Japan Digital Manga Sales Growth Slows to Record Low 2.9%
The 1.5% second-half growth rate signals that digital manga, which has been the primary driver of the industry's expansion, may be approaching a saturation point in Japan.
Reporting from 1 sources: Animenomics.
Japan's digital manga sales grew at their slowest rate on record in 2025, rising just 2.9% year-over-year, according to annual data from the Research Institute for Publications compiled by Animenomics. The slowdown accelerated in the second half of the year, where growth was only 1.5%, down from 4.6% in the first half. Print manga sales fell 15%, the largest drop since 2022, as several hit series including My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Oshi no Ko ended publication in 2024 and no new blockbuster titles emerged to replace them. Japan's overall print publishing market fell below ¥1 trillion (US$6.5 billion) for the first time in 50 years, far below its 1996 peak of ¥2.6 trillion. The broader publishing market declined 1.6% to ¥1.55 trillion (US$10.1 billion), its fourth consecutive year of contraction. Digital manga now accounts for three-quarters of the total manga market, but the sharp deceleration suggests that growth may plateau sooner than expected.
The data comes from the Research Institute for Publications, as reported by the industry newsletter Animenomics. Print manga sales fell 15% in 2025, the biggest drop since the end of the pandemic-era buying surge in 2022. The decline was attributed to the conclusion of several long-running hit series in 2024-My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Oshi no Ko-without comparable new titles gaining traction in 2025. Japan's print publishing market fell below ¥1 trillion for the first time in half a century, a steep drop from its peak of ¥2.6 trillion in 1996. The broader publishing market, including books and magazines, declined 1.6% to ¥1.55 trillion, marking four consecutive years of decline. Digital manga, which makes up 75% of the manga market, grew at just 2.9% for the full year, its slowest rate ever recorded. The second-half slowdown to 1.5% annual growth is a particular concern, as it suggests the category's long expansion may be losing momentum.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Animenomics Sharp slowdown in Japan digital manga sales