring brought print publishing, digital distribution, and the Vertical list into a more unified United States organization. On March 9, 2021, Kodansha USA announced a website relaunch and a corresponding brand reorganization. Kodansha Comics became Kodansha Manga, while Kodansha USA International and Vertical were unified under the Kodansha name. This change made the company’s relationship with its Japanese parent more explicit and presented its English-language manga and book activities as parts of a single Kodansha publishing platform. The company’s continuing business centers on the localization, publication, and distribution of Japanese-origin manga, literature, nonfiction, and cultural titles in English.
- 2021
Kodansha Comics becomes Kodansha Manga
[1]The company relaunched its website and unified its English-language publishing identities under the Kodansha name.
- 2020
Vertical and Kodansha Advanced Media are consolidated
[1]Kodansha consolidated both operations into Kodansha USA Publishing and appointed Alvin Lu as president and chief executive officer.
- 2015
Digital distribution expands
[1]Kodansha Advanced Media participated in North American digital distribution initiatives and made Kodansha Comics titles available through OverDrive.
- 2014
Kodansha Advanced Media is established
[1]The San Francisco-based company was created to support digital distribution of Kodansha manga and selected Vertical titles.
- 2011
Kodansha and Dai Nippon Printing acquire major stakes in Vertical
[1]Kodansha and Dai Nippon Printing each acquired substantial ownership positions in Vertical, a publisher of Japanese fiction, manga, and nonfiction.
- 2010
Del Rey Manga closes
[1]After Del Rey Manga shut down, Kodansha Comics gradually began publishing some titles previously associated with that imprint.
- 2009
Kodansha Comics launches
[1]The company launched its manga imprint with English editions including Ghost in the Shell and Akira.
- 2008
Kodansha USA Publishing is established
[1]Kodansha established its New York-based United States publishing subsidiary on July 1, 2008.
Products and positioning
Publisher and localizer of Japanese manga, literature, and cultural content for English-language readers, combining a major Japanese publishing parent with North American editorial, print, and digital distribution capabilities.
Manga imprint · 2009
Kodansha Manga
Kodansha Manga is the company’s principal English-language manga imprint, renamed from Kodansha Comics in 2021. It localizes and publishes manga from Kodansha’s Japanese catalog for English-language readers in print and digital formats. The imprint’s early releases included Ghost in the Shell and Akira, and its list later expanded through new acquisitions and titles whose earlier English-language licenses had expired.
Book and manga imprint · 2001
Vertical
Vertical was founded in 2001 as an independent publisher focused on Japanese fiction, manga, nonfiction, cooking, crafts, and related subjects. Kodansha and Dai Nippon Printing acquired substantial stakes in 2011. Its operations were consolidated into Kodansha USA Publishing in 2020, although the Vertical name had represented a distinctive editorial list within the company’s English-language publishing activities.
Digital distribution operation · 2014
Kodansha Advanced Media
Kodansha Advanced Media was established in San Francisco in 2014 to manage digital distribution of Kodansha Comics manga and selected Vertical titles. It supported websites, smartphone applications, library distribution, and rapid English-language digital releases. The operation was consolidated into Kodansha USA Publishing in 2020.
Trade and cultural publishing · 2008
Books on Japan and Japanese culture
Beyond manga, Kodansha USA publishes English-language books relating to Japan and Japanese culture. The broader list includes literature, nonfiction, reference-oriented works, cooking, crafts, and other subjects that introduce Japanese writing, culture, and creative practices to international readers.
Brand decisions
2021
Unified Kodansha English-language brandingStrategyBackground
Kodansha USA used several identities, including Kodansha Comics, Kodansha USA International, and Vertical, across its English-language publishing activities.
Action taken
The company relaunched its website, unified the imprints under the Kodansha name, and renamed Kodansha Comics as Kodansha Manga.
Aftermath
The reorganization made the connection to Kodansha more prominent and presented manga and book publishing through a more unified brand architecture.
2020
Consolidation of Vertical and Kodansha Advanced MediaM&ABackground
Kodansha operated multiple United States publishing and digital-distribution businesses serving overlapping English-language manga and book audiences.
Action taken
Kodansha consolidated Vertical and Kodansha Advanced Media into Kodansha USA Publishing and appointed Alvin Lu, formerly general manager of Kodansha Advanced Media, as president and chief executive officer.
Aftermath
The move created a more centralized United States operation combining editorial publishing, digital distribution, and the Vertical catalog.
2015
Expansion of digital manga distributionProduct launchBackground
Kodansha Advanced Media was created to support digital delivery of Kodansha manga and selected Vertical titles, including efforts to respond to unauthorized copying and changing reader habits.
Action taken
The operation supported rapid English-language digital publication and announced availability of Kodansha Comics titles through OverDrive for North American public libraries.
Aftermath
Kodansha’s English-language catalog became accessible through additional digital channels, including library platforms.
Recent events
- 2021
Kodansha USA relaunches website and unifies English-language imprints[1]
Product generation
The company relaunched its website and brought Kodansha Comics, Kodansha USA International, and Vertical under a unified Kodansha structure. Kodansha Comics was renamed Kodansha Manga.
- 2020
Kodansha consolidates Vertical and Kodansha Advanced Media into Kodansha USA[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Kodansha announced the consolidation of Vertical and Kodansha Advanced Media within Kodansha USA Publishing. Alvin Lu, formerly general manager of Kodansha Advanced Media, became president and chief executive officer.
- 2015
Kodansha manga becomes available through OverDrive for North American libraries[1]
Product launch
Kodansha Advanced Media announced digital availability of Kodansha Comics titles through OverDrive, expanding access through North American public libraries.
- 2009
Kodansha establishes Kodansha Comics manga imprint[1]
Product launch
Kodansha USA launched its English-language manga imprint, initially known as Kodansha Comics, with releases including Ghost in the Shell and Akira.
Sources2 sources
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