To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Shuesiha, the company has worked across every department to create a new platform called Manga Million, whereby the company has translated 1 million pages of manga into 100 languages, their largest ever initiative to bring the creative output of Japan's finest writers and artists to fans across the world.
Manga Million is available worldwide for a limited time, free of charge and with no need to register, at https://mangamillion.shueisha.co.jp
This is a phenomenal project that shows a true generosity of spirit and demonstrates the universal appeal of manga around the world. As someone who remembers the days when manga was flipped and sold in US comic format to now bringing a million pages of entertainment to everyone for free just shows how far we've come.
From the Press Release:
At launch, MANGA MILLION features approximately 400 manga titles, including globally acclaimed series such as “ONE PIECE”, “Naruto”, “Bleach”, “Demon Slayer”, ”Jujutsu Kaisen”, anime-adapted hits including ”Kingdom”, “[Oshi No Ko]”, “SPY×FAMILY” and “Chainsaw Man”, as well as beloved shojo manga such as “Nana” and “Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You”. Nearly 300 titles are being translated for the first time, including 50 titles receiving multilingual translations.
The platform supports a wide range of languages, from English, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, Spanish, and French to Turkish, Tagalog, Korean, Polish and more. More than 150 titles are shojo manga, showcasing one of Japan's most influential and enduring manga genres to readers around the world.
Developed through a company-wide collaboration spanning all of Shueisha’s divisions, the project brings together shonen, shojo, seinen, and a wide range of other manga genres* to reach readers around the world. International licensing partners from around the world provided support for this unprecedented translation endeavor, making MANGA MILLION one of the largest initiatives in Shueisha’s history.
“One of a publisher's most important responsibilities is to connect creative talent with the world”, said Hideaki Hayashi, President and Representative Director of Shueisha. "Japanese manga has flourished through the passionate artistry of countless manga creators and the unwavering support of readers, growing into a cultural phenomenon embraced across borders around the world. MANGA MILLION was made possible through the incredible cooperation of these creators, and as we mark Shueisha’s 100th anniversary, we hope it will create new connections with readers worldwide, provide opportunities to experience the richness and diversity of manga culture, and inspire future generations of manga creators.”
Shuhei Hosono, Editor-in-Chief of MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA and initiator of the project, commented:
“The project began with a simple question: what if we marked Shueisha’s 100th anniversary by translating one million pages of manga into 100 languages? As we developed the concept, we also saw it as a way to address the language barriers that still prevent many readers around the world from accessing manga. We hope that MANGA MILLION, an unprecedented translation initiative spanning 100 languages and one million pages, will spark new discoveries and connections between readers and Japanese manga.”
