COMICSMART Inc. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Koki Sato, "COMICSMART"), a consolidated subsidiary engaging in the IP Platform Business of Septeni Holdings Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Koki Sato, Securities Code: 4293), opened a new manga and webtoon production base in Fukuoka City (Tenjin) and held an opening ceremony on February 24.

(Left) Mr. Soichiro Takashima, Mayor of Fukuoka City　(Center) Koki Sato, Representative of COMICSMART　(Right) Ms. Madoka Moriyasu

As the digital shift has progressed in recent years, the domestic e-book market has continued to grow. The market scale reached 551 billion yen in 2021 and is projected to exceed 800 billion yen in 2026 (*1). In addition, smartphone-first content is beginning to gain popularity worldwide. The market for vertical scroll & full-colored contents called "Webtoon" is expanding, and research has shown that it will grow to a scale of 60 billion dollars (about 7.5 trillion yen) by 2030 (*2).

Since the launch of the business in 2013, COMICSMART has developed and operated its proprietary platform "GANMA!" In addition, it has created Internet-based hit IP and produced creators through its own editorial department and content studios.
In 2022, COMICSMART launched "G!TOON," a webtoon service in GANMA!, offering a new entertainment experience unique to digital platforms.
And this time, COMICSMART has opened a new content production studio in Fukuoka City in order to actively develop its business toward the realization of "creating IP from Japan/Asia that fans are enthusiastic worldwide."

Fukuoka City is focusing on the promotion of creative-related industries such as games, videos, fashion, music, and design, in order to realize "Creative Entertainment City Fukuoka," providing support for creators and corporate base expansion support. Since its appeal and growth potential resonated, COMICSMART decided to establish a new studio in Fukuoka, the city in which many active creators in Kyushu, Japan, and overseas have been based.

In the next few years, while actively recruiting local creators, COMICSMART will focus on the production of Webtoon contents. It aims to build a Webtoon production and operation system to serialize 100 titles simultaneously, which will be the same size as the current manga serialization.

Through activities in a Fukuoka studio, COMICSMART aims to become Asia's leading content studio by sharing hit IPs around the world.

(*1) Source: Impress Research Institute. eBook Market Report 2022
(*2) Source: Spherical Insights & Consulting. Global Webtoons Market Size, Share & Trends, COVID-19 Impact Analysis Report, By Type (Romance, Comedy, Action, and Others), By Revenue Model (Subscription Based, and Advertisement Based), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa), Analysis and Forecast 2021 - 2030

[Comments from Koki Sato, Representative of COMICSMART]
We are excited about the establishment of our new creative base in cooperation with Fukuoka City that aims to become a Creative Entertainment City Fukuoka.
We will enliven the industry by producing excellent Webtoon contents from Fukuoka for readers around the world. Please look forward to our future developments.

[Opening ceremony]
Mr. Soichiro Takashima, Mayor of Fukuoka City, and Ms. Madoka Moriyasu attended the ceremony.
Mr. Takashima expressed his expectation that content that could compete in the world such as manga would be produced in Fukuoka, and that creators would work together to create a city where they can play an active role.

Ms. Moriyasu commented that she was a fan of GANMA!'s popular work "My Love Story with Yamada-kun at Lv999," and that she wanted COMICSMART to make a lot of works that entertain readers from Fukuoka studio to the world.

Koki Sato, Representative of COMICSMART

Mr. Soichiro Takashima, Mayor of Fukuoka City

Ms. Madoka Moriyasu

[About Fukuoka base]
Location: Recruit Tenjin Building 6F, Maizuru1-1, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka
Business: Manga and Webtoon contents production
Commencement date: February 1, 2023

[About manga app "GANMA!"]
[Exceeded 17 million downloads] GANMA! is a manga app which publishes more than 310 original manga works. Various genres of manga such as suspense, romance, battle, horror, romantic comedy, fantasy, and comedy are distributed every day, and you can read serialized original manga from the first episode to the latest episode for free. From May 2022, "G!TOON" is also provided as a Webtoon service.
In addition, with the subscription service "GANMA! Premium" that offers unlimited reading for a fixed monthly fee, you can enjoy not only GANMA! original manga that is being serialized or completed, but also a full lineup by GANMA! Selection. Furthermore, you can always enjoy manga without advertising.

■Official website: https://ganma.jp/
■Compatible OS: iOS 14.0 or later、Android 6.0 or higher
■Compatible browsers: Internet Explorer、Firefox、Safari、Google Chrome, etc.
■Viewing fee: free/¥680 per month for GANMA! Premium*
*With GANMA! Premium, you can read manga as much as you want and read the unrevealed next episode two weeks earlier.
*"Illustration Posting Function," "Heart Posting Function," "Vertical Reading Function," "GANMA! Premium," and "G!TOON" only supports the app version at present.

*"Android" and "Google Chrome" are trademarks or registered trademarks of Google Inc.
*"iOS" is the operating system name of Apple Inc. "iOS" is a trademark or registered trademark of Cisco in the U.S. and other countries. It is used under license.
*Internet Explorer is a registered trademark or trademark of Microsoft Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries.
*"Firefox" is a registered trademark of Mozilla Foundation in the U.S. and other countries.
*"Safari" is a trademark or registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc, U.S.A.

[Inquiries about the news]
COMICSMART Inc.
E-mail: pr@comicsmart.co.jp

[Inquiries about the press release]
Septeni Holdings Co., Ltd., Public Relations Department, Public Relations Division, Kofunato & Onuma
E-mail: koho@septeni-holdings.co.jp
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Septeni_PR
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/septenigroup

■Overview of COMICSMART Inc.
Main Business: IP Platform Business
Head Office: Sumitomo Fudosan Shinjuku Grand Tower 27F, 8-17-1, Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Representative: Representative Director, Koki Sato
Corporate URL: https://www.comicsmart.co.jp/

■ Overview of Septeni Holdings Co., Ltd.
Main Business: Holding Company to manage group companies which mainly develop the Internet businesses.
Head Office: Sumitomo Fudosan Shinjuku Grand Tower 30F, 8-17-1
Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Representative: Representative Director, Koki Sato
Corporate URL: https://www.septeni-holdings.co.jp/