Animenomics: Iran War Drives Manga Printing Costs Up, U-NEXT Buys GoHands
The war's effect on petroleum-derived printing materials is adding to already rising manga prices, while U-NEXT's studio acquisition signals a push toward in-house production to control licensing costs.
Reporting from 1 sources: Animenomics.
The Animenomics newsletter reports that the Iran-US war has driven naphtha prices in Japan to a four-year high, raising costs for manga printing. Separately, streaming service U-NEXT is acquiring anime studio GoHands from founder Ringo Kishimoto, and Itochu has invested in a San Francisco character licensing agency.
The weekly Animenomics briefing covers three business developments. The Iran-US war has pushed naphtha prices in Japan to their highest level in four years, increasing costs for manga printers that use polypropylene film and solvent-based inks. Nearly half of Japan's pulp and paper manufacturers and 38 percent of publishing and printing companies rely on naphtha, according to a Teikoku Databank survey. Separately, Japan's largest domestic SVOD service, U-NEXT, is acquiring Osaka-based anime studio GoHands from founder Ringo Kishimoto. Itochu has also invested in a San Francisco character licensing agency.
- Iran war raises costs of raw materials in manga printing: Naphtha price in Japan at four-year high; glossy dust jackets and printing inks are petroleum derivatives.
- U-NEXT acquires anime studio GoHands: Japan's largest domestic SVOD service buys the Osaka studio from founder Ringo Kishimoto.
- Itochu invests in San Francisco character licensing agency: No further details provided in the source.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Animenomics Iran war sends price shock in manga industry