JETRO: Trend of Japanese Publication Report

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) has released an updated report (PDF) on the status of the Japanese Publication Industry. According to the report, sales figure of manga tankoubon (a compilation volume) has increased 4.2%, while manga anthology sales has decreased by 2.6% compared to last year. As a result the entire manga market experienced a net decrease of 0.5% (around 502.3 billion yen).

Below is a translation (by Manga Jouhou) of the report from Anime Anime:

According to an investigation report done by JESTRO (Japanese External Trade Organization) titled "Trend of Japanese Publication," tankobon has sold the most in 2005 compared to the past, at 260.2 billion yen.

Popular series like "Nana," "Hana Yori Dango" and "Dragon Zakura" increased in sales at 4.2%, which amounted to 260 billion yens. However, adding in manga magazines, which make up the whole of the market, there is a decrease in sales figures of 0.5% of 502.3 billion yen, selling a total of 1.34874 billion copies (a 2.6% decrease compared to the previous year).

The decrease in sales of manga magazines is made up by the increase consumption of tankobon. 2005's manga magazine has decreased in 5.0%, which becomes 242.1 billion yen. In comparison to the manga market 10 years ago in 95, the manga magazine market has shrunk by 70%.

As a result, with sales number of tankobon exceeding the sales of manga magazines, the manga market is rebounding for the first time.

According to JETRO's report, the decrease in manga magazines sales is due to a restoration of used book stores and comic rental stores.

The reduction of the tendency of the manga magazine sales confirms that there is a flow of manga readers turning to tankobon. Whether it be to school or work, the manga magazine market may have been taken up by a more mobile content market. On the other hand, mobile phone manga delivery service has enlarged. The mobile phone market will probably be significant to the future manga markets.

The feature of 2005's manga market include a mixture of different media and an increase of manga publications in foreign countries. Examples of mixed media include CD, anime and movies, whether it be "Nana," "Fullmetal Alchemist," "Hachimitsu to Clover" or "Nodame Cantabile."

I regard the movement of Viz Media, a US affiliated company with Shogakukan and Shueisha in the US and expansion in the European markets as the reason for the expansion of the market.

In addition, in increasing the manga magazine market, one can syndicate popular anime that has been exported first.

Past translated reports from JETRO can be found on ANN.