News
Kodansha Reports 5.7 Billion Yen Loss in 2009
posted on by Crystalyn Hodgkins
The Japanese publishing giant Kodansha lost 5.722 billion yen (about US$64.07 million) during the 2009 fiscal year (December 2008 to November 2009). Kodansha reported a loss of 7.7 billion yen (US$86.2 million) in the 2008 fiscal year — the largest annual loss in the company's history.
Revenues from magazine advertising dropped 25.9% from the previous year, and oveall sales dropped 7.8% to 124.522 billion yen (US$1.3944 billion). Book sales fell 5.9%. Sales have been steadily dropping from the company's peak of 203.3 billion yen (US$2.28 billion) in 1995.
Among other titles, Kodansha publishes xxxHOLiC, Tsubasa, RESERVoir CHRoNiCLE, Nodame Cantabile, Negima! Magister Negi Magi, Fairy Tail, Cardcaptor Sakura, Love Hina, and Kitchen Princess. Its magazine division prints Weekly Shōnen Magazine, Monthly Shonen Magazine, Young Magazine, Morning, Morning 2, Afternoon, Magazine Special, Evening, Monthly Shonen Sirius, Monthly Shōnen Rival, Nakayoshi, Bessatsu Friend, Be•Love, Kiss, Dessert, and The Dessert manga magazines. It also publishes official file magazines for specific franchises, such as Clamp no Kiseki, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny, Ultraman, Mobile Suit Z Gundam Historica, Kamen Rider, and Tokusatsu Hero Magazine.
Source: Yomiuri Shimbun via Canned Dogs, Nikkei
