Goma Books
Goma Books (ゴマブックス) is a Tokyo-based independent publisher producing e-books and print-on-demand (POD) books distributed across 20+ platforms, serving individual authors, consumer readers, and corporate publishing partners via one-time sales and a subscription publishing partnership.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Goma Books does
Goma Books (ゴマブックス) is a Tokyo-based independent publishing company that produces, aggregates, and distributes digital books and print-on-demand (POD) physical books. Its catalog spans manga, business and self-help titles, literature, music scores, political documents, art books, the 366-title BIRTHDAY BOOK fortune-telling series, reprinted out-of-print works under the GOMABOOKS復刊シリーズ, and public domain collections from Aozora Bunko and the National Diet Library. The company's underlying technology stack is built around multi-format content delivery: e-books are aggregated and distributed across more than 20 Japanese and global platforms (Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play Books, Rakuten Kobo, Yahoo! Bookstore, ReaderStore, DMM e-books, 7net, eBookJapan, honto, Comic C'MO, Kinokuniya, BookWalker, MangaBox, Renta!, music.jp, Niconico Seiga, and dブック), while physical books are produced exclusively through Amazon's POD service and Disc-on-Demand (DOD) for DVD/CD media, eliminating inventory risk for niche and long-tail titles.
The company serves three primary segments: individual authors and content creators (including first-time and self-published authors) who use Goma Books as a publishing and distribution platform; general consumer readers purchasing e-books and POD books across mainstream and specialty genres; and corporate publishers reached through a subscription publishing (サブスク出版) partnership with Global Partners Co., Ltd. (グローバルパートナーズ株式会社). Revenue is generated predominantly through one-time unit sales of e-books (¥250-¥1,890 per title) and POD physical books (¥1,600-¥1,890+ tax per title), supplemented by the recurring subscription model and Kindle Unlimited enrollments. Distribution is primarily domestic Japan, with global reach only insofar as Apple Books, Google Play, and music.jp extend its catalog internationally. The 15-year-old company (15th anniversary celebrated in 2025) is privately held, led by Representative Director and President Hitoshi Akai (赤井仁), and operates with 11-50 employees from Minato-ku, Tokyo.
Goma Books firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Goma Books
- Legal name
- ゴマブックス株式会社
- Website
- https://goma-books.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Goma Books (ゴマブックス) is a Tokyo-based independent publisher producing e-books and print-on-demand (POD) books distributed across 20+ platforms, serving individual authors, consumer readers, and corporate publishing partners via one-time sales and a subscription publishing partnership.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Goma Books industry classification
Industry- Product category
- e-book and Print-on-Demand Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services (5192)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Book Printing (2732)
- akta.pro primary industry
- E-book Retail & Reading Platforms (Stores, Apps, Devices) (MPAJAMAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Trade Book Print-on-Demand (Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJANAA), Self-Publishing Platforms (KDP-style Marketplaces & Portals) (MPAJAJAA)
Keywords
Where Goma Books is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Goma Books business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- E-book Sales: One-time purchase model for digital e-books sold across Amazon Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Rakuten Kobo, and other platforms. Prices range from approximately ¥250 to ¥1,890 per title. Some titles participate in Kindle Unlimited subscription program.
- Print-on-Demand (POD) Book Sales: Physical books printed and shipped on demand via Amazon POD service. POD titles are Amazon-exclusive for physical format. Price points range from ¥1,600–¥1,890+ tax per title.
- Subscription Publishing (サブスク出版): Joint subscription-style publishing model with partner グローバルパートナーズ株式会社. Authors publish works through a subscription model co-developed with Global Partners.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | E-book single-title purchase |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | POD book single-title purchase |
| Freemium | Pay-as-you-go | Kindle Unlimited titles |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels18 records
Marketing channels4 records
Goma Books product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Goma Books is a Japanese publishing company that produces and distributes e-books, physical books, print-on-demand (POD) books, and disc-on-demand (DOD) media across 20+ digital and physical retail channels. The company specializes in niche and long-tail content including manga, business, self-help, literature, politics, music scores, Aozora Bunko public domain works, and National Diet Library collections. It also operates the Ori-on☆ mobile novel platform for new writing talent and revives out-of-print titles through its GOMABOOKS Reprint Series.
Product overview
Goma Books (ゴマブックス) is an e-book and print publishing portal offering digital books, physical books, and print-on-demand publications. The core offerings include 電子書籍 (e-books) available across multiple platforms like Amazon Kindle, iBooks, Rakuten Kobo, and Google Play, as well as 一般書籍 (physical books) and POD/PRINT-ON-DEMAND formats. The company operates the おりおん☆ mobile novel platform for discovering new writers and recently launched ゴマデジタルブックス (GD Books), a new e-book series. They also publish specialty series including the BIRTHDAY BOOK fortune-telling series, National Diet Library collections, Aozora Bunko public domain works, and Disc-on-Demand products. The company distributes through Amazon and multiple Japanese e-book retailers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GD Books: New e-book series launched in July 2026
- ゴマデジタルブックス
Products and services
- E-books (電子書籍 / Digital Books) Digital e-book versions of Goma Books' publications available for purchase across multiple online bookstores and reading platforms including Amazon Kindle, iBooks, Google Play, Rakuten Kobo, Yahoo! Bookstore, DMM e-books, eBookJapan, BookWalker, and others. Sold to individual consumer readers across genres including business, self-help, manga, literature, politics, music scores, and specialty reference content.
- Physical Books (一般書籍) Physical printed books sold through bookstore partners and retail locations, covering the same genre breadth as the e-book line (business, self-help, manga, literature, politics, music scores, etc.). Targeted at individual consumer readers who prefer physical formats.
- Print-on-Demand Books (POD / プリント・オン・デマンド) Physical books printed and shipped individually on demand through Amazon's POD service, eliminating inventory risk for niche and long-tail titles. Available exclusively on Amazon. Sample titles include 『中途採用に悩む人事に最初に読んで欲しい本』¥1,600+tax and 『美容医療で世界の頂点へ』¥1,620+tax. Format: 128mm × 188mm. Designed for individual readers and self-published authors seeking physical distribution without inventory risk.
- Disc-on-Demand (DOD / ディスク・オン・デマンド) Physical media products including DVD-based content (e.g., instructional DVDs, presidential speeches) and music CDs that are produced and shipped on demand. Sold through Amazon and the goma-books.com portal. Examples include 'トランプ大統領就任演説 DVD BOOK' and '認知症予防と改善にもなる家族のためのアロママッサージ' [DVD].
- Goma Digital Books (GD Books / ゴマデジタルブックス) A new e-book series launched in July 2026 as a new product line for Goma Books, offering digital books designed for easy purchase and immediate access. Announced via the company's news section on July 2, 2026. Currently proposed as 'a new e-book series offering' for the company's digital content portfolio.
- Ori-on☆ Mobile Novel Platform (ケータイ小説おりおん☆) A mobile novel posting website featuring works that have been adapted into dramas and novels, used for discovering and nurturing new writing talent. Functions as a talent pipeline for Goma Books' broader publishing portfolio.
- BIRTHDAY BOOK Series (バースデーブック) Fortune-telling book series comprising 366 titles, one for each day of the year, providing personality diagnostics and 10-year future predictions based on birthdate. Sold as e-books at ¥400 per title. Targeted at individual consumer readers interested in fortune-telling and personal diagnostics.
- National Diet Library Collection (国会図書館所蔵書) Digitized versions of publications from the National Diet Library (Japan's national library) collection, made available as e-books through Goma Books' multi-platform distribution. Targeted at readers, researchers, and consumers seeking access to historically significant or rare publications.
- Aozora Bunko Public Domain Series (青空文庫) Selections from the Aozora Bunko public domain Japanese literary collection, published as e-books through Goma Books' distribution platform. Targeted at readers of classic Japanese literature and public domain works.
- GOMA BOOKS Reprint Series (ゴマブックス復刊シリーズ) Revival/out-of-print title reissuance program bringing back previously unavailable works through POD and e-book formats. Enables monetizing content libraries that would otherwise remain inaccessible. Targeted at readers seeking out-of-print or hard-to-find titles, and rights holders seeking POD reissuance.
Companies that use Goma Books
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Goma Books technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Goma Books partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- グローバルパートナーズ株式会社 (Global Partners Co., Ltd.)coreJoint subscription publishing (サブスク出版) partnership. Global Partners and Goma Books co-produce titles under the subscription publishing model. Global Partners is involved in digital marketing (YouTube CM 30,000 videos/year), global talent services (1,000 placements/year), overseas expansion support, and online school services.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Goma Books competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Publiq (出版ワークス): Smaller Japanese POD and digital publisher with a long-tail focus; partial overlap with Goma Books' niche-content and POD positioning.
Direct peers
- Renta! (Papyless): Japanese e-book rental platform from Papyless offering Japanese-language digital content distribution; competing for the same digital reading audience with comparable genre breadth.
- BookWalker (Kadokawa): Kadokawa's e-book platform offering e-books and POD services across Japanese e-book retailers. Directly comparable as a multi-format digital publisher/aggregator serving Japanese readers and authors.
- BookLive: E-book platform (formerly 7net e-books) operated by BookLive Co., Ltd.; comparable distribution model serving Japanese consumers with broad content across genres.
- DMM Books: DMM.com's e-book platform offering manga, books, and digital content distribution in Japan; comparable retail/aggregation model with broad content catalog.
- Honto: Joint e-book service by Maruzen, Junkudo, and DNP; functions as a multi-platform distribution and discovery point for Japanese e-books, similar to Goma Books' aggregator role.
- eBookJapan (Yahoo Japan): Major Japanese e-book platform operated by Yahoo Japan/SoftBank; competes for the same reader and publisher pool with a similar aggregation and distribution model.
- NextPublishing (Impress R&D): Digital-first Japanese publisher using Amazon POD and multi-platform e-book distribution; very comparable small-publisher model with similar focus on niche and technical content.
Broad incumbents
- Rakuten Kobo: International e-book platform that operates as a distribution channel in Japan; overlaps with Goma Books as both retailer and distribution partner, but at much larger global scale.
- Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon KDP): Amazon's dominant POD and self-publishing platform; simultaneously Goma Books' largest customer (POD exclusive) and a structural competitor for self-publishing authors.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Goma Books social profiles
Digital presenceGoma Books financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Goma Books leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Goma Books funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Goma Books M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Goma Books
What does Goma Books do?
Goma Books is a Japanese publishing company that produces and distributes e-books, physical books, print-on-demand (POD) books, and disc-on-demand (DOD) media across 20+ digital and physical retail channels. The company specializes in niche and long-tail content including manga, business, self-help, literature, politics, music scores, Aozora Bunko public domain works, and National Diet Library collections. It also operates the Ori-on☆ mobile novel platform for new writing talent and revives out-of-print titles through its GOMABOOKS Reprint Series.
Is Goma Books a public or private company?
Goma Books is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Goma Books founded?
Goma Books was founded in 1988. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Goma Books based?
Goma Books is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Goma Books make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. E-book Sales are the primary driver. The others are print-on-Demand (POD) Book Sales and subscription Publishing (サブスク出版).
Who are Goma Books's main competitors?
Publiq (出版ワークス) is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Renta! (Papyless), BookWalker (Kadokawa), BookLive, DMM Books, Honto, eBookJapan (Yahoo Japan) and NextPublishing (Impress R&D). Broad incumbents are Rakuten Kobo and Kindle Direct Publishing (Amazon KDP).
Does Goma Books have an API?
No public API is recorded for Goma Books.
What industry is Goma Books in?
Goma Books's product category is e-book and Print-on-Demand Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAMAA, E-book Retail & Reading Platforms (Stores, Apps, Devices), with a secondary code of MPAJANAA, Trade Book Print-on-Demand (Fiction & Nonfiction). Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.