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Kodansha Ends Simulpub Manga Distribution on Digital Service Azuki, Other Platforms (Updated)

KiraKira Media Inc.'s digital manga service Azuki revealed in a blog post on Thursday that Kodansha is ending distribution of simulpub chapters on Azuki, starting on January 16. On January 31, previous simulpub chapters from Kodansha's titles will be removed on the service. Azuki stated that this is a "policy change on Kodansha's end that affects all of the platforms they distribute on." ANN reached out to Kodansha.

This change affects the following series:

• A Sign of Affection Chapters 20ex-32
• Cardcaptor Sakura: Clear Card Chapters 50-69
• Drifting Dragons Chapters 57-78
• EDENS ZERO Chapters 132-222
• Space Brothers Chapters 377-395
• The Ghost in the Shell: The Human Algorithm Chapters 20-54
• The World of Summoning Chapters 1-11
• To Your Eternity Chapters 147-165.2
• Toppu GP Chapters 29-79
• Wave, Listen to Me! Chapters 65-86

Azuki confirmed with ANN that other chapters, including early non-simulpub chapters of some of the series listed as well as non-simulpub series, will remain on the service.

Azuki teased an upcoming announcement "very soon."

Azuki launched in June 2021 on iOS, Android, and web browser in English worldwide except Japan. The service offers simulpub manga chapters shortly after they launch in Japan in addition to a library of other titles. Azuki's first partnership was with Kodansha USA, and the service offered titles from the publisher's catalog at launch.

Free users are able to access select chapters with advertisements. There is also a subscription available to customers for US$4.99 that allows subscribers to read manga without ads. Comment threads are available on each chapter for registered user discussion.

Update: Updated title and order of information to reflect overall change to Kodansha's program.

Update 2: Added information on chapters that will remain on Azuki from Kodansha. Source: Email correspondence

Update 3: Kodansha USA Publishing told ANN it has no additional information to share about the removal at the moment, but added, "What we can say is that Kodansha is reassessing the distribution of its English-language chapter-based content. Any updates on the exact nature of this reassessment will be shared at a future date." Source: Email correspondence

Source: Email correspondence