Kodansha India Is Coming: 200 Manga Titles a Year in English and Hindi Could Change India’s Manga Market
A new chapter for manga in India begins this autumn. Kodansha is establishing Kodansha India, with plans for local publishing and around 200 manga titles a year in English and Hindi.
India’s manga market is about to enter an exciting new phase.
For years, Indian manga fans have relied heavily on imported editions, international releases and whatever titles happened to be available through local booksellers. The popularity of manga, however, has grown far beyond what the traditional distribution system was built to handle.
Now, one of Japan’s biggest publishing houses is making a major move.
Kodansha is establishing Kodansha India Pvt. Ltd., a dedicated Indian publishing venture that is expected to begin operations in autumn 2026.
And the scale of the plan is what makes this announcement particularly exciting.
Kodansha reportedly plans to publish around 200 manga titles every year in India, across English and Hindi editions.
That isn’t just another licensing announcement.
It could be the beginning of a completely new chapter for India’s manga industry.
What Is Kodansha India?
Kodansha India Pvt. Ltd. is being established as a joint venture involving three companies:
- Kodansha – 81%
- Dai Nippon Printing – 14%
- IJ Kakehashi Services – 5%
The company will be based in Delhi, with operations planned to begin in autumn 2026.
The planned business goes beyond simply importing Japanese manga into India. The new company is expected to be involved in local publishing, manufacturing, marketing and related content activities.
That distinction is important.
Instead of Indian readers depending primarily on imported editions, Kodansha is looking to create a more localized publishing ecosystem.
And that could have a major impact on availability, pricing and the number of titles reaching Indian readers.
Around 200 Manga Titles Every Year
The biggest headline for manga fans is undoubtedly the reported target of approximately 200 titles annually.
However, there is an important clarification.
The figure does not necessarily mean 200 completely new manga series will launch every year. The exact breakdown of series, individual volumes, editions and formats has not yet been publicly detailed.
Still, even an annual catalogue of that scale would represent a significant expansion of officially available Kodansha manga in India.
For readers, it could mean one thing above all:
More manga.
English and Hindi Manga Could Change the Game
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of Kodansha’s Indian strategy is the reported focus on both English and Hindi.
English language manga already has an established audience in India. But Hindi language manga could introduce Japanese comics to an even broader readership.
For many readers, language remains one of the biggest barriers to discovering international literature and comics.
Official Hindi editions could potentially bring manga to readers who may already be familiar with anime but have never purchased a manga volume.
Imagine discovering your favourite anime characters through an officially published Hindi manga edition.
That could create an entirely new generation of manga readers.
Attack on Titan and Blue Lock Lead the Conversation
Two major Kodansha properties already associated with the Indian initiative are Attack on Titan and Blue Lock.
And both represent very different sides of the manga phenomenon.
Attack on Titan
Hajime Isayama’s Attack on Titan became a global cultural phenomenon, combining action, mystery, political drama and some of the most memorable characters in modern manga.
Key Characters
- Eren Yeager
- Mikasa Ackerman
- Armin Arlert
- Levi Ackerman
- Erwin Smith
- Hange Zoë
- Jean Kirstein
- Sasha Blouse
- Connie Springer
- Reiner Braun
- Annie Leonhart
For Indian fans who discovered the series through its anime adaptation, easily available official manga editions could make collecting the complete story considerably more accessible.
Blue Lock
Then there’s Blue Lock, one of the biggest modern sports manga sensations.
Written by Muneyuki Kaneshiro and illustrated by Yusuke Nomura, the series takes Japanese football and turns it into an intense battle of ambition, ego and survival.
At the centre of the story is Yoichi Isagi, who enters the Blue Lock programme with hundreds of other young forwards competing to become Japan’s ultimate striker.
Key Characters
- Yoichi Isagi
- Meguru Bachira
- Rin Itoshi
- Seishiro Nagi
- Reo Mikage
- Hyoma Chigiri
- Rensuke Kunigami
- Shoei Barou
- Ryusei Shidou
- Sae Itoshi
- Michael Kaiser
- Jinpachi Ego
With football having such a massive following in India, Blue Lock could become an especially interesting title in the Indian manga market.
Could Kodansha Manga Become More Affordable in India?
This is probably the question every Indian manga collector is asking.
Will Kodansha’s entry mean cheaper manga?
There is certainly potential.
One of the reasons for establishing a local publishing operation is to make manga more accessible to Indian readers rather than relying exclusively on expensive imported editions.
Local publishing and manufacturing could reduce some of the costs associated with importing finished books.
But it is too early to predict exact retail prices.
Until Kodansha India announces its official catalogue and pricing, numbers circulating online should be treated as speculation.
The real test will begin when the first locally published editions reach Indian bookstores.
Why This Could Be Bigger Than Kodansha
Kodansha’s decision could have consequences far beyond its own catalogue.
India already has a growing community of manga and anime fans. Bookstores, comic shops, online retailers and collectors have increasingly embraced Japanese comics.
A successful Kodansha India operation could demonstrate that the Indian market is ready for serious investment from Japanese publishers.
And that could encourage other publishers to follow.
More publishers could mean:
More manga.
More local editions.
More languages.
Better distribution.
More competition.
Better accessibility.
It could also create opportunities for translators, publishing professionals, retailers, artists and Indian creators.
From an Import Market to a Publishing Market
This may ultimately be the most important part of the story.
For a long time, India’s manga ecosystem has largely depended on imported editions.
Kodansha’s move suggests something different.
India could gradually become a local publishing market for Japanese manga, rather than simply a destination for imported books.
That shift could fundamentally change the relationship between Japanese publishers and Indian readers.
Instead of asking:
“Which manga can we import?”
the industry could soon be asking:
“Which manga should we publish for India?”
That’s a very different conversation.
What Indian Manga Readers Can Look Forward To
If Kodansha delivers on its plans, Indian manga readers could see:
- A much wider range of officially published manga
- English language editions produced for the Indian market
- Official Hindi manga editions
- Potentially more accessible pricing
- Better availability of popular titles
- Improved distribution across Indian bookstores
- More regular releases
- Greater visibility for manga outside major cities
- New opportunities for India’s growing manga and anime community
And perhaps the biggest benefit could be the normalization of manga as a mainstream publishing category in India.
The Characters Are Already Here. Now the Manga Needs to Be.
India already has the audience.
Anime conventions are growing.
Manga collectors are growing.
Anime streaming has introduced millions of viewers to Japanese storytelling.
Social media has created massive communities around characters such as Eren Yeager, Levi, Isagi, Nagi and countless others.
The next step is building a publishing ecosystem capable of serving that audience.
Kodansha India could be that next step.
Kodansha India: What We Know So Far
Company: Kodansha India Pvt. Ltd.
Base: Delhi, India
Kodansha ownership: 81%
Dai Nippon Printing: 14%
IJ Kakehashi Services: 5%
Planned operations: Autumn 2026
Reported annual target: Around 200 manga titles
Languages: English and Hindi
Major titles highlighted: Attack on Titan and Blue Lock
The Future of Manga in India Starts Now
For Indian manga readers, this isn’t simply another publishing announcement.
A major Japanese publisher is establishing a dedicated operation in India and planning a catalogue on a scale that could dramatically expand the country’s official manga market.
The success of Kodansha India could influence what happens next.
If the model works, other Japanese publishers may see India differently.
If local editions become more accessible, more readers could enter the market.
And if Hindi manga finds a substantial audience, the possibilities become even bigger.
The Indian manga community has been waiting for the industry to catch up with its enthusiasm.
Now, the industry may finally be arriving.
Kodansha India is coming.
And India’s next manga chapter could be its biggest one yet. Cheers – Comics Byte!!
