State of Japan’s Manga Industry Update

The Japanese External Trade Organization (JETRO) has published its 2005 Japanese Publishing Industry Report for the fiscal year 2004.

Manga book sales in Japan declined by 2% from 2003 to 2004. Manga magazine sales declined by 2.3% from 2003 to 2004. Manga sales in Japan have decreased by 20% in the ten year period from 1994 to 2004. The decline is blamed on the increase of second hand manga sales and manga rentals which have undercut outright sales.

The United States is the largest consumer of exported Japanese publications, accounting for 35.9% of all Japanese publication exports. Taiwan is the second largest consumer of Japanese published material, accounting for 8% of Japan’s exports.

Source: Anime News Network