Do Mangakas Earn More Money Today?

Do mangakas earn more money today compared to, say, ten years ago? Much is said about the anime industry—how animators receive little pay while working endless hours on anime after anime. But what about mangakas?

According to a certain otaku, his mangaka friend is doing very well in life, to the point of living in a comfortable place and paying an expensive rent.

Do Mangakas Earn More Money Today?

On February 24, Manarisu’s post sparked discussion among fans, as he said the following:

“Ten years ago, a friend of mine complained, saying, ‘You can’t make a living as a mangaka.’ But recently, he has been doing really well and is extremely busy. He is earning enough to live in a house with a rent of 300,000 yen. When I asked him how, he said, ‘Today, there are too many manga apps and too few mangakas.’ Even considering the learning phase, the economic impact of manga has become truly impressive.”

How Much Is 300,000 Yen in USD?

According to the exchange rate on the day this post goes live, 300,000 yen is $2005! That’s a lot of money—this mangaka must be swimming in cash.

But what were the reactions?

• I think the lack of mangakas is due to the oversaturation of Narou web novels. From there, they get adapted into anime, which is why isekai anime keeps being produced endlessly.

• If he can afford a 300,000 yen rent, wouldn’t it be better to buy a house? But maybe it’s because, as a mangaka, it’s hard to get approved for a loan.

• This is a consequence of the end of Mangamura. That site seriously harmed the country’s economy.

• Sure, this applies to some cases, but if the manga isn’t popular, it ends quickly. In the end, the manga industry is full of failed artists.

• So, you can actually make money publishing on manga apps?

• He’s just another name to fill the numbers. It doesn’t matter if no one reads his work.

• Creating a manga takes a lot of time. It’s not just about the story; there’s also the artwork, panel layout, dialogues, settings… With the rise of Narou web novels, maybe it’s become easier for illustrators who couldn’t draw full manga to enter the industry as artists.

• I know a mangaka who used to rely on government aid and a mental health notebook, but recently, he managed to support himself. Maybe this is part of that trend.

As one of the commenters above said, if this story is real, it’s just one case among many. Many mangakas don’t make that kind of money, but we’ve already published cases here on the site of artists making absurd profits from adult manga.

via Você Sabia Anime