South Korean tech firms shake up Japan's storied manga industry


Japanese manga artist Kamentotsu shows his his four-panel strip comic 'Koguma's Cake Shop' on his smartphone at his workspace in Tokyo, Japan October 8, 2020. REUTERS/Issei Kato

TOKYO (Reuters) - Two South Korean technology companies are borrowing from mobile gaming to shake up - and dominate - Japan's storied manga industry, a plot twist that has expanded the comics' fanbase to a new generation of readers.

Backed by tech giants Kakao Corp and Naver Corp, Piccoma and Line Manga have become Japan's highest-grossing mobile apps outside games. Such online manga platforms have seen a surge in popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Win a prize this Mother's Day by subscribing to our annual plan now! T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

   

Next In Tech News

Google Podcasts, one of the most popular podcast apps, to end in June
Review: ‘Tales of Kenzera: Zau’ translates the journey of grief into a video game
Atos creditors reach deal to rescue debt-laden group, La Tribune says
In an online world, a new generation of protesters chooses anonymity
After two winsome Ori games, a pivot into dark fantasy
Teenager in China dies of heart attack after teacher forces her to exercise, insists illness is ‘fake’, delays first aid, enrages mainland social media
NoSpace is Gen Z’s answer to MySpace
What if customers were rewarded for tipping their meal delivery drivers?
Reddit CEO beneficially owns 61.5% of class A shares, regulatory filing shows
Exclusive-Stanford AI leader Fei-Fei Li building 'spatial intelligence' startup

Others Also Read