Kodansha Launches K Manga App In US

Publisher behind "Attack on Titan" and "Ghost in the Shell" release new manga app

Kodansha, the publisher responsible for popular manga series like "Attack on Titan," "The Seven Deadly Sins," and "Ghost in the Shell," has introduced a new app called K Manga specifically designed for users in the United States. This app allows readers to enjoy a vast collection of manga titles without any cost. Initially, the app offered approximately 400 manga titles, including well-known series such as "Tokyo Revengers," "Fairy Tail," "Battle Angel Alita," "Rent-a-Girlfriend," "Don't Toy With Me Miss Nagatoro," "Edens Zero," "Flying Witch," and "Aho-Girl: A Clueless Girl." Kodansha intends to expand the selection by adding more titles in the future.

What sets K Manga apart is that professionals have officially translated all the manga available on the app. This eliminates the need for English-speaking users to visit unauthorized websites where fan translations are often found. Moreover, K Manga offers several manga titles that have never been translated into English, making it an exciting platform for enthusiasts. The meticulous translation process involved in developing the app resulted in a development period of over two years.

The launch of K Manga coincides with the increasing popularity of manga sales in the United States. Kodansha reported a threefold increase in its manga sales in the United States last year, indicating a growing demand for manga content. In 2022, manga sales reached 28.4 million copies, solidifying manga's position as a significant player in the comic and graphic novel market.

While other manga apps like VIZ Manga, Manga Plus, and Crunchyroll Manga offer a limited number of free chapters before requiring a subscription, K Manga takes a different approach with its free content. The app employs a ticket and point system, allowing readers to unlock additional chapters.

The app provides users with "Normal Tickets," which they receive daily, and "Premium Tickets," given out three or four times a day as login bonuses or through watching video ads. Standard tickets can only be used for a single title, while premium tickets remain valid for three days and can be used across multiple titles. Each ticket grants access to one chapter, and users can only redeem their tickets for titles marked with an orange ticket symbol.

Points are another means by which users can unlock chapters. Points can be earned by watching ads, with each advertisement granting users 50 points. Additionally, K Manga rewards readers with five points for reading specific titles. Once a user unlocks a chapter using points, they can access it indefinitely through their account. If users run out of points, they can purchase more using real money. Each point costs 1 cent, so users can spend $1 to obtain 100 points.

The number of points required to unlock a chapter varies between 69 and 99, depending on the title and the chapter's release date. Generally, older chapters necessitate fewer points compared to newer ones.

The app also features specific titles that offer "always free" chapters, which can be accessed without the need for tickets or points.