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.
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.