is a Japanese publisher of dictionaries, literature, comics (manga), non-fiction, DVDs, and other media in Japan.
Shogakukan founded Shueisha, which also founded Hakusensha. These are three separate companies, but are together called the Hitotsubashi Group, one of the largest publishing groups in Japan. Shogakukan is headquartered in the Shogakukan Building in Hitotsubashi, part of Kanda, Chiyoda, Tokyo, near the Jimbocho book district. The corporation also has the other two companies located in the same ward.
International operations
In the United States
Shogakukan, along with Shueisha, owns Viz Media, which publishes manga from both companies in the United States.
Shogakukan's licensing arm in North America was ShoPro Entertainment; it was merged into Viz Media in 2005.
Shogakukan's production arm is Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions (previously Shogakukan Productions Co., Ltd.)
In March 2010 it was announced that Shogakukan would partner with the American comics publisher Fantagraphics to issue a line of manga to be edited by Rachel Thorn.
In Europe
In Europe, manga from Shōgakukan and Shūeisha are published by local publishers such like Pika Édition, Ki-oon, Kana and Kazé for the French market, and Kazé, Carlsen, Egmont and Tokyopop for the German market. Shogakukan, Shueisha and ShoPro have made a joint venture named Viz Media Europe. Viz Media Europe bought in 2009 the French Kazé Group whose activities are mainly publishing manga and home video for the French and German market.
In Southeast Asia
The company has a wholly owned subsidiary, Shogakukan Asia, headquartered in Singapore. Besides producing popular titles in English such as Detective Conan, Pokémon and Future Card Buddyfight, the company also partners with local creators such as Johnny Lau to publish comic series for distribution in Southeast Asia.
New Manga Awards
Shogakukan has awards for amateur manga artists who want to become professional. It allows people to either send in their manga by mail or bring it in to an editor.
Genghis Khan controversy
On February 15, 2018, CoroCoro Comic ( "Gekkan Corocoro Comic"), a children's magazine published by Shogakukan, had in its March issue a cartoon making fun of Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire. The comic showed a mischievous boy doodling juvenile things on pictures of famous people, such as a dog's face on a picture of Albert Einstein. Genghis Khan was depicted with a crude rendering of male genitalia on his forehead. After some backlash, Shogakukan initially offered an apology addressed to the Mongolian Embassy in Tokyo on February 23, but that failed to mollify Mongolian expats in Japan, who regard Genghis Khan as a national hero.
On February 26, Mongolians and citizens of China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region resident in Japan sent a formal letter of protest to Shogakukan, while some 90 demonstrators protested in front of company headquarters. Major bookselling chains Kinokuniya, Miraiya and Kumazawa pulled the publication off shelves after the Mongolian Embassy in Tokyo filed an official complaint with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In March 2018, Shogakukan issued another public apology, announced a national recall of the magazine and offered a refund to magazine patrons. CoroCoro Comic's website also published an apology by Asumi Yoshino, author of the serialized manga Yarisugi!!! Itazura-kun which contained the controversial image.
List of magazines published
Manga magazines
Male oriented manga magazines
Children's manga magazines
CoroCoro Comic (Since 1977) Bessatsu CoroCoro Comic (Since 1981) CoroCoro Ichiban! (Since 2005)
Shōnen manga magazines
Weekly Shōnen Sunday (Since 1959) Shōnen Sunday Super (Since 1978) Shōnen Big Comic (1979–1987) (discontinued) Monthly Shōnen Sunday (Since 2009) (1960–1974)
Seinen manga magazines
Big Comic (Since 1968) Big Comic Business Big Comic Original (Since 1972) Big Comic Spirits (Since 1980) Monthly Big Comic Spirits (Since 2009) Big Comic Special Big Comic Superior (Since 1987) IKKI (2003-2014) (discontinued) Monthly Sunday Gene-X (Since 2000) Weekly Young Sunday (1987–2008) (discontinued)
Female oriented manga magazines
Woman's weekly magazine (since 1805) Children's manga magazines Pucchigumi (ぷっちぐみ) (since 2006)
Shōjo manga magazines
Betsucomi (Since 1970) Cheese! (Since 1996) ChuChu (2000–2010, now discontinued) Ciao (Since 1977) Pochette Shōjo Comic (Since 1968), called Sho-Comi since December 2007
Josei manga magazines
flowers (Since 2002) Judy Petit Comic (Since 1977) Rinka (2007–discontinued)