Shogakukan
Shogakukan operates as a Japanese state-owned enterprise under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The company maintains its headquarters in the Shogakukan Building located within Hitotsubashi, part of Kanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo. This location places the business near the Jimbocho book district where many other publishers operate. Three separate companies form the Hitotsubashi Group together: Shogakukan itself, Shueisha, and Hakusensha. Shogakukan founded Shueisha which later established Hakusensha. These three entities remain distinct corporations despite their shared history and close physical proximity in the same ward.
International operations began with the ownership of Viz Media by both Shogakukan and Shueisha in the United States. ShoPro Entertainment served as Shogakukan's licensing arm for North America before merging into Viz Media during 2005. The production arm known as Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions handles anime adaptations based on manga properties. A partnership announced in March 2010 involved American comics publisher Fantagraphics to issue manga edited by Rachel Thorn. European distribution relies on local partners such as Pika Édition, Ki-oon, Kana, and Kazé for French markets. German markets receive titles from Kazé, Carlsen, Egmont, and Tokyopop. A joint venture named Viz Media Europe emerged from Shogakukan, Shueisha, and ShoPro. This entity purchased the French Kazé Group in 2009 focusing on manga and home video sales across France and Germany. Singapore hosts the headquarters of Shogakukan Asia which produces English titles like Detective Conan and Pokémon alongside partnerships with creators like Johnny Lau.
On the 15th of February 2018, CoroCoro Comic published a cartoon depicting Genghis Khan with crude drawings on his forehead. The magazine featured a mischievous boy doodling juvenile things on pictures of famous people including Albert Einstein. Mongolian expats in Japan viewed this depiction as an insult to their national hero. Shogakukan initially offered an apology addressed to the Mongolian Embassy in Tokyo on February 23. That response failed to mollify Mongolian citizens who sent a formal letter of protest on February 26. Approximately 90 demonstrators gathered outside company headquarters while major bookselling chains Kinokuniya, Miraiya, and Kumazawa removed the publication from shelves. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs received an official complaint from the Mongolian Embassy in Tokyo. In March 2018, Shogakukan issued another public apology announcing a national recall of the magazine. Magazine patrons received refunds for their purchases. Asumi Yoshino, author of Yarisugi!!! Itazura-kun, published an apology on the CoroCoro Comic website acknowledging the error.
Male oriented manga magazines include Weekly Shōnen Sunday which began publication in 1959. Children's manga magazines feature CoroCoro Comic since 1977 alongside Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic starting in 1981. Seinen manga magazines like Big Comic have been published continuously since 1968. Female oriented manga magazines include Shōjo Comic which started in 1968 and later became Sho-Comi in December 2007. Fashion magazines such as CanCam launched in 1981 to target young women. Educational magazines covered grades one through six with titles like Shogaku Ichinensei and Shogaku Ninensei. Many educational magazines discontinued operations between 2010 and 2016 before merging into Shogaku Hachinensei in 2017. News magazines include Weekly Post and Josei Seven while SAPIO ceased publication in 2019. The corporation maintains a diverse portfolio spanning decades of serialized content for different demographics.
Shogakukan produces anime based on their manga properties primarily through subsidiary Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions. This entity handles the adaptation process for series originating from the company's magazine publications. Tentomushi Comics serves as an imprint used for tankōbon editions of manga series serialized in Monthly CoroCoro Comic and Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic magazines. The abbreviation TC identifies this specific collection format. Gagaga Bunko functions as one of the Light Novel Imprints by Shogakukan offering fiction works beyond traditional comics. Jinbōchō Theater operates under Shogakukan ownership providing cultural events and performances. The company continues to expand its media presence through these specialized imprints and production partnerships.
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Common questions
What is the legal status of Shogakukan?
Shogakukan operates as a Japanese state-owned enterprise under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The company maintains its headquarters in the Shogakukan Building located within Hitotsubashi, part of Kanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo.
When did Shogakukan issue an apology for the Genghis Khan cartoon controversy?
On the 15th of February 2018, CoroCoro Comic published a cartoon depicting Genghis Khan with crude drawings on his forehead. Shogakukan initially offered an apology addressed to the Mongolian Embassy in Tokyo on February 23 and issued another public apology announcing a national recall of the magazine in March 2018.
Which companies form the Hitotsubashi Group alongside Shogakukan?
Three separate companies form the Hitotsubashi Group together: Shogakukan itself, Shueisha, and Hakusensha. Shogakukan founded Shueisha which later established Hakusensha while these three entities remain distinct corporations despite their shared history and close physical proximity in the same ward.
What is the founding date of Weekly Shōnen Sunday by Shogakukan?
Male oriented manga magazines include Weekly Shōnen Sunday which began publication in 1959. Children's manga magazines feature CoroCoro Comic since 1977 alongside Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic starting in 1981.
How does Shogakukan handle international distribution for European markets?
European distribution relies on local partners such as Pika Édition, Ki-oon, Kana, and Kazé for French markets. German markets receive titles from Kazé, Carlsen, Egmont, and Tokyopop while a joint venture named Viz Media Europe emerged from Shogakukan, Shueisha, and ShoPro to purchase the French Kazé Group in 2009.