Kodansha International Finally Closing Down
The Japan Times has reported that Kodansha International Ltd. is finally set to close by the end of April.
The decision to wind up operations is part of a plan from parent company Kodansha Ltd. affecting how it engages with foreign markets moving away from exporting and allowing western companies to licence titles to printing them in the west.
Kodansha’s moves began in 2008 when Kodansha USA Publishing was set up to take over publishing titles that Tokyopop, Del Rey and Dark Horse used to handle. Previously, Kodansha would export books or let other labels such as Del Rey publish titles from Kodansha’s vast catalogue which includes Negima, xxxHOLiC, Fairy Tale, Ghost in the Shell and Akira. 2009 saw Dark Horse and Tokyopop confirm that they were no longer licensing titles from Kodansha while 2010 saw the announcement that Del Rey would be replaced by Kodansha USA at Del Ray’s parent company Random House working closely with Kodansha as support in sales and marketing distribution. Indeed, Kodansha has begun to review whether to continue with various series whilst it began re-issuing iconic titles like Akira back in 2009.
Kodansha’s transition continued in February of this year when they announced they had acquired a 46% stake in New York based publisher Vertical Inc. who have a history of translating Japanese novels in to English including Koji Suzuki’s The Ring.
With those business dealings complete, Kodansha USA has announced its Summer 2011 Manga releases which will see ongoing series such as Air Gear and Negima return and new releases such as Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Mardock Scramble and The Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.