Low circulation, proliferation of smartphones cited as reasons

Japanese news website Sankei News reported on Sunday that 12 manga magazines have ceased publication in the first half of 2018. The site reports that the cancellations are due to low circulation numbers and the proliferation of smartphones with new ways to read manga.

The year with the highest number of magazine cancellations since 1995 was 2014, with 14 magazines ceasing publication in the first half of the year and 36 magazines total. A publishing industry representative commented to Sankei News that most of these magazines were relatively unknown, while this year has seen the cancellations of some more famous publications. Some recent cancellations include magazines such as Hakusensha 's Bessatsu Hana to Yume , Shueisha 's You Magazine , Hakusensha 's Young Animal Arashi , and Gentosha 's Monthly Comic Birz .

Publishing professor Yashio Uemura observed that due to the increasing availability of apps for reading manga for free, and their support for reading through vertical scrolling, the number of children who do not know how to read manga magazines continues to increase. On the other hand, publishing researcher Kyōhei Shibata noted that there are some magazines that are using creative methods to increase sales, such as Shogakukan 's Shōnen Sunday S magazine. The magazine's June and July issues sold out, and had reprints. Both issues featured popular Detective Conan character Toru Amuro, and both bundled goods relating to the character.

Meanwhile, Tetsudou Kousaikai, the company that stocks magazines in Kiosk stores at JR stations in Japan, recently announced that it is ceasing its magazine distribution business. The company revealed that its earnings in this sector were only a 10th of its earnings during the industry's peak. Tohan will take over magazine distribution.

Sources: Sankei News, Nikkei via Otakomu, Hachima Kikō