is a Japanese publisher of

comics a Media (communication), medium used to express ideas with images, often combined with text or other visual information. It typically the form of a sequence of Panel (comics), panels of images. Textual devices such as speech balloons, Glo ...

magazine A magazine is a periodical literature, periodical publication, print or digital, produced on a regular schedule, that contains any of a variety of subject-oriented textual and visual content (media), content forms. Magazines are generally fin ...

light novel A is a type of Genre fiction, popular literature novel from Japan usually classified as young adult fiction, generally targeting Adolescence, teens to Young adult, twenties or older. The definition is very vague, and wide-ranging. The abbr ...

dictionaries A dictionary is a listing of lexemes from the lexicon of one or more specific languages, often arranged Alphabetical order, alphabetically (or by Semitic root, consonantal root for Semitic languages or radical-and-stroke sorting, radical an ...

literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, Play (theatre), plays, and poetry, poems. It includes both print and Electroni ...

non-fiction Non-fiction (or nonfiction) is any document or content (media), media content that attempts, in good faith, to convey information only about the real life, real world, rather than being grounded in imagination. Non-fiction typically aims to pre ...

home media Home media refers to media used for recording, copying, delivery, and playback of various types of entertainment and information in the home. Forms of home media include: * Home audio * Home video * Magnetic tape * Phonograph record * Home comput ...

, and other media in Japan. Shogakukan founded

Shueisha is a Japanese publishing company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Shueisha is the largest publishing company in Japan. It was established in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The ...

, which also founded

Hakusensha is a Japanese publishing company. It is headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company mainly publishes manga magazines and is involved in series' productions in their games, original video animation, music, and their animated TV series. The com ...

. These are three separate companies, but are together called the

Hitotsubashi Group The is a Japanese family-owned publishing vertical keiretsu in Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda, Tokyo. It is composed of Shogakukan, Shueisha, Hakusensha and related publishing companies. The name of the group is derived from the location of its majo ...

, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan and the world. Shogakukan is headquartered in the Shogakukan Building in Hitotsubashi, part of Kanda,

Chiyoda, Tokyo , known as Chiyoda City in English,
." ''City of Chiyoda''. Retrieved on December 28, 2008. is a S ...

, near the Jimbocho book district. The corporation also has the other two companies located in the same

ward Ward may refer to: Division or unit * Hospital ward, a hospital division, floor, or room set aside for a particular class or group of patients, for example the psychiatric ward * Prison ward, a division of a penal institution such as a pris ...

International operations

In the United States

Shogakukan, along with

, owns

Viz Media Viz Media, LLC is an American entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California, focused on publishing manga, and distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series. The company was founded in 1986 as Viz, ...

, which publishes manga from both companies in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. Shogakukan's licensing arm in North America was ShoPro Entertainment; it was merged into Viz Media in 2005. Shogakukan's production arm is

Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions is a Japanese production company, a subsidiary of the Japanese publishing group Hitotsubashi Group. Prior to 2008, it was known as . Notable filmography * '' A Penguin's Troubles'' * '' Departures'' * ''Doraemon'' * ''Pokémon'' * '' Pok� ...

(previously Shogakukan Productions Co., Ltd.) In March 2010 it was announced that Shogakukan would partner with the American comics publisher

Fantagraphics Fantagraphics (previously Fantagraphics Books) is an American publisher of alternative comics, classic comic strip anthologies, manga, magazines, graphic novels, and (formerly) the Erotic comics, erotic Eros Comix imprint. They have managed sev ...

to issue a line of manga to be edited by

Rachel Thorn Rachel Thorn (formerly Matt Thorn; born May 12, 1965) is a cultural anthropologist and a faculty member at the Kyoto Seika University's Faculty of Global Culture (in the Japanese Culture Course) in Japan. She is best known in North America ...

In Europe

Europe Europe is a continent located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Eastern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and Asia to the east ...

, manga from Shōgakukan and

Shūeisha is a Japanese publishing company headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. Shueisha is the largest publishing company in Japan. It was established in 1925 as the entertainment-related publishing division of Japanese publisher Shogakukan. The ...

are published by local publishers such as Pika Édition,

Ki-oon Ki-oon is a French manga publisher with its head office in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. It was founded in October 2003 by Cécile Pournin and Ahmed Agne. It released its first manga in March 2004, the first volume of ''Element Line''. The n ...

Kana are syllabary, syllabaries used to write Japanese phonology, Japanese phonological units, Mora (linguistics), morae. In current usage, ''kana'' most commonly refers to ''hiragana'' and ''katakana''. It can also refer to their ancestor , wh ...

and

Kazé Kazé was a French publishing company that specializes in anime and manga. Its head office was in the 9th arrondissement of Paris. Founded in 1994, the company debuted by publishing ''Record of Lodoss War'' on VHS. It was owned by Sony through t ...

for the French market, and Kazé, Carlsen, Egmont and

Tokyopop Tokyopop (styled TOKYOPOP; formerly known as Mixx Entertainment) is an American distributor, licensor and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa and Western manga-style works. The German publishing division produces German translations of licens ...

for the German market. Shogakukan, Shueisha and ShoPro have established a joint venture named

Viz Media Europe Crunchyroll EMEA, formerly known as Viz Media Europe, is a European anime distributor. Established as Viz Media Europe, it was Viz Media's European sister company until 2019. It holds partnerships with TV channels, DVD distributors, and manga pu ...

. Viz Media Europe bought in 2009 the French Kazé Group whose activities are mainly publishing manga and home video for the French and German market.

In Southeast Asia

The company has a wholly-owned subsidiary,

Shogakukan Asia is a Japanese publisher based in Singapore, specialising in English-translated manga and edutainment content that promotes and nurtures interest in Japanese arts and culture. The company, a subsidiary of Japanese publisher Shogakukan, opened in ...

, with headquarter in

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

. Besides producing popular titles in English such as ''

Detective Conan ''Case Closed'', also known as , is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Gosho Aoyama. It has been serialized in Shogakukan's manga magazine ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' since January 1994; its chapters are collected in 107 ...

'', ''

Pokémon is a Japanese media franchise consisting of List of Pokémon video games, video games, Pokémon (TV series), animated series and List of Pokémon films, films, Pokémon Trading Card Game, a trading card game, and other related media. The fran ...

'' and ''

Future Card Buddyfight was a Japanese collectible card game created by Bushiroad. The first products began releasing simultaneously worldwide from January 24, 2014. On June 15, 2020, Bushiroad announced it would end production of the card game, with the fin ...

'', the company also partners with local creators such as

Johnny Lau Johnny Lau (刘夏宗) is a Singaporean artist famous for his iconic comic series ''Mr Kiasu''. Since the 1990s, Lau has been appointed creative director or co-producer of a number of projects with various art and design forms, including publis ...

to publish comic series for distribution in Southeast Asia.

New Manga Awards

Shogakukan has awards for amateur

manga artists A manga artist, also known as a mangaka (), is a comic artist who writes and/or illustrates manga. Most manga artists study at an art college or manga school or take on an apprenticeship with another artist before entering the industry as a pri ...

who want to become professional. It allows people to either send in their

manga are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...

by mail or bring it in to an

editor Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, organization, a ...

Genghis Khan controversy

On February 15, 2018, ''

CoroCoro Comic is a Japanese children's manga magazine published by Shogakukan. It was established in 1977 and several of its properties, like ''Doraemon'' and the ''Pokémon'' series of games, have gone on to be cultural phenomena in Japan. The name comes fr ...

'' ("''Gekkan Corocoro Comic''"), a children's magazine published by Shogakukan, had in its March issue a cartoon making fun of

Genghis Khan Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; August 1227), also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongols, Mongol tribes, he launched Mongol invasions and ...

, founder of the

Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire was the List of largest empires, largest contiguous empire in human history, history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Euro ...

. The comic showed a mischievous boy doodling juvenile things on pictures of famous people, such as a dog's face on a picture of

Albert Einstein Albert Einstein (14 March 187918 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity. Einstein also made important contributions to quantum mechanics. His mass–energy equivalence f ...

. Genghis Khan was depicted with a crude rendering of male genitalia on his forehead. After some backlash, Shogakukan initially offered an apology addressed to the Mongolian Embassy in Tokyo on February 23, but that failed to mollify Mongolian expats in Japan, who regard Genghis Khan as a national hero. On February 26, Mongolians and citizens of

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

Inner Mongolia Inner Mongolia, officially the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is an Autonomous regions of China, autonomous region of China. Its border includes two-thirds of the length of China's China–Mongolia border, border with the country of Mongolia. ...

autonomous region An autonomous administrative division (also referred to as an autonomous area, zone, entity, unit, region, subdivision, province, or territory) is a subnational administrative division or territory, internal territory of a sovereign state that has ...

resident in Japan sent a formal letter of protest to Shogakukan, while some 90 demonstrators protested in front of company headquarters. Major bookselling chains

Kinokuniya Kinokuniya (紀ノ国屋) a high-end Japanese supermarket chain headquartered in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. Kinokuniya Co., Ltd. became a wholly owned subsidiary of East Japan Railway Company on April 1, 2010. There is no relationship with retailer a ...

, Miraiya and Kumazawa pulled the publication off shelves after the Mongolian Embassy in Tokyo filed an official complaint with the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

. In March 2018, Shogakukan issued another public apology, announced a national recall of the magazine and offered a refund to magazine patrons. CoroCoro Comic's website also published an apology by Asumi Yoshino, author of the serialized manga ''Yarisugi!!! Itazura-kun'' which contained the controversial image.

List of magazines published

Manga magazines

Male oriented manga magazines

;Children's manga magazines *''

'' (since 1977) *''Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic'' (since 1981) *''CoroCoro Ichiban!'' (since 2005) ;''Shōnen'' manga magazines *''

Weekly Shōnen Sunday is a weekly manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan since March 1959. Contrary to its title, ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' issues are released on Wednesdays. ''Weekly Shōnen Sunday'' has sold over 1.8billion copies since 1986, making it ...

'' (since 1959) *'' Shōnen Sunday Super'' (since 1978) *''

Shōnen Big Comic was a bi-weekly manga magazine published by Shogakukan in Japan from 1979 to 1987. From 1976 to 1979, the magazine was titled before being renamed ''Shōnen Big Comics'' in 1979. In 1987, the magazine changed format and was renamed '' Weekly Y ...

'' (1979–1987, discontinued) *''

Monthly Shōnen Sunday , alternately known as (a portmanteau of "Gekkan" and "Sandē" from its full Japanese title), is a monthly manga magazine published in Japan by Shogakukan since May 12, 2009 (the June 2009 issue). The magazine was announced in February 2009, wi ...

'' (since 2009) * (1960–1974) ;''Seinen'' manga magazines *''

Big Comic is a semimonthly ''seinen'' manga magazine published since 18 February 1968 by Shogakukan in Japan. Publication history It was originally launched as a monthly magazine, but switched to twice monthly on the 10th and 25th beginning in April 1 ...

'' (since 1968) **''Big Comic Business'' **''

Big Comic Original is a Japanese manga magazine published by Shogakukan, aimed at an older adult and mostly male audience. It is a sister magazine to the manga magazine '' Big Comic'', the biggest difference being that it goes on sale twice a month in the weeks ...

'' (since 1972) **''

Big Comic Spirits is a weekly Japanese ''seinen'' manga magazine published by Shogakukan. The first issue was published on October 14, 1980. Food, sports, romance and business are recurring themes in the magazine, and the stories often question conventional val ...

'' (since 1980) **''

Monthly Big Comic Spirits is a Japanese monthly Seinen manga, ''seinen'' manga magazine published by Shogakukan. It originally launched on August 27, 2009. It is a companion magazine to the weekly ''Big Comic Spirits''. Series Current There are currently 15 manga series ...

'' (since 2009) **''Big Comic Special'' **''

Big Comic Superior is a semimonthly seinen manga magazine published since July 1, 1987, by Shogakukan in Japan. Its target audience is somewhere between the audience for ''Big Comic Original'' and '' Big Comic Spirits''. The magazine has published works by a numb ...

'' (since 1987) *'' IKKI'' (2003-2014, discontinued) *''

Monthly Sunday Gene-X , often abbreviated as , is a manga magazine published by Shogakukan. Like many other manga magazines, it is an "anthology magazine", with each issue featuring new chapters of several manga series. The series are also published in form under t ...

'' (since 2000) *'' Weekly Young Sunday'' (1987–2008, discontinued)

Female oriented manga magazines

;Children's manga magazines *''

Pucchigumi is a Japanese monthly children's manga magazine published by Shogakukan. Several different manga titles and adaptations aimed at young female readers have been serialized in the magazine in its decade-long history. The latest circulation figures ...

'' (ぷっちぐみ) (since 2006) ;''Shōjo'' manga magazines *''

Betsucomi , known as before 2000, is a monthly Japanese manga magazine published by Shogakukan. It was conceived as a or "special issue" of its sister magazine '' Shōjo Comic''. It is released on the 13th of each month. Serializations Current * ' ...

'' (since 1970) *'' Cheese!'' (since 1996) *'' ChuChu'' (2000–2010, discontinued) *''

Ciao ( , ) is an informal salutation in the Italian language that is used for both " hello" and "goodbye". Originally from the Venetian language, it has entered the vocabulary of English and of many other languages around the world. Its dual mea ...

'' (since 1977) *''Pochette'' *''

Shōjo Comic , formerly published under its full name until December 2007, is a ''shōjo'' manga magazine published semimonthly in Japan by Shogakukan since 1968. The magazine has gained a reputation for being a "love bible for maidens in love" or a "romance ...

'' (since 1968), called ''

Sho-Comi , formerly published under its full name until December 2007, is a ''shōjo'' manga magazine published semimonthly in Japan by Shogakukan since 1968. The magazine has gained a reputation for being a "love bible for maidens in love" or a "romance ...

'' since December 2007 ;''Josei'' manga magazines *''

flowers Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

'' (since 2002) *''Judy'' *''

Petit Comic is a Japanese josei manga magazine published by Shogakukan. Many series in this anthology magazine are romance-oriented and some are well known for featuring frank depiction of sexual situations. It is also the first josei manga magazine, making ...

'' (since 1977) *''Rinka'' (2007–discontinued)

Fashion magazines

*''

CanCam is a Japanese monthly fashion magazine published by Shogakukan. Its name supposedly derives from "I Can Campus", because girls who read it are expected to become "campus leaders". The magazine was created for fashion-conscious consumers, and offe ...

'' (since 1982)

Educational magazines

*''Shogaku Ichinensei'' (''First Grade'') *''Shogaku Ninensei'' (''Second Grade'') (discontinued in 2016) *''Shogaku Sannensei'' (''Third Grade'') (discontinued in 2012) *''Shogaku Yonnensei'' (''Fourth Grade'') (discontinued in 2012) *''Shogaku Gonensei'' (''Fifth Grade'') (discontinued in 2010) *''Shogaku Rokunensei'' (''Sixth Grade'') (discontinued in 2010) *''Shogaku Hachinensei'' (''Eighth Grade'') (since 2017, replacing Second to Sixth Grade magazines)

News magazines

*''Weekly Post'' (週刊ポスト) *''SAPIO'' (discontinued in 2019) *''

Josei Seven is a weekly women's magazine published by Shogakukan, released every Thursday. The main content is articles related to the imperial family and celebrities, but there are also pages for news articles and reader submissions. From the second half ...

'' (女性セブン)

Anime

Shogakukan produces (or makes part of the production of) anime based on their manga, mostly through their subsidiary

Imprints

Tentomushi Comics

, abbreviated TC, is the imprint used for ''

tankōbon A is a standard publishing format for books in Japan, alongside other formats such as ''shinsho'' (17x11 cm paperback books) and ''bunkobon''. Used as a loanword in English, the term specifically refers to a printed collection of a manga that w ...

'' editions of manga series serialized in ''Monthly CoroCoro Comic'' and ''Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic'' magazines.

References

External links

Shogakukan website

Shogakukan website

Shogakukan Asia website
* * {{Authority control Japanese companies established in 1922 Publishing companies established in 1922 2018 controversies Hitotsubashi Group Comic book publishing companies in Tokyo Book publishing companies in Tokyo Magazine publishing companies in Tokyo Software companies based in Tokyo Publishers of adult comics Disney comics publishers Mass media companies based in Tokyo Manga distributors Far-right politics in Japan