Japan’s Manga Library Z, a pioneering platform for the free distribution of digital manga, has announced the closure of its website after 14 years of service. The free manga site, created by well-known author Ken Akamatsu, is now forced to cease operation due to difficulties with paid services. This decision marks the end of one of the most beloved platforms for manga fans, as it offered free access to a wide variety of manga, including out-of-print and never digitised titles, for all fans who wanted to continue reading those stories legally.
Manga Library Z announces closure due to financial difficulties
In a statement issued on 5 November 2024, Manga Library Z announced with regret the final closure of its free electronic manga distribution service. Since its launch in 2010, the platform gave users access to a wide range of manga, many of which were out of print or had never been digitised. In addition to offering popular titles, the site was noted for giving authors a share of the revenue generated from advertising, helping to fund their works for more than a decade, however, in recent years, Manga Library Z has faced increasing difficulties with payment services, especially with credit card companies.
At the end of October 2024, Manga Library Z received a notice from its payment service provider, forcing the company to cancel all contracts related to payment processing. Despite efforts to restructure the operation and find a solution, the team determined that continuing the service without being able to guarantee adequate compensation to authors would jeopardise the trust of users and creators, culminating in the difficult decision to suspend the platform,
The service started under the name J Comi, created by renowned mangaka Ken Akamatsu, author of Love Hina and Mahou Sensei Negima! in 2010, when the concept of e-books was still new, and platforms for reading manga online were limited. J Comi became a pioneer, offering free access to manga via the internet, this approach allowed fans to read works that were not available in physical format, such as rare or out-of-print titles, J Comi quickly grew in popularity, and eventually evolved into what would become Manga Library Z.
Manga Library Z is scheduled to close on 26 November, a moment that will mark the end of an era for many users and creators. However, J Comic Terrace, the company behind the site, does not plan to disappear, as they will continue to work through their wholesale business, providing works to other platforms and online shops, thus ensuring that they can continue to support participating authors and ensure they receive revenue for their works.
The Manga Library Z team also expressed their commitment not to completely abandon the project, although the immediate future remains uncertain, they are working with the parties involved to explore new ways to revive the platform. Among the possible alternatives are considering transitioning the site to a non-profit organisation, or even the possibility of using crowdfunding to finance the return of the service. Although these options are at an early stage of exploration, the team says they are committed to finding a solution that will allow Manga Library Z to return in some format.
For more than 14 years, Manga Library Z has become an essential place for manga fans in Japan and around the world. The platform not only provided access to classic and hard-to-find works, but also innovated in a number of areas, such as reading manga via YouTube and mobile app compatibility. These initiatives helped the site stay relevant over time, adapting to users’ changing needs and offering new ways to enjoy manga.
In their statement, the Manga Library Z team expressed their gratitude to all the authors, users and contributors who have supported the platform over the years, without the support of the community, the project would not have been possible. Over the years, the site received contributions from over 100 authors on special occasions, and celebrated events such as a new year’s party, it was customary for participating sensei to write messages, these moments were important to strengthen the bond between the platform and the community that supported it.
The team also stressed that although the site is closing, their commitment to the authors and users remains strong, the hope is that one day Manga Library Z can somehow re-emerge, allowing readers to continue to enjoy free, quality manga, and ensuring that creators are fairly compensated for their work.
(C) 2024 J-Comic Terracce Corporation
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