ONE PEACE BOOKS

What ONE PEACE BOOKS does

One Peace Books is a privately held North American publishing company founded in 2006 as the translation-focused subsidiary of Japanese publisher Sanctuary Books. Operating from Long Island City, New York, with a core team of approximately five employees supplemented by intermittent part-time and intern support, the company licenses Japanese manga, light novels, and literary classics, then translates, edits, prints, and distributes them for English-speaking audiences. Its catalog is anchored by The Rising of the Shield Hero — a manga companion series now exceeding 26 volumes and 11 million copies sold worldwide — and includes other ongoing series such as I Hear the Sunspot, Higehiro, and Farming Life in Another World, alongside literary works by Osamu Dazai, Natsume Soseki, and others, plus a smaller line of original English-language publications. The company also publishes audiobooks (notably Shield Hero on Audible) and distributes selected titles through digital streaming platforms Azuki and Mangaplaza.

The business operates a sales-led, traditional publishing go-to-market model. Content is acquired through Sanctuary Books' Japanese industry relationships, and finished books are sold through major online retailers (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org) and distributed at wholesale by Independent Publishers Group across North America and Europe. Marketing relies on Edelweiss catalog distribution, an email newsletter, an X/Twitter presence, and earned media from outlets such as School Library Journal, Otaku USA, and Anime News Network. Pricing is unit-based, with manga and light novel volumes at $11.95–$13.95 and literary/lifestyle titles at $14.95–$24.95. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time book sales (physical and digital), with no subscription or freemium pricing tiers, no mobile app, and no API or proprietary technology platform; the company's differentiation rests on licensed content quality, translation standards, and ALA-recognized catalog curation rather than on technology.

Name

ONE PEACE BOOKS

Legal name

One Peace Books

Website

https://onepeacebooks.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

One Peace Books is a New York-based, Japanese-affiliated independent publisher that translates and distributes manga, light novels, and literary classics from Japan for English-speaking North American and European readers. It is best known for The Rising of the Shield Hero and operates with a small staff via retail, wholesale, and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Book Publishing

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Manga Publishing (Japanese & Global) (MPAJAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Translated & International Trade Publishing (Rights/Localizations) (MPAJAAAO), Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB), Audiobook Rights & Licensing (Territorial/Format Rights, Agencies) (MPAJAIAG)

Keywords

• Manga publishing
• Light novel publishing
• Japanese translation
• Literary classics
• Comic book publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Long Island City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Book Sales (Physical and Digital): Revenue is generated through the sale of translated Japanese manga, light novels, and literature for the North American market. Books are sold through major retail channels (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org) as physical copies and ebooks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

One Peace Books translates and publishes Japanese manga, light novels, literary classics, and original English-language titles for North American readers. The company licenses Japanese content from creators and its parent company Sanctuary Books, then produces English-translated physical books, ebooks, and audiobooks that it distributes through major retail and digital channels.

Product overview

One Peace Books is a North American publishing company founded in 2006, specializing in the translation and publication of Japanese entertainment and literature. The company operates three main product lines: (1) Japanese Manga Publications covering fantasy, romance, mystery, and slice-of-life genres, (2) Light Novel Publications including flagship titles like The Rising of the Shield Hero, and (3) Japanese Literature Classics featuring works by canonical authors. The company also offers Audiobooks, an Email Newsletter subscription service, and distributes content through digital streaming platforms Azuki and Mangaplaza. The portfolio includes popular series such as The Rising of the Shield Hero (with over 1 million US copies sold), I Hear the Sunspot, Higehiro, and Farming Life in Another World, as well as original graphic novels and literary works.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Japanese Manga Publications
• Light Novel Publications
• Japanese Literature Classics
• Original Publications
• Audiobooks

Quantifiable outcome

• The Rising of the Shield Hero has sold over 1 million copies in the US and over 11 million copies worldwide
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Independent Publishers GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistribution and sales partner for North America and Europe. Located at 814 N. Franklin St., Chicago, IL 60610. Handles wholesale distribution of all One Peace Books titles.
• AzukiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital streaming platform partner for selected One Peace Books titles including classic series.
• MangaplazaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital streaming platform partner for selected One Peace Books titles including Tenken, Maria Holic, and Crayon Shinchan.
• Sanctuary BookscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and original founder of One Peace Books. As a successful Japanese publisher, Sanctuary Books provides industry knowledge and connections that enable One Peace Books to license and publish Japanese content for North American audiences.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Vertical (comics imprint): Imprint of Kodansha USA focused on translated manga and Japanese prose — comparable catalog mix of manga and literature, with similar target readership.
• Denpa Books: Small independent publisher of Japanese manga and prose in English — very comparable in scale, catalog mix, and target audience, making it perhaps the closest head-to-head peer in size and positioning.
• Kodansha USA: US arm of Kodansha, one of Japan's largest publishers, licensing and translating manga and select prose for North America — directly comparable business model with strong Japanese parent backing.
• J-Novel Club: Digital-first publisher specializing in Japanese light novel translations, with a subscription-based model. Comparable in niche focus on Japanese-to-English prose translation, though heavier on digital than print.
• Yen Press: Joint venture between Kadokawa and Shueisha, Yen Press is one of the largest North American publishers of translated Japanese manga and light novels — directly comparable to One Peace in product format, customer base, and licensing model.
• Seven Seas Entertainment: Independent North American publisher specializing in manga and light novels, with a similar catalog breadth across isekai, romance, and fantasy — closely comparable in scale, target audience, and licensing approach.
• Tokyopop: Long-running North American manga publisher that has gone through multiple restructurings. Comparable in translating Japanese content for Western audiences, though with a broader and more varied catalog.

Broad incumbents

• VIZ Media: The dominant North American manga publisher (joint venture of Shueisha, Shogakukan, and Hachette). VIZ competes for the same readers and licenses but operates at vastly greater scale with a much larger catalog.
• Dark Horse Manga: Manga imprint of Dark Horse Comics, publishing both classic and contemporary Japanese titles in translation. Comparable in product category though Dark Horse is a much broader comics publisher overall.

Emerging players

• Cross Infinite World: English-language imprint of Fujimi Shobo (Kadokawa) focused on light novel translations — emerging competitor with comparable niche focus on Japanese prose but smaller catalog.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/1peacebooks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/one-peace-books

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 ONE PEACE BOOKS