History

For over a century, Kodansha has pursued the new, the exciting – the impossible. With this devotion to curiosity and creativity comes a powerful tradition of innovation.

  • MANGA
  • BOOKS
  • MAGAZINES

1878

Seiji Noma, the founder of Kodansha, is born.

Seiji Noma

1909

Seiji Noma creates the company Dai Nippon Yuben Kai.

1910

The first issue of the Yuben magazine is released.

1911

Kodansha is founded, and the first issue of the magazine Kodan Club is released.

1916

The first issue of the Omoshiro Club magazine is released. "Omoshirokute tame ni naru" (interesting and useful) becomes Kodansha’s editorial mantra.

  • Yuben
    [1910–1941]
  • Kodan Club
    [1911–1962]

1923

The Great Kanto Earthquake.
The Great Fire of Taisho Earthquake is published.

1924

The first issue of King magazine is published. It would later become the first magazine in Japan to reach a million copies.

1925

Dai Nippon Yuben Kai merges with Kodansha.
The first issue of the magazine Yonen Club completes Kodansha’s first lineup of nine magazines.

  • Taisho Daishinsai Daikasai
    [1923]
  • KING
    [1924–1957]

1931

King Records is founded.

1934

Seiji Noma passes away.

  • Kaijin Niju Mensou
    [1936]

1945

The end of WWII.
Shoichi Noma becomes the 4th president of Kodansha.

  • Gunzou
    [1946~]
  • Sangoku-shi
    [1940]

1958

The Dai Nippon Yuben Kai KODANSHA company is renamed Kodansha.

1959

The first issue of Weekly Shonen Magazine and Weekly Gendai are published.

  • Tokugawa Ieyasu
    [1953]
  • Weekly Shonen Magazine
    [1959~]
  • Weekly Gendai
    [1959~]

1961

Shoichi Noma becomes chairman of Publishers Association for Cultural Exchange, Japan.

1962

Kodansha participates in the Frankfurter Buchmesse for the first time.

1963

Kodansha International is founded.

  • Star of the Giants
    [1966]
  • Japanese Society
    [1967]

1972

Shoichi Noma is appointed Vice Chairman of the International Publishers Association.

  • Ashita no Joe
    [1970]
  • Seishun no Mon
    [1970]
  • TV Magazine
    [1971~]
  • The Cat that Lived a Million Times
    [1977]

1981

The first issue of the magazine with is published.
– Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window – is published. Over eight million copies have been published since, a record in Japan. 23.71 million copies have been released worldwide.

1983

The first issue of the magazine ViVi is published.

1984

Shoichi Noma passes away.

  • with
    [1981~]
  • AKIRA
    [1982]
  • ViVi
    [1983~]
  • Norwegian Wood
    [1987]
  • Disney FAN
    [1990~]
  • Sailor Moon
    [1992]
  • Kenshikan
    [1996]
  • Initial D
    [1995]
  • VOCE
    [1998~]

2005

Kodansha Beijing Culture is founded.

2009

Kodansha celebrates its 100th anniversary.

  • Mottainai
    [2004]
  • Monthly Shonen Sirius
    [2005~]
  • FAIRY TAIL
    [2006]
  • Ryusei no Kizuna
    [2008]
  • Attack on Titan
    [2009]

2011

The Great East Japan Earthquake.
Yoshinobu Noma becomes the 7th president of Kodansha.
Kodansha invests in Vertical as the book publishing division in North America. Kodansha Taiwan Media Group is founded.

2013

12 manga titles are published simultaneously on Crunchyroll, reaching 180 countries. Attack on Titan becomes a bestseller.

2019

Kodansha celebrates its 110th anniversary. Attack on Titan reaches 100 million copies printed worldwide.

  • Gendai Business
    [2010~]
  • The Seven Deadly Sins
    [2012]
  • Roosevelt Game
    [2012]
  • The Emissary
    [2014]
  • Tokyo Revengers
    [2017]

2021

Kodansha releases its brand purpose: Inspire Impossible Stories.