Kindle Unlimited service offers titles for monthly fee; Kobunsha also claims removal of 550 titles
Japanese publisher Kodansha lodged a protest with online retailer Amazon Japan on Monday after Amazon removed more than 1,000 Kodansha titles from its Kindle Unlimited e-book subscription service.
Amazon Japan launched the service in Japan on August 3. The subscription service allows users to read titles on offer for a monthly fee. The service offers 120,000 Japanese publications, and about 1.2 million foreign publications. The Wall Street Journal reports – citing a source in the Japanese publishing industry – that Amazon would pay publishers a year-end premium for every user that read up to 10% of an offered publication, in addition to regular fees. According to the source, manga, magazines, and photo collections began disappearing from the service in mid-August. The Japan Times additionally emd a publishing industry source that stated Amazon told the publishers its budget ran out after some titles saw demand beyond what Amazon expected.
Amazon said in an email statement to The Wall Street Journal that “titles regularly rotate in and out of the catalog.” The statement noted that this is common in subscription services for any medium.
Kodansha‘s protest claimed that Amazon made a “one-sided decision” to remove the titles, without informing the publisher beforehand, and further stated that Amazon had removed the titles on the evening of September 30. Kodansha asked that Amazon reconsider the tiles’ removal.
Japanese publisher Kobunsha also claimed on Monday that Amazon removed 550 of its titles from the service.
Sources: The Japan Times, The Wall Street Journal (Megumi Fujikawa)
More from Anime News Network:
Kodansha’s 1st sales jump in 18 years credited to Attack on Titan
Amazon releases new Kindle model specifically designed for manga readers
Kodansha to release popular manga in Japan and USA simultaneously in K Manga this May
Kodansha’s K Manga app launches with 60 English simupubs among 400 titles
Amazon Japan makes payment policy change that could be a problem for foreigners in Japan
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Fading Tokyo – Searching for signs of the Showa era as local neighborhoods evolve[Photos]
Pokémon Centers across Japan cancel April events after stabbing in Tokyo
Tokyo teahouse serves up a sakura matcha dessert you won’t find anywhere else
Japan now has a special desk for people who work at home with a pet cat[Photos]
Tokyo turns its phone booths into free Wi-Fi hotspots, and here’s how to use them
Totoro and Calcifer become little light-up lanterns for Ghibli-style excursions or at-home decor
New cafe in trendy Tokyo neighborhood is staffed by grannies and grandpas with average age of 73
Which Gundam is the favorite for fans in different countries? Gundam election announces results
Japanese fast food chain serves up burgers with Camembert “buns”
Famous Tokyo cherry blossom spot installs view-blocking screens to fight overcrowding[Video]
Uniqlo announces new T-shirts for One Piece, Naruto and more for manga publisher’s 100th birthday
Tokyo’s best museum for foreign travelers finally reopens after being closed for four years
Pokémon lacquerware series expands for Year of the Horse with new handcrafted design[Video]
Krispy Kreme releases Super Mario doughnuts in Japan for a limited time
Picturesque Tokyo park plays host to millions of flowers and soap bubbles this spring
Tokyo subway and almost all Tokyo train lines now accepting credit card tap payments
Final Fantasy invites you to adventure in Fukushima with Fukushima Fantasy Chocobo fun[Video]
Starbucks Japan unveils new sakura cherry blossom collection for hanami season 2026
Train station platform ramen store closes its doors on half a century of history in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new My Fruit³ Frappuccino at only 34 stores around the country
Studio Ghibli releases Catbus pullback keychain that runs like the anime character
Japanese onsen egg maker from 100-yen store Daiso needs to be on your shopping list
Nine great places to see spring flowers in Japan, as chosen by travelers (with almost no sakura)
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Comic Walker app launches with 18 manga titles in English
New online manga service features 200 titles, three selectable languages, and no fees
New service lets you turn manga pages into T-shirt designs, over 200 titles to choose from
PS4s with Silent Hills demo selling for over US$1,500
Otaku Internet services: For all your online Japanese geekery needs