Richardson Handjaja
@rhandjaja.bsky.social
Publisher & editor of @animenomics.com, reporting on the business of anime and manga. Previously managing editor of @myanimelist.net.
日本のアニメのビジネス展開を報道します
日本のアニメのビジネス展開を報道します
Pinned
Japan Manga Market Slows as Digital Captures 73% Share
Column by Richardson Handjaja
icv2.com
I wrote a column on the state of Japan's domestic manga market, plus its implications on U.S. comics retailers, as part of Manga Week coverage on @icv2.com.
CyberAgent co-founder and CEO Susumu Fujita has named senior managing executive officer Takahiro Yamauchi as his successor. Yamauchi last year was selected to lead a new task force on IP creation as the company pivots from digital advertising to anime and content.
社長交代を重ねても持続的に成長する会社になるために 創業社長から2代目への社長交代 | CyberAgent Way サイバーエージェント公式オウンドメディア
「CyberAgent Way」はサイバーエージェント公式オウンドメディアです。展開事業やサービスの強み、カルチャー、社員の働き方など、様々な独自情報を発信しています。
www.cyberagent.co.jp
November 14, 2025 at 5:49 PM
CyberAgent co-founder and CEO Susumu Fujita has named senior managing executive officer Takahiro Yamauchi as his successor. Yamauchi last year was selected to lead a new task force on IP creation as the company pivots from digital advertising to anime and content.
This is an example of why I think some business literacy for anime and manga fans and reporters is important because there are ways to distinguish the two.
NFT Azuki can be identified by its corporate name Azuki Labs.
Manga Azuki is a brand name of KiraKira Media.
We need not rely on PR names.
NFT Azuki can be identified by its corporate name Azuki Labs.
Manga Azuki is a brand name of KiraKira Media.
We need not rely on PR names.
I feel bad for Azuki's name change to Omoi.
The founder worked HARD to build up that brand and establish a positive relationship with the manga community.
Then the NFT Azuki comes in, pays X amount of money to be at the front page and visible, confusing people, and ruining the pub's rep
#manga
The founder worked HARD to build up that brand and establish a positive relationship with the manga community.
Then the NFT Azuki comes in, pays X amount of money to be at the front page and visible, confusing people, and ruining the pub's rep
#manga
November 13, 2025 at 7:31 PM
This is an example of why I think some business literacy for anime and manga fans and reporters is important because there are ways to distinguish the two.
NFT Azuki can be identified by its corporate name Azuki Labs.
Manga Azuki is a brand name of KiraKira Media.
We need not rely on PR names.
NFT Azuki can be identified by its corporate name Azuki Labs.
Manga Azuki is a brand name of KiraKira Media.
We need not rely on PR names.
The first thing that came to my mind was 重い (heavy) instead of 想い or 思い 🤦♂️
Digital manga publisher Azuki states no changes in its service's catalog, payment model, and price as it becomes Omoi
Digital Manga Publisher Azuki Changes Name to Omoi
Company states no changes in service's catalog, payment model, price
www.animenewsnetwork.com
November 13, 2025 at 6:35 PM
The first thing that came to my mind was 重い (heavy) instead of 想い or 思い 🤦♂️
Studio Chizu president Yuichiro Saito has an ambitious goal for Mamoru Hosoda's upcoming film "Scarlet", which is to win an Academy Award, Nikkei Entertainment! magazine reports.
![Japanese-language excerpt from the December 2025 issue of Nikkei Entertainment! magazine. Highlighted is a passage from the excerpt: "齋藤優一郎プロデューサーの本作の目標は前作を上回る興行、そして「おすかー」だ。" This passage translates to "Producer Yuichiro Saito's goal for this film [Scarlet] is to surpass the box office success of the previous film [Belle] and to win an Oscar."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lyykxvja6foa664pcfsw7mkx/bafkreidofxumgsdvf5hfbxgxq3bjd5jyuyuwylngge5mghnj7gn6s66dey@jpeg)
November 7, 2025 at 7:12 AM
Studio Chizu president Yuichiro Saito has an ambitious goal for Mamoru Hosoda's upcoming film "Scarlet", which is to win an Academy Award, Nikkei Entertainment! magazine reports.
My anime viewing fell off a cliff in 2015/2016, but I'm now trying to revisit shows I never finished from that time. In the process, I noticed that Heavy Object is no longer available on SVOD.
It was great to rewatch Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress though.
It was great to rewatch Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress though.
October 29, 2025 at 3:45 PM
My anime viewing fell off a cliff in 2015/2016, but I'm now trying to revisit shows I never finished from that time. In the process, I noticed that Heavy Object is no longer available on SVOD.
It was great to rewatch Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress though.
It was great to rewatch Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress though.
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
THE BEAT AND K-COMICSBEAT ARE HIRING:
We are looking for a new person to fill the job of Managing Editor for KComicsbeat.com and manga/anime editor for The Beat. Knowledge of webtoon, manga and publishing business required. There is some pay as a PT position.
We are looking for a new person to fill the job of Managing Editor for KComicsbeat.com and manga/anime editor for The Beat. Knowledge of webtoon, manga and publishing business required. There is some pay as a PT position.
October 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
THE BEAT AND K-COMICSBEAT ARE HIRING:
We are looking for a new person to fill the job of Managing Editor for KComicsbeat.com and manga/anime editor for The Beat. Knowledge of webtoon, manga and publishing business required. There is some pay as a PT position.
We are looking for a new person to fill the job of Managing Editor for KComicsbeat.com and manga/anime editor for The Beat. Knowledge of webtoon, manga and publishing business required. There is some pay as a PT position.
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
the newsletter i produce with @milesofficial.bsky.social, @chloecatoya.bsky.social and @malupki.bsky.social has reached 1000 SUBSCRIBERS! thank you all so much for reading!
animebythenumbers.substack.com
animebythenumbers.substack.com
October 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
the newsletter i produce with @milesofficial.bsky.social, @chloecatoya.bsky.social and @malupki.bsky.social has reached 1000 SUBSCRIBERS! thank you all so much for reading!
animebythenumbers.substack.com
animebythenumbers.substack.com
Crunchyroll Manga app will not allow screenshots and screen recordings.
![Crunchyroll Manga also offers a legitimate way for burgeoning anime fans to read source material. Suehira says 15 of the top 20 internet piracy sites include anime and manga, and that manga represents 70% of global publishing piracy. “We want [Crunchyroll Manga] to be a solution to the privacy market and really contribute to the ecosystem in Japan,” Suehira says, adding that the app includes features the prevent screenshots and screen recording.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:lyykxvja6foa664pcfsw7mkx/bafkreifx2aeagclqx3tcubq2dpplduccegcbqnaqxpx5sg4bwnd5lbv5re@jpeg)
October 3, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Crunchyroll Manga app will not allow screenshots and screen recordings.
Sony Pictures previously said they are releasing Mamoru Hosoda's Scarlet in North America in December, but I just noticed they clarified this as being an Oscar-qualifiying run with a wider release in early 2026.
September 17, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Sony Pictures previously said they are releasing Mamoru Hosoda's Scarlet in North America in December, but I just noticed they clarified this as being an Oscar-qualifiying run with a wider release in early 2026.
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
Animenomics will present a current overview of how the anime industry works this Saturday, September 13, as part of @animelockdown.bsky.social programming on twitch.tv/animelockdown.
Join us to learn about anime studio financials, anime production committees, and more!
Join us to learn about anime studio financials, anime production committees, and more!
September 12, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Animenomics will present a current overview of how the anime industry works this Saturday, September 13, as part of @animelockdown.bsky.social programming on twitch.tv/animelockdown.
Join us to learn about anime studio financials, anime production committees, and more!
Join us to learn about anime studio financials, anime production committees, and more!
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
Talked to the folks at NAFCA about the English-language version of their animator skill test book for this piece.
The Nippon Anime & Film Culture Association’s "Animator Skill Test Textbook" breaks down the basics of working in anime to address significant labor shortages.
English textbook targets a skills gap in Japan’s growing anime industry
From 'dōga' to “lip flap,” the Nippon Anime & Film Culture Association’s 'Animator Skill Test Textbook' teaches aspiring animators how to talk like the pros.
ebx.sh
September 4, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Talked to the folks at NAFCA about the English-language version of their animator skill test book for this piece.
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
Mini Rant:
People say "manga" when they mean Shonen Jump
People say "comics" when they mean Marvel/DC
Those publishers are not monolithic, and are in fact unique in their industries. Not every manga artist is a Shonen Jump workhorse. Not ever comic suffers from retcons and reboots.
Not even most
People say "manga" when they mean Shonen Jump
People say "comics" when they mean Marvel/DC
Those publishers are not monolithic, and are in fact unique in their industries. Not every manga artist is a Shonen Jump workhorse. Not ever comic suffers from retcons and reboots.
Not even most
September 4, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Mini Rant:
People say "manga" when they mean Shonen Jump
People say "comics" when they mean Marvel/DC
Those publishers are not monolithic, and are in fact unique in their industries. Not every manga artist is a Shonen Jump workhorse. Not ever comic suffers from retcons and reboots.
Not even most
People say "manga" when they mean Shonen Jump
People say "comics" when they mean Marvel/DC
Those publishers are not monolithic, and are in fact unique in their industries. Not every manga artist is a Shonen Jump workhorse. Not ever comic suffers from retcons and reboots.
Not even most
This whole misunderstanding is unfortunately caused by anime fans' tendency to fixate on the "studio" as the defining aspect of an anime production. It speaks to a lack of awareness that the western definition of "studio" doesn't correlate to how the anime industry works and thinks about studios.
This is such a stupid and superficial post. Yes Qzil.la is a bad company with involvement in Ai bu they also produced plenty of animation that has no Ai in it.
This project is helmed by a talented team of industry veterans, and dismissing their work like this with no proof is a bad look.
This project is helmed by a talented team of industry veterans, and dismissing their work like this with no proof is a bad look.
I hadn't heard of Qzilla, the production company behind Crunchyroll's Sekiro anime. The trailer okay, but something felt kind of off. Looked them up on MAL and they didn't seem to have much motion in terms of the thirteen things its produced. Checked the company website and lo and behold.
August 20, 2025 at 8:10 PM
This whole misunderstanding is unfortunately caused by anime fans' tendency to fixate on the "studio" as the defining aspect of an anime production. It speaks to a lack of awareness that the western definition of "studio" doesn't correlate to how the anime industry works and thinks about studios.
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
I watched the 1954 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea film and ended up reading fascinating details about the origins of Captain Nemo's character in Verne's books and how early English language translations of Jules Verne's works butchered them.
www.verniana.org/volumes/02/A...
www.verniana.org/volumes/02/A...
![Two paragraphs from Perschon's paper about Captain Nemo's identity:
"Nemo’s little known Indian heritage, and even less known revolutionary involvement in the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857, amounts to the literary equivalent of a political conspiracy, beginning with Verne’s first imaginings of the character. It has been well documented how Hetzel refused Verne’s first iteration of Nemo, given France’s political ties with Russia:
“[Verne’s] first draft was influenced by the 1863 Polish uprising against Tsarist Russia. Poland was quashed with a bestial savagery that appalled not just Verne but all Europe. As first conceived, the novel’s protagonist, Captain Nemo, was a Polish aristocrat whose parents, wife, and children were brutally slaughtered by Russian troops.” (Miller xvi)
Verne acquiesced to Hetzel’s suggestion, by leaving “the identity of Nemo and of his great oppressor as something of a mystery, at least in 20,000 Leagues” (xvi). But Hetzel’s censoring only delayed Verne’s intent for Nemo’s origins. By the time Verne wrote The Mysterious Island, he was positioned to refuse any censorship, and able to present an arguably more radical genesis for the Captain, as the leader of infamous Sepoy Rebellion, the Indian Mutiny of 1857: “Indian in his heart, Indian in his longing for revenge, Indian in his dreams of reclaiming his native land, driving out the invaders, and inaugurating a new era of independence” (Island 584-85)."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:k22gmtescwgkac5kk5k35t5s/bafkreibarwkps7ig2pz4ecvyoxgtgcgrqyncgbnkntswi3xqel5bg7oijy@jpeg)
![A paragraph from Perschon's paper about Nemo's identity:
"Nemo has been portrayed as an Indian only three times, and played by an Indian only once, by Naseeruddin Shah in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (LXG). The identity of Nemo as Indian outside Europe remains to this day largely unknown, so that one reviewer of LXG commented: “I didn't even know [Nemo] was Indian in the books; I thought the choice of Shah was innovative casting” (Heroine Content). It might be assumed that Walt Disney is largely responsible for the accidental Occidentalizing of Nemo, given the popularity of Disney’s film version in 1954. However, even the earlier audiences of the 1916 version of 20,000 Leagues were told that Nemo’s Indian heritage as seen in the film was not of Verne’s invention, with reviewers assuming “it was the invention of the filmmakers” (Taves 209). Even so, the blame for the cover-up cannot be laid solely at the feet of Richard Fleischer, Stuart Paton, or any other film director. Instead, we must look earlier, to the first English translations of The Mysterious Island. Miller and Walter identify culprit of the greatest translation misrepresentation of Nemo as “British boys’ author,” W.H.G. Kingston:
“Unfortunately, Kingston’s rendering of Nemo’s biography is not at all faithful to Verne: the Englishman rewrites, cuts, and just plain fabricates, all in an effort to bring this crucial passage into line with the official British propaganda of his day” (389)."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:k22gmtescwgkac5kk5k35t5s/bafkreid6eoqqst3viwhxkd5az2wz2r3bkmotq6zi46ufcu7aeytfrnekji@jpeg)
August 18, 2025 at 1:09 AM
I watched the 1954 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea film and ended up reading fascinating details about the origins of Captain Nemo's character in Verne's books and how early English language translations of Jules Verne's works butchered them.
www.verniana.org/volumes/02/A...
www.verniana.org/volumes/02/A...
TIL Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Billboard, Rolling Stone, and IndieWire are all owned by the same company???
August 15, 2025 at 8:14 PM
TIL Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Billboard, Rolling Stone, and IndieWire are all owned by the same company???
Chinese toymaker Pop Mart is opening a store in the largest shopping mall in the United States right in my metro area.
Toy Company Behind Labubus Coming to Mall of America
Pop Mart to open this fall, bringing a global frenzy with it
tcbmag.com
August 12, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Chinese toymaker Pop Mart is opening a store in the largest shopping mall in the United States right in my metro area.
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
I talked to many amazing comics retailers about tariffs for @comicsjournal.bsky.social and mostly they are very tired (but still excited about comics).
www.tcj.com/tariffs-are-...
www.tcj.com/tariffs-are-...
Tariffs are affecting comic book stores, but not in ways you might expect - The Comics Journal
Gina Gagliano talked to forty-five comics stores about how they’re weathering this year’s financial changes and upsets.
www.tcj.com
August 8, 2025 at 10:49 PM
I talked to many amazing comics retailers about tariffs for @comicsjournal.bsky.social and mostly they are very tired (but still excited about comics).
www.tcj.com/tariffs-are-...
www.tcj.com/tariffs-are-...
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
I said this in an article I was interviewed for, but I think Japan-backed companies will lead the charge in AI-translation over American companies. Japan is less precious about the English adaptation, seeing it as a secondary or even tertiary product to the Japanese original. Quality matters less.
VIZ Media quietly added an AI-translated manga to their app and hoped no one would notice. We did.
Manga deserves better than cheap, soulless automation. This is a betrayal of translators, fans, and the art form.
We don't want your AI translations!
Manga deserves better than cheap, soulless automation. This is a betrayal of translators, fans, and the art form.
We don't want your AI translations!
Dear manga publishers, we don’t want your AI translations
VIZ Media quietly added an AI-translated manga to their app and hoped no one would notice. We did and want none of it.
www.comicsbeat.com
August 6, 2025 at 6:51 PM
I said this in an article I was interviewed for, but I think Japan-backed companies will lead the charge in AI-translation over American companies. Japan is less precious about the English adaptation, seeing it as a secondary or even tertiary product to the Japanese original. Quality matters less.
Light novel and manga publisher AlphaPolis has acquired anime studio White Fox.
Readers of my newsletter would have seen this coming. I reported nearly 2 months ago that AlphaPolis said they were exploring anime M&A deals.
Readers of my newsletter would have seen this coming. I reported nearly 2 months ago that AlphaPolis said they were exploring anime M&A deals.
July 31, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Light novel and manga publisher AlphaPolis has acquired anime studio White Fox.
Readers of my newsletter would have seen this coming. I reported nearly 2 months ago that AlphaPolis said they were exploring anime M&A deals.
Readers of my newsletter would have seen this coming. I reported nearly 2 months ago that AlphaPolis said they were exploring anime M&A deals.
AI manga localization company Orange has received ¥2.5 billion (US$16.7 million) in loans from four Japanese banks to continue expanding its Emaqi manga platform in North America.
漫画翻訳のオレンジ、融資で25億円調達 北米向けアプリ拡充║日本経済新聞
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC30AMQ0Q5A730C2000000/
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUC30AMQ0Q5A730C2000000/
漫画翻訳のオレンジ、融資で25億円調達 北米向けアプリ拡充 - 日本経済新聞
人工知能（AI）を使った漫画の翻訳などを手掛けるオレンジ（東京・港）は、商工組合中央金庫やみずほ銀行などから融資で総額25億円を調達した。5月に北米で始めた漫画アプリの拡充に向けて翻訳の体制を強化する。北米で漫画アプリ「emaqi（エマキ）」を提供しており、1700タイトル、1万3000冊以上の漫画をそろえる。複数の大手出版社と連携し、オレンジが翻訳している作品は約50タイトルある。翻訳者など
www.nikkei.com
July 31, 2025 at 1:38 AM
AI manga localization company Orange has received ¥2.5 billion (US$16.7 million) in loans from four Japanese banks to continue expanding its Emaqi manga platform in North America.
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
As mentioned in the article, Itch has an NSFW category as well as a tag. The category has nearly 6,000 games in it.
Earlier this month, it showed 28,000
Earlier this month, it showed 28,000
July 25, 2025 at 3:36 AM
As mentioned in the article, Itch has an NSFW category as well as a tag. The category has nearly 6,000 games in it.
Earlier this month, it showed 28,000
Earlier this month, it showed 28,000
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
Last week there were more than 7,000 video games tagged NSFW on the online marketplace @itch.io
Today, there are 2
For Game File, @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social writes about the mass de-indexing/listing of sex games, why it happened and the worry about what's next
www.gamefile.news/p/itchio-ste...
Today, there are 2
For Game File, @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social writes about the mass de-indexing/listing of sex games, why it happened and the worry about what's next
www.gamefile.news/p/itchio-ste...
Crackdown on sex video games goes wide, alarming developers and impacting award-winning titles
Thousands of NSFW games currently can’t be found when searching the popular itch.io marketplace
www.gamefile.news
July 25, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Last week there were more than 7,000 video games tagged NSFW on the online marketplace @itch.io
Today, there are 2
For Game File, @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social writes about the mass de-indexing/listing of sex games, why it happened and the worry about what's next
www.gamefile.news/p/itchio-ste...
Today, there are 2
For Game File, @nicolecarpenter.bsky.social writes about the mass de-indexing/listing of sex games, why it happened and the worry about what's next
www.gamefile.news/p/itchio-ste...
Microsoft discontinuing the Movies & TV storefront means Girls Band Cry will forever be the only title that's in my library.
July 24, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Microsoft discontinuing the Movies & TV storefront means Girls Band Cry will forever be the only title that's in my library.
Toho announced 1Q FY26 earnings results last week, and the appendix of the presentation is twice as long as the actual financial results portion.
Thanks to that, we were able to learn about some interesting things in Toho's business. 🧵
Thanks to that, we were able to learn about some interesting things in Toho's business. 🧵
July 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Toho announced 1Q FY26 earnings results last week, and the appendix of the presentation is twice as long as the actual financial results portion.
Thanks to that, we were able to learn about some interesting things in Toho's business. 🧵
Thanks to that, we were able to learn about some interesting things in Toho's business. 🧵
Reposted by Richardson Handjaja
Demon Slayer is like the Yamanote Line: if you miss it, there’ll be another one in 5 minutes.
July 18, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Demon Slayer is like the Yamanote Line: if you miss it, there’ll be another one in 5 minutes.