CROSTA

What CROSTA does

CROSTA Inc. (株式会社CROSTA) is a Japanese creator-driven content production studio founded in May 2016 by manga artist Tanaka Yoshiki, headquartered in Kichijoji, Musashino City, Tokyo. The studio's stated model is to "cross" (CROSS) creators from different fields — manga artists, light novel writers, illustrators, scenario writers — to produce original intellectual property. Its active roster centers on two in-house creators: CEO Tanaka Yoshiki and writer Mizushiro Mizuki, whose combined output drives the studio's catalog of serialized manga and light novels.

The studio's product portfolio spans roughly seven serialized manga titles (including "Ingoshima" (インゴシマ), which surpassed 3.13 million copies in circulation by April 2026, and "Kamugoroshi," "Murder Lock," "Welcome to Another World, Please Die," and others) and at least four light novels (including "Demon Castle Chef," "Sinner Paradise," and "Death God Girl and Her First and Final Love"). The studio holds originator credits ("original story," "planner") rather than solo creator credits on several titles, indicating a story/planning role paired with a manga artist for execution.

CROSTA makes money through licensing royalties from publishers and digital platforms. Content is distributed through Manga Box, Square Enix (Young Gangan magazine and Manga Up), KADOKAWA, Famitsu Bunko (ASCII Media Works), DMM's GG-COMICS, and Zenon Comics (North Stars Pictures), with physical and digital retail via Amazon Japan. The company is privately held, with Trys Inc. (株式会社Trys) listed as a major shareholder. No venture capital or private equity funding rounds are disclosed; financial statements (balance sheets) for fiscal years ending January 2022 through January 2026 are publicly posted, but revenue figures are not surfaced in available sources. The company maintains a Japan-only operating footprint and markets titles through its own Twitter account (@crosta_comic), PR Times press releases, and influencer features (e.g., YouTuber Hajime Shacho).

Name

CROSTA

Legal name

株式会社CROSTA

Website

https://crosta.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CROSTA Inc. is a Japanese creator-driven content studio founded in 2016 that produces original manga and light novels through two in-house creators (CEO Tanaka Yoshiki and Mizushiro Mizuki), licensing the resulting IP to major domestic publishers and digital platforms including Manga Box, Square Enix, and KADOKAWA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Manga and Light Novel Publishing

NAICS

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

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Children’s Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga Publishing (MPAJAFAH)

Keywords

• Manga publishing
• Light novel publishing
• Original content creation
• Creative studio services
• Illustrations and scenarios

Headquarters

HQ city

Musashino

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Manga/Comic Publishing: CROSTA creates and publishes manga series through digital platforms such as Manga Box and print publishers including Square Enix. Series like インゴシマ are serialized through Manga Box, generating revenue through digital readership and print sales.
2. Light Novel Publishing: The company publishes light novels through publishers like KADOKAWA and Famitsu Bunko. Titles include original works such as 裏社会最強の男 and 魔王城のシェフ, distributed in physical and digital formats.
3. Content IP Development: CROSTA develops original intellectual properties ( manga and novels) that can be adapted across media formats, creating multi-platform revenue opportunities through publishing rights and adaptations.

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CROSTA is a Japanese creative studio that produces original manga series, light novels, illustrations, and scenarios. The company develops original intellectual property and licenses it to major Japanese publishers and digital manga platforms (including Manga Box, Square Enix, KADOKAWA, and Famitsu Bunko) for serialization and book publication. Revenue is generated through licensing royalties and publishing deals rather than direct consumer sales.

Product overview

CROSTA Inc. is a Japanese content creation studio specializing in manga (comics) and light novels (original novels). The company operates as a creator-driven studio with two active in-house creators: Tanaka Yoshiki and Mizushiro Mizuki. The product portfolio consists of multiple manga series serialized across various Japanese publishing platforms (Manga Box, GG-COMICS, Young Gangan, Manga Up, Zenon Comics) and light novels published through major publishers including KADOKAWA and Famitsu Bunko. Major titles include the hit manga 'インゴシマ' (Ingoshima) with over 3.13 million copies in circulation, alongside other manga and light novel series spanning genres such as isekai (other world), horror, action, and fantasy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ingoshima (インゴシマ) Original manga series serialized on Manga Box, with over 3.13 million copies in circulation as of April 2026. Tanaka Yoshiki serves as original author and artist.
• Kamugoroshi (カムゴロシ) Original manga series serialized on Manga Box, with CROSTA providing the original story.
• Welcome to Another World, Please Die (ようこそ異世界へ、では死んでください。) Original manga series serialized on GG-COMICS (DMM). CROSTA serves as both original author and planner.
• Murder Lock – Murderer's Predicament (マーダーロック-殺人鬼の凶室-) Original manga series serialized in Young Gangan (Square Enix), with Mizushiro Mizuki as original author.
• Even Demons Fall – Demon Food (悪魔も堕ちる悪魔飯) Original manga series serialized on Manga Up (Square Enix), with Mizushiro Mizuki as original author.
• Miasma Gas Masquerade (瘴気のガスマスカレイド) Original manga published by North Stars Pictures (Zenon Comics imprint), with Tanaka Yoshiki as original author and artist.
• Devil Lord is Ka King Chuu! (魔王さまはかきんちゅう！) Original manga series published by Zenon Comics, with Mizushiro Mizuki as original author.
• Underworld's Strongest Man, Enjoying the End World (裏社会最強の男、終末異世界を愉しむ) Original light novel published by KADOKAWA, written by Mizushiro Mizuki.
• Sinner Paradise (罪人楽園) Original light novel published by KADOKAWA, written by Mizushiro Mizuki.
• Death God Girl and Her First and Final Love (死神少女と最期の初恋) Original light novel published by KADOKAWA under the Famitsu Bunko imprint, written by Mizushiro Mizuki.
• Demon Castle Chef (魔王城のシェフ) Original light novel series published by Famitsu Bunko (ASCII Media Works), featuring an isekai (other world) gourmet story, written by Mizushiro Mizuki.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• マンガボックス (Manga Box)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCROSTA serializes major manga series including インゴシマ and カムゴロシ through Manga Box's digital platform, reaching digital manga readers in Japan.
• スクウェア・エニックス (Square Enix)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCROSTA publishes manga titles including マーダーロック-殺人鬼の凶室- through Square Enix's Young Gangan magazine and Manga Up platform.
• KADOKAWAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCROSTA publishes multiple light novel titles including 裏社会最強の男, 死神少女と最期の初恋, 罪人楽園, and others through KADOKAWA's publishing imprints.
• ファミ通文庫 (Famitsu Bunko)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCROSTA publishes the 魔王城のシェフ light novel series through ASCII Media Works' Famitsu Bunko imprint.
• GG-COMICS (DMM)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCROSTA serializes ようこそ異世界へ、では死んでください。 through DMM's GG-COMICS platform.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Studio Pierrot: Long-established anime studio producing multiple long-running original/adapted IP franchises (Naruto, Bleach). Comparable to CROSTA as a Japanese IP production studio with multi-title portfolio approach.
• Kinema Citrus: Mid-sized anime studio producing original and adapted IP (Shield Hero, Made in Abyss). Comparable to CROSTA as a small/medium Japanese creative production studio operating in genre content.
• Wit Studio: Anime studio with creator-led culture (founded by ex-Production I.G members) producing franchise-grade IP such as Spy x Family and Vinland Saga. Comparable to CROSTA's small-team creator studio model.
• Science SARU: Anime studio co-founded by director Masaaki Yuasa, producing creator-driven original and adapted IP (Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, The Colors Within). Comparable to CROSTA's small-scale creator-led IP studio model.
• MAPPA: Anime production studio producing original and adapted IP across action, fantasy, and drama genres (Jujutsu Kaisen, Attack on Titan Final Season). Comparable to CROSTA as a Japanese studio producing genre IP with strong publisher/IP-holder partnerships.
• Trigger: Indie anime studio founded by former Gainax talent, known for creator-driven original IP (Kill la Kill, Promare, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners). Comparable to CROSTA as a creator-led Japanese IP studio.
• Ufotable: Japanese anime studio renowned for being founder/creator-led (Hikaru Kondo) and producing high-grossing original IP franchises (Demon Slayer, Fate). Compares to CROSTA as a similarly creator-driven Japanese IP studio with multi-format franchise output.
• Bones (anime studio): Anime studio producing multiple genre IP franchises (My Hero Academia, Mob Psycho 100, Fullmetal Alchemist). Comparable to CROSTA as a Japanese IP studio with multi-title genre diversification.
• CoMix Wave Films: Creator-led anime/film studio founded around Makoto Shinkai, producing original IP films (Your Name, Suzume). Comparable to CROSTA as a small Japanese studio whose commercial value derives from creator-driven original IP.

Broad incumbents

• KADOKAWA Corporation: Japan's largest light novel and one of its largest manga publishers (KADOKAWA, ASCII Media Works/Famitsu Bunko). Comparable as a major IP creator/publisher that runs a media-mix strategy across LN, manga, anime, and games — and is also an active publishing partner of CROSTA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/crosta_comic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about CROSTA