Growth of the Digital Comics and Webtoon Markets
First written in FY2023-Q1. 4 of 9 entries say "Restated". Latest entry: FY2026.
The whole theme swung hardest in 2025: 2 of 9 companies on the "Worse" side.
2 other companies' latest entry also says "Other".
- FY2026Market size and growth rate updatedAnnual report
「Japan's overall comic market declined 1.7% year on year to ¥692.5 billion in 2025, but the digital comic market continued to grow, albeit moderately, rising 2.9% year on year to ¥527.3 billion.」
The market view was updated to reflect that Japan's overall comic market had begun to contract, while the digital comic market continued to grow, reaching ¥527.3 billion, up 2.9% year on year. - FY2025Market size and growth rate updatedAnnual report
「In Japan, the overall comics market in 2024 reached a record high of ¥704.3 billion, up 1.5% year on year. Within this market, the electronic comics market continued to grow to ¥512.2 billion, up 6.0% year on year, although its growth rate has gradually slowed each year. In addition, the global market for webtoons, the vertical-scroll, full-color comics format that the Group began offering, is expected to grow to $5.4 billion by 2030.」
Presented 2024 results for Japan's overall and digital comic markets, along with a new market outlook forecasting the global webtoon market at $5.4 billion in 2030. - FY2025-H1RestatedAnnual report
「Regarding the environment surrounding the comics business, Japan's overall comics market in 2023 reached a record high of ¥693.7 billion, up 2.5% year on year. Within this market, the electronic comics market continued to grow to ¥483.0 billion, up 7.8% year on year, although its growth rate declined due to the end of stay-at-home demand. (Source: Japan Publishers Association, "Publishing Indicators") In addition, the global market for webtoons, the vertical-scroll, full-color comics format that the Group began offering, is expected to grow to approximately ¥3 trillion by 2029.」
The growth outlook for Japan's overall comics market, the electronic comics market, and the global webtoon market has been reconfirmed using the same market sizes and forecasts as in the previous disclosure. - FY2024Market size and growth rate updatedAnnual report
「In Japan, the overall comics market in 2023 reached a record high of ¥693.7 billion, up 2.6% year on year. Within this market, the electronic comics market continued to grow to ¥483.0 billion, up 7.8% year on year, although its growth rate declined due to the end of stay-at-home demand. In addition, the global market for webtoons, the vertical-scroll, full-color comics format that the Group began offering, is expected to grow to approximately ¥3 trillion by 2029.」
The update reflects the 2023 results for Japan's overall comics market and electronic comics market, and the outlook for the global webtoon market to reach approximately ¥3 trillion by 2029. - FY2024-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「Regarding the environment surrounding the comics business, which the Group entered during the previous consolidated fiscal year, Japan's overall comics market in 2022 reached a record high of ¥677.0 billion, up 0.2% year on year. Within this market, the electronic comics market grew to ¥447.9 billion, up 8.9% year on year, although its growth rate declined due to the end of stay-at-home demand. (Source: Japan Publishers Association, "Publishing Monthly Report") In addition, the global market for webtoons, the vertical-scroll, full-color comics format that the Group began offering, is expected to grow to approximately ¥2 trillion by 2027. (Source: QYResearch)」
The market size and growth outlook for Japan's overall comics market, the electronic comics market, and the global webtoon market have been reconfirmed with the same content as in the previous quarter. - FY2024-Q1Market size and growth rate updatedAnnual report
「Regarding the environment surrounding the comics business, which the Group entered during the previous consolidated fiscal year, Japan's overall comics market in 2022 reached a record high of ¥677.0 billion, up 0.2% year on year. Within this market, the electronic comics market grew to ¥447.9 billion, up 8.9% year on year, although its growth rate declined due to the end of stay-at-home demand. (Source: Japan Publishers Association, "Publishing Monthly Report") In addition, the global market for webtoons, the vertical-scroll, full-color comics format that the Group began offering, is expected to grow to approximately ¥2 trillion by 2027. (Source: QYResearch)」
The company indicated that Japan's overall comics market expanded to ¥677.0 billion in 2022 and the electronic comics market to ¥447.9 billion, while the growth rate of the electronic comics market declined due to the end of stay-at-home demand. - FY2023-Q3RestatedAnnual report
「In addition, the global market for webtoons, the vertical-scroll, full-color comics format that the Group began offering, is expected to grow to approximately ¥2 trillion by 2027 (Source: QYR Research).」
The market outlook that the global webtoon market will grow to approximately ¥2 trillion by 2027 has been reconfirmed. - FY2023-Q2RestatedAnnual report
「In addition, the global market for webtoons, the vertical-scroll, full-color comics format that the Group began offering, is expected to grow to approximately ¥2 trillion by 2027 (Source: QYR Research).」
The growth outlook for the webtoon market has been reconfirmed. - FY2023-Q1First statedAnnual report
「In Japan, the overall comics market in 2021 reached a record high of ¥675.9 billion, up 10.3% year on year. Within this market, the electronic comics market grew significantly to ¥411.4 billion, up 20.3% year on year, as new users gained during the COVID-19 pandemic remained engaged and the rise of vertical-scroll comics attracted new users who had not previously read manga. In addition, the global market for webtoons, the vertical-scroll, full-color comics format that the Group began offering, is expected to grow to approximately ¥2 trillion by 2027 (Source: QYR Research).」
As the background to its entry into the comics business, the company explained the growth of Japan's comics market, at ¥675.9 billion, its electronic comics market, at ¥411.4 billion, and the global webtoon market, which is expected to reach approximately ¥2 trillion by 2027.