Melonbooks to Suspend Visa and Mastercard Payments

The Japanese platform Melonbooks, known for selling independently published manga (doujinshi), video games, and anime Blu-rays, recently announced it will suspend Mastercard and Visa payments starting December 19.

This decision comes amid a series of tightened restrictions affecting Japanese platforms facing increased scrutiny from international payment processors.

Melonbooks to Suspend Visa and Mastercard Payments

While Melonbooks did not specify the exact reason for the suspension, it is likely linked to requests to limit adult content. International payment processors, like Mastercard and Visa, have been reinforcing their policies to prevent their networks from being used to monetize explicit content, especially content involving minors.

This has already impacted other Japanese platforms offering legal fanart and doujinshi. Platforms like Skeb, Niconico, DMM, DLSite, and Fantia were also forced to disable Visa and Mastercard payments this year.

Recently, Manga Library Z, an archive of out-of-print manga, shut down after losing its primary payment options.

This announcement has raised concerns on Japanese social media, with many voicing that these regulations are unfairly affecting independent manga artists and fanart creators.

Melonbooks, which brands itself as a “one-stop shop for doujinshi products,” will continue accepting JCB and American Express. Visa and Mastercard payments will remain available only in physical stores, and an alternative in-store payment option will be available for online purchases.

via Automaton