About Kodansha
Kodansha Ltd. is a Japanese publishing company founded in 1909 in Tokyo by Seiji Noma. The company was created with the aim of making literature, education, and information accessible to a wide audience in Japan.
In its early years, Kodansha focused on publishing magazines and books that promoted learning and culture. As literacy grew in Japan, the company expanded rapidly and became one of the country’s most important publishers.
A major turning point came with the launch of Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 1959. This magazine helped shape modern manga culture and introduced many successful series. Over the years, Kodansha published world-famous manga such as Attack on Titan, Fairy Tail, Tokyo Revengers, Blue Lock, and more recently, Gachiakuta.
From the late 20th century onward, Kodansha expanded internationally, creating partnerships and subsidiaries outside Japan, including Kodansha USA. Many of its manga titles were adapted into anime, films, and digital media, reaching a global audience.
Today, Kodansha is one of the largest and most influential publishing companies in the world, continuing to innovate while supporting both classic and new creators in manga, books, and digital publishing.