Kodansha Establishes Indian Subsidiary
IJ Kakehashi Services Pvt. Ltd. (IJK) has announced its participation as a founding shareholder in a joint venture company to be established in New Delhi, India, alongside Kodansha Ltd. and Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd. (DNP). The joint venture will start operations by autumn 2026, focusing on marketing, manufacturing, and publishing Kodansha's manga and other content, creating affordable localized editions for the Indian market.
This marks the first time a Japanese leading general publishing company will establish a local subsidiary in India. IJK brings over two decades of expertise in India-Japan business linkages and will serve as the on-ground operational partner, facilitating the introduction of Kodansha's world-renowned titles to Indian readers.
Shareholding Structure and Leadership
The shareholding ratios are as follows: Kodansha Ltd. holds 81%, Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. holds 14%, and IJ Kakehashi Services Pvt. Ltd. holds 5%. The managing director of the joint venture is Hirotoshi Kurita, Director of Kodansha Ltd. The capital is INR 95 million (approximately USD 1.15 million). The company will be located in Delhi, India, with establishment scheduled for July 2026 and operations commencing in autumn 2026.
Growing Manga Fanbase in India
India's rapidly growing population and expanding middle class have nurtured an enthusiastic and fast-growing fan base for Japanese manga and content, particularly among younger demographics. Popular titles such as Attack on Titan and Blue Lock are among the Kodansha titles that will be made available in the Indian market.
Sanjay Panda, Managing Director of IJK, stated: "We are honored to partner with leading Japanese companies, Kodansha and DNP, in this historic venture. India has one of the world's most vibrant and youthful readerships, and the enthusiasm for Japanese manga here is extraordinary. Kodansha's books such as Totto Chan and the Mottainai Grandma series are already popular in India, and IJK has been a part of this journey. This is a bridge between two great cultures of storytelling, and IJK is privileged to be a part of it."
Strategic Importance for Kodansha
The establishment of a local subsidiary in India allows Kodansha to directly engage with the growing Indian market, bypassing traditional distribution channels and offering affordable localized editions. This move is expected to significantly boost the availability and affordability of Kodansha's manga in India, catering to the burgeoning demand among young readers.
The joint venture will leverage DNP's printing and publishing expertise and IJK's local market knowledge to ensure seamless operations. Kodansha's Indian entity will carry out end-to-end publishing activities, from marketing to manufacturing, ensuring that Indian readers get access to high-quality, low-cost manga editions.
This initiative is part of Kodansha's broader strategy to expand its global footprint, particularly in emerging markets with strong youth demographics and growing interest in Japanese pop culture.
