Yen Press

Yen Press
Parent company Kadokawa Corporation (51%)
Hachette Book Group USA (49%)
Status Active
Founded 2006 (2006)
Founder Kurt Hassler
Rich Johnson
Country of origin United States
Headquarters location New York City, New York
Distribution Hachette Book Group USA (US)
Diamond Book Distributors (international)[1]
Official website www.yenpress.com

Yen Press LLC is an American manga and graphic novel publisher co-owned by Kadokawa Corporation and Hachette Book Group. In addition to their regular book releases, Yen Press produced Yen Plus, a monthly manga anthology (last print issue 2010). The company's varied list demonstrates an interest in publishing a wide variety of Japanese manga, Korean manhwa, and other international content. In addition to translated material, Yen Press has released original series, most notably a manga adaptation of James Patterson's Maximum Ride and Svetlana Chmakova's Nightschool.

History

Yen Press was founded in 2006 by former Borders Group buyer Kurt Hassler and DC Comics VP Rich Johnson (who left the imprint in the fall of 2008). In July 2007, it was announced that Yen Press was to absorb ICEkunion, a Korean publisher that had been releasing manhwa to the United States. While the manga titles bearing ICEkunion's label would be continued to be sold in stores, subsequent printings would bear the Yen Press logo. Kurt Hassler assured fans, "We plan to pick up all the existing [ICEkunion] titles...We’re going to continue everything, so fans shouldn’t worry. None of these series are going to fall into a void.”[2]

Yen Press had previously stated that it would like to release 30 - 40 volumes within 2008. One of the flagship titles of their original English artists line has been announced to be Nightschool, which would be released by Canadian Svetlana Chmakova, who is known for her Tokyopop title Dramacon.

During New York Comic Con 2008, Yen Press announced that the titles Soul Eater, Nabari no Ou, Sumomomo Momomo, Bamboo Blade, and Higurashi When They Cry would run in their monthly anthology magazine Yen Plus. The first issue debuted on July 29, 2008.

In 2009, Yen Press announced that it had acquired the rights to Yotsuba&![3][4] and Azumanga Daioh[5] from their former licensee, A.D. Vision. In September 2009, Yen Press rereleased the first five volumes of Yotsuba&!, in addition to releasing the sixth volume; Azumanga Daioh was rereleased with a newly translated version in December 2009.

On April 11, 2016, it was announced that Yen Press would function as a joint venture between Hachette Book Group and major Japanese publisher Kadokawa Corporation, with Kadokawa owning 51% of the company.[6]

Titles

Original series

Manga

† - Digital distribution rights only due to being a Square Enix title. Viz Media has the rights for series' paperback releases.[7]

Manhwa

Manhua

Light novels

European titles

  • Dystopia (Germany)
  • Goldilocks and the Seven Squat Bears (France)
  • Toxic Planet (France)
  • W.I.T.C.H. (Italy)
  • Y Square (Germany)
  • Y Square Plus (Germany)

References

  1. ↑ "Our Publishers". Diamond Book Distributors. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  2. ↑ Yen Press Hires Lee, Adds ICE Kunion List - 7/24/2007 - Publishers Weekly
  3. ↑ Koulikov, Mikhail (7 February 2009). "New York Comic Con Yen Press". Anime News Network. Retrieved 11 February 2009.
  4. ↑ "Yen Press » YOTSUBA&! by Kiyohiko Azuma". Yen Press. Retrieved 5 March 2009.
  5. ↑ "Yen Press to reissue Azumanga Daioh manga". Anime News Network. 1 April 2009. Retrieved 3 April 2009.
  6. ↑ Laura. "Exciting news about the future of Yen Press!". Yen Press. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
  7. ↑ ComiXology Digital Platform Adds Yen Press Manga
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