Full-scale Entry into Vertical Reading Manga for Smartphones. Shueisha and Shogakukan Specialized Department.

Major publishers are entering full-scale production of "webtoons," vertically-readable manga for smartphones. Shueisha and Shogakukan are the first to establish specialized departments, and KADOKAWA will launch approximately 160 works in FY2022. Webtoons are easier to read on small smartphone screens than conventional manga, which are designed to be spread across a full page of paper. They are gaining popularity among young people and will open up a new market.

Shueisha will establish an editorial department specializing in webtoons in late March to strengthen its posture. Shogakukan will also create a specialized department and plans to release 10 works on its manga app by this summer.

Webtoons are arranged vertically in a row, like a four-frame comic strip, and can be read lightly on a smartphone.