Tokyo International News Agency

On the SNS platform "X" (formerly Twitter), posts surrounding "manga serialization" are buzzing, reflecting a crossroads between the end of long-standing legacies and the anticipation for new talent. A particularly hot topic is the news that the magazine serialization of the beloved national manga, Doraemon , will conclude this fiscal year. Its serialization began in 1969, and even after its creator, Fujiko F. Fujio, passed away in 1996, the series continued to be cherished by readers for an astonishing 57 years until April 2026. Many users are posting emotional comments regarding the end of this long-running work. Voices like, "To think that Doraemon 's manga serialization would end within my lifetime... I guess no story truly lasts forever..." and posts recalling memories of reading CoroCoro Comic in their youth are appearing one after another, reaffirming the immense legacy of Doraemon spanning over half a century. On the other hand, there are also...

In recent years, the trending phrase "teens moving away from manga" (10-dai no manga-banare), frequently reported in the media, has sparked lively debate on social media. Following the release of analytical articles by experts, headlines such as "The exodus from manga is unstoppable" have proliferated, leading to diverse discussions on its background and actual state. Many posts pointed to the current trend in the Japanese manga industry towards an "adult-oriented paid content" model. For elementary, junior high, and high school students who lack payment methods or can only spend small amounts, expensive single-chapter sales and subscriptions present a high barrier. Voices have emerged saying, "The hurdles were raised for adults, leaving children behind." There are also observations that anime adaptations, which should serve as a gateway to magazine purchases, tend to be concentrated in late-night slots, narrowing the "entry point." On ...

A major stir is sweeping through the manga industry following the revelation that Itsuki Yatsunami, the original author of the popular series Seisou no Shinrishi , serialized on Shogakukan's manga app "Manga One," is the same person as Tatsuya Matsuki, the original author of act-age , which was previously serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump . Tatsuya Matsuki was arrested and indicted in August 2020 on charges of forcible indecency, and subsequently received a guilty verdict. In response to this revelation, the Manga One editorial department announced the temporary suspension of Seisou no Shinrishi updates starting March 2nd. Shogakukan explained that this is to cooperate with a third-party committee investigation, and stated that they will sincerely address any damages to the artist, Kaoru Yukihira, and the original author, Itsuki Yatsunami. Readers express shock and confusion This shocking development has led to numerous expressions of bewilderment and disappointment from ...

Reports by Kyodo News and others on the 27th revealed that an editor at Shogakukan intervened in settlement negotiations for a sexual assault case involving a manga artist they were in charge of, proposing a non-disclosure agreement to the victim. This has caused a significant stir on social media, with "Shogakukan Editor" becoming a trending topic and a deluge of criticism directed at the company's corporate ethics. At the heart of the issue is the fact that Shogakukan continued to employ Shouichi Yamamoto (reported to be a pseudonym), known for manga like "Daten Sakusen," as the original creator of "Jounin Kamen" under a different name, despite his past arrest for sexual assault against a minor. According to current reports, a Shogakukan editor participated in the settlement negotiations regarding Yamamoto's alleged sexual assault and proposed the creation of a notarized document to the victim, conditional on her not disclosing the incident. On s...