Shueisha Raises Mangaka Payments

Low wages in Japan’s anime and manga industries are widely known, but Shueisha, through its iconic Weekly Shonen Jump magazine, is taking a significant step to address this issue. On November 18, the publisher announced substantial increases in manuscript fees paid to artists.

Shueisha Raises Mangaka Payments, Setting a New Standard in the Manga Industry

The revised rates guarantee a minimum of 20,900 yen (around $135) per black-and-white page and 31,350 yen (approximately $203) per color page, reflecting increases of 2,200 yen and 3,300 yen compared to last year.

Additionally, artists publishing regularly in the magazine will see progressive pay raises and will have the opportunity to negotiate higher rates if they receive offers from other publishers.

Another benefit includes an upfront payment of 500,000 yen for artists approved for serialization, along with an annual exclusivity contract worth 1 million yen.

These changes have been positively received by fans and industry professionals alike, with mangaka Tamiki Wakaki, creator of The World God Only Knows, pointing out that they never earned comparable amounts at their peak with another publisher.

Shueisha’s initiative sets a new benchmark for the manga industry, encouraging other publishers to reassess their compensation policies to better support manga creators.

Source: Você Sabia Anime