Japanese Electronic Manga Market Estimated to be Worth 3.4 Billion in 2005

On September 20, Impress R&D's Internet Life Laboratory released the result of their 2005 analysis on the Japanese electronic manga market in (04/2004 - 03/2005). According to the report, the electronic manga market was worth 3.4 billion yen in fiscal year of 2005. The electronic book market was worth 9.4 billion last year, with the electronic manga market occupying 36% of the entire market.

The investigation was based on two reports, "Electronic Book Business Analysis Report 2006" and "Electronic Manga Business Analysis Report 2006," both from Internet Life Laboratory. The reports study the rapidly increasing trend of the electronic book market.

According to the report, the e-book market was worth approximately 4.5 billion yen in 2004, half of 2005's. The market doubled in one year, and the reports proved the rapid growth of e-book market with solid date and figures.

The growth rate of the e-manga market was especially remarkable, leading the expansion of the entire e-book market. The PC and PDA e-manga market amounted to 1.1 billion yen, and cell phone e-manga was worth 2.3 billion yen, occupying 50% of the entire market. The cell phone e-book market was worth 1.2 billion in 2004, growing 3.8 times its original in a year, 2005 can be said as the e-book year for cell phones.

With the rapid growth of the e-book market, both major publishers and new companies are expected to dive into this emerging market in 2006. The market will become more competitive, and at the same time some companies will lose profit and drop from the market.

Translated by T. Ohara