What Coamix does

Coamix Inc. (株式会社コアミックス) is a privately held Japanese manga publishing and IP management company headquartered in Musashino City, Tokyo, with a second operational base in Kumamoto Prefecture. Founded by Nobuhiko Horie — the former 5th Editor-in-Chief of Weekly Shonen Jump who oversaw the magazine's peak of 6.53 million copies in circulation — the company builds, acquires, and exploits manga intellectual property across print, digital, and experiential channels. Its core product stack includes the long-running Monthly Comic Zenon magazine (published since 2010), the Zenon Comics tankōbon imprint, and the Zenon Plus web and mobile platform (rebranded in June 2026 with a daily update cadence, point-based reader rewards, and an app release scheduled for July 2026). Beyond publishing, Coamix operates the Zenon Shop online retail store, two physical venues (GALLERY ZENON in Kichijoji and Kumamoto Manga Arts), and an artist training facility (Artists Village Aso 096) developed jointly with Kumamoto Prefecture.

Coamix's monetization model spans direct publishing revenue (one-time volume sales, monthly subscriptions at 730 yen, digital chapter sales on Zenon Plus), licensing royalties (anime adaptations licensed to Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+ Star, and HBO Max across 100+ countries), premium merchandise collaborations (limited-edition Seiko watches at 59,800 yen, Duskin HealthRent co-branded goods, be LEGEND protein SKUs), theatrical stage plays, short-drama adaptations on the BUMP app, and event-based revenue through Gallery Zenon exhibitions and immersive experiences. The IP portfolio is anchored by iconic legacy franchises — Fist of the North Star (over 100 million copies in circulation since 1983), City Hunter, Cat's Eye, and Record of Ragnarok — alongside newer hits including Mobuko no Koi and Otaku ni Yasashii Gal wa Inai!?.

Distribution combines owned channels (the magazine, Zenon Plus web/app, Zenon Shop, Gallery Zenon, Kumamoto Manga Arts) with major third-party retail (Amazon.co.jp, Animate, Melonbooks) and global entertainment partners (Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, U-NEXT, TOKYO MX/BS11, emole Inc./BUMP). The company also invests in R&D via the MAI Research Lab (Manga AI Research), which combines biometric, neuroscience, and AI methods to study manga reading and creation, with peer-reviewed output in collaboration with the University of Tokyo. Coamix is privately held, founder-controlled, and has no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or parent entity in the source data.

Name

Coamix

Legal name

株式会社コアミックス (Coamix Inc.)

Website

https://coamix.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Coamix is a Japanese manga publishing and IP management company headquartered in Musashino, Tokyo, founded by former Weekly Shonen Jump editor-in-chief Nobuhiko Horie. It publishes Monthly Comic Zenon, operates the Zenon Plus digital platform, and licenses iconic IP — including Fist of the North Star, City Hunter, and Cat's Eye — across print, anime, drama, stage, and merchandise channels globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manga Publishing

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (513120), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global) (MPAJAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Comics, Manga & Serialized Reading Platforms (BPAMAJAJ), Anime Production (MPADACAF), Licensed & Franchise Comics Publishing (Film/TV/Game Tie-ins) (MPAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Manga publishing
• Anime production
• IP licensing
• Manga magazines
• Comic content

Headquarters

HQ city

Musashino

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Publishing: Publishing manga through monthly magazine (月刊コミックゼノン) and individual volumes (ゼノンコミックス) through print and digital channels.
2. IP Licensing and Anime Production: Licensing classic IPs like 北斗の拳, シティーハンター, キャッツ・アイ for anime adaptations, merchandise, and collaborations.
3. Event Management: Operating event spaces including GALLERY ZENON (art gallery in Kichijoji) and 熊本マンガアーツ for exhibitions and stage productions.
4. Digital Content Licensing: Licensing manga for adaptation into short dramas distributed on platforms like BUMP.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Coamix is a manga publishing and IP management company that publishes the Monthly Comic Zenon magazine, operates the Zenon Plus web manga platform, sells manga volumes under the Zenon Comics imprint, and manages a portfolio of iconic manga IPs including Fist of the North Star, City Hunter, Cat's Eye, and Record of Ragnarok. The company licenses these properties for anime adaptations, live-action dramas, stage plays, and merchandise collaborations, and operates physical venues including Gallery Zenon and Kumamoto Manga Arts.

Product overview

Coamix operates as a comprehensive manga publishing company with a multi-platform content distribution strategy. The core offerings include the monthly magazine '月刊コミックゼノン (Monthly Comic Zenon)' published since 2010, the web manga platform 'ゼノンプラス (Zenon Plus)' providing free and paid manga chapters with daily updates and a dedicated mobile app, and the 'ゼノンコミックス (Zenon Comics)' imprint publishing collected volumes. The company manages 'ゼノンショップ (Zenon Shop)' as its official online merchandise store, and operates physical venues including '熊本マンガアーツ (Kumamoto Manga Arts)' combining a manga goods shop with a theater for stage productions, and 'GALLERY ZENON' an art gallery in Kichijoji. Coamix's IP portfolio features major titles such as '終末のワルキューレ (Record of Ragnarok)', '北斗の拳 (Fist of the North Star)', 'シティーハンター (City Hunter)', 'キャッツ・アイ (Cat's Eye)', 'モブ子の恋 (Mobuko no Koi)', and 'オタクに優しいギャルはいない!?' (Is a Gal Who is Kind to Otaku Unavailable!?). The company extends its titles across diverse media including anime adaptations, theatrical productions, live-action dramas, films, merchandise licensing, and collaborative products with external brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ゼノンコミックス (Zenon Comics): Manga comic imprint under Coamix publishing monthly series and tankobon volumes.
• ゼノンプラス (Zenon Plus)
• 月刊コミックゼノン (Monthly Comic Zenon)
• 熊本マンガアーツ (Kumamoto Manga Arts)
• ギャラリーゼノン (Gallery Zenon)
• ゼノンショップ (Zenon Shop)

Products and services

• Monthly Comic Zenon (月刊コミックゼノン) Monthly manga magazine publishing serialized manga titles since 2010, featuring core Coamix series including Record of Ragnarok and new serializations, sold at 730 yen (tax included) per issue.
• Zenon Plus (ゼノンプラス) Web manga platform offering daily updated manga chapters with both free reading and paid volume purchases, plus a points reward system. A mobile app version is scheduled for release in July 2026.
• Zenon Comics (ゼノンコミックス)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 million copies in circulation for 北斗の拳 franchise
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• EX (Game Developer)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Collaboration between mobile RPG '終末のワルキューレ The Day of Judgment' and anime '北斗の拳'. Limited character gacha and event quests featuring Hokuto no Ken characters.
• 株式会社ダスキン (Duskin)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Collaboration with Duskin HealthRent (nursing care products) featuring 'Care Shiro' character from Hokuto no Ken. PR campaign and web CM promoting healthcare products.
• Real Style (be LEGEND)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 June 2026Collaboration protein product '世紀末チョコレート風味' featuring Hokuto no Ken character Rei. Product sold through be LEGEND's online store, Amazon, and Rakuten.
• NO MOREcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 June 2026Joint development of UMEZZ HORROR HOUSE immersive horror experience event. NO MORE provides immersive entertainment expertise, Coamix provides IP and venue (GALLERY ZENON). Event runs July 17-September 6, 2026.
• emole Inc. (BUMP)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 19 June 2026Distribution of 'プロ彼女の条件' short drama series exclusively on BUMP short drama app. Season 4 launching June 19, 2026 with This is LAST theme song.
• 東京大学 (University of Tokyo)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Joint research with University of Tokyo Graduate School of Arts and Sciences on brain science of manga reading. Published research in PLOS One journal demonstrating paper manga's cognitive benefits over digital. Co-hosted press conference with Professor Sakai Kuniyoshi.
• セイコー (Seiko)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 May 2026Seiko collaboration watch featuring Hokuto no Ken characters Kenshiro and Raoh. Limited edition of 2,000 pieces per design, priced at 59,800 yen.
• 明治座・博多座・新歌舞伎座 (Theaters)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 30 April 2026Stage play 'メイジ・ザ・キャッツアイ' theatrical productions at major Japanese theaters: Fukuoka Hakataza (Sept 26-30), Tokyo Meijiza (Oct 9-Nov 1), Osaka Shin Kabukiza (Nov 14-23).
• TOKYO MX / BS11coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTV broadcasting partners for anime series including '北斗の拳 -FIST OF THE NORTH STAR-' and '終末のワルキューレⅢ'.
• HBO MaxcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational streaming distribution partner for 'ちるらん 新撰組鎮魂歌' drama series to 100+ countries worldwide.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Shogakukan: Major Japanese publisher of children's and manga titles (Sunday, Ciao) with extensive IP licensing across media. Comparable category leader but broader scope than Coamix's monthly serialization focus.
• Kadokawa: Major Japanese publishing and media group (Monthly Shonen Ace, ComicWalker) with cross-media anime, light novels, and games. Comparable in multi-format IP monetization and digital platform strategy (ComicWalker vs Zenon Plus).
• Kodansha: One of Japan's largest publishing houses (Magazine Shonen, Afternoon, Nakayoshi) with a deep manga IP portfolio including Attack on Titan licensing. Comparable in offering breadth (magazine + web + anime production) but operates at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Shueisha: Japan's leading manga publisher (Weekly Shonen Jump, Jump Comics) and the most direct comparable to Coamix. Founded by Coamix founder Horie Nobuhiko's former employer, it dominates magazine-format manga serialization and IP licensing globally.
• Akita Shoten: Established Japanese manga publisher (Champion, Young Champion) with similar mid-size specialty magazine model, sports/action focus, and international anime licensing.
• Tokuma Shoten: Independent Japanese publisher of Monthly Comic Ryu and Comic Zenon predecessor era titles. Closely matched in scale, magazine-format publishing, and historical roots in classic manga IP management.
• Hakusensha: Specialty manga publisher focused on seinen and shojo magazines (Young Animal, Hana to Yume). Closely comparable size and editorial model to Coamix's Monthly Comic Zenon, with similar IP-to-anime licensing pipelines.
• Takeshobo: Small Japanese manga publisher with magazine + tankobon offerings (Manga Goraku lineage). Closely comparable niche publisher scale to Coamix with overlapping seinen/mature audience target market.
• Square Enix (Manga Division): Manga imprint of Square Enix (Monthly Gangan, Young Gangan) with similar mid-tier publisher profile, magazine + tankobon + digital offering, and anime adaptation of titles.

Emerging players

• Hero's Inc. Japanese manga publishing venture with digital-first distribution focused on seinen/horror (Monthly Hero's). Emerging peer with overlapping IP-to-media adaptation model including anime production.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/coamix_official
• Instagraminstagram.com/coamix_prz
• TikToktiktok.com/@coamix_pr?lang=ja-JP&is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=mobile&sender_web_id=7256827643944535554

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Coamix