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Shogakukan, Shueisha to Directly Publish in Europe (Updated)

The Nikkei news source reports that the Japanese publishers Shogakukan and Shueisha will join forces to directly publish manga in Europe starting in the fall of 2009. The two companies plan to publish in France first, and then expand to Great Britain, Spain, and the other European countries. Currently, several European publishers have licensed the two Japanese companies' manga titles. Those European publishers include France's Kana (Naruto, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Death Note), Spain's Glènat España (Naruto, Death Note, Inuyasha), and Germany's Carlsen Comics (Naruto, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Saikano).

Shogakukan and Shueisha are part of the larger Hitotsubashi Group, and two companies have coordinated overseas efforts before with their jointly owned Viz Media company and recently renamed Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co., Ltd. By entering the European markets directly, the two Japanese companies will be continuing their efforts to expand overseas and set up new revenue bases. Another major publisher in Japan, Kodansha, is establishing a new New York subsidiary next month.

Update: The animeanime.jp news website notes that Viz Media recently relocated its European operations from Amsterdam in the Netherlands to Paris with the opening of Viz Media Europe, S.A.R.L in January of 2007. Viz Media Europe currently manages Shogakukan and Shueisha's manga and animation properties and licenses in the region.