At the Denshi Shoseki Comic Summit held in Akihabara, Tokyo, yesterday Shueisha Managing Director Kazuhiko Torishima formally announced the development of a digital manga distribution website tentatively titled “J Manga.” The site will provide North American readers with access to select digital manga from 37 Japanese publishers. A beta version site is expected launch later this fall. The fully operational site is planned for launch in March 2011.<\/p>\n
The initial 37 publishers that will participate in the distribution are: Akaneshinsha, Akita Shoten, ASCII Media Works, Bunkasha Publishing, Enterbrain, East Press, France Shoin, Fujimi Shobo, Fusosha, Futabasha, Gakken, Gentosha, Hakusensha, Houbunsha, Ichijinsha, Jitsugyo no Nihon Sha, June-Net, Kadokawa Shoten, Kasakura Shuppansha, Kodansha, LEED Publishing, Libre Publishing, Magazine House, Media Factory, Nihonbungeisha, Oakla Publishing, Ohzora Publishing, Shinchosha, Shinshokan Publishing, Shodensha, Shogakukan-Shueisha, Shonen Gahosha, Tatsumi Publishing, Takeshobo, and Tokuma Shoten.<\/p>\n