Shogakukan, one of Japan’s major publishing houses, has launched NOVELUS, a new mobile app bringing a wide selection of Japanese manga and light novels to English-speaking audiences in the United States and Canada. The app, available on both iOS and Android, aims to make these popular Japanese entertainment forms more accessible to Western fans through digital distribution.
What is NOVELUS?
NOVELUS is a dedicated platform for reading translated Japanese light novels and manga. The app offers a variety of features designed to enhance the reading experience. The platform is similar to Shueisha’s MANGA Plus platform with the addition of features specifically designed for light novels.
Launch Titles and Content
The app launched with over 80 titles, encompassing both manga and light novel series. Among the initial offerings are popular titles such as the action-packed manga Kengan Ashura, and the dark fantasy light novel Witch and Hound. While the initial launch primarily featured manga titles, Shogakukan plans to continually expand its library with new titles and additional light novels. The publisher aims to reach 400 titles within the app in the next two years.
AI-Powered Translations
One of the most notable aspects of the NOVELUS app is its use of AI-assisted translations. Shogakukan has partnered with Mantra, an AI translation startup, to facilitate the English localization of its content. This approach is intended to significantly reduce translation costs and increase the speed at which new content can be made available to users. While this has raised some concerns among fans regarding translation accuracy, Shogakukan hopes that AI translation will allow them to broaden the availability of Japanese light novels to an international audience.
Unique Features of the NOVELUS App
NOVELUS incorporates several unique features to enhance user experience for both manga and light novel readers:
Character Icons and Speech Bubbles
For light novels, a particularly distinctive feature is the implementation of character icons alongside dialogue. Each line of dialogue is accompanied by a small icon of the character who is speaking, presented in a chatroom-style layout. Tapping on these icons also brings up instant profiles of the characters. This feature addresses the challenge some readers face in remembering Japanese names, as the publisher noted it received feedback that Japanese names are hard to remember.
Community Engagement
The app encourages community engagement, allowing readers to share their favorite series, rate titles, and leave comments and impressions on various works. This promotes a sense of community among readers. The app also features a homepage showcasing recent updates, as well as featured and top-rated series.
Reading Experience
NOVELUS provides a vertical scrolling reading experience, which is particularly well-suited for mobile devices. This makes it convenient for users to read on the go, enhancing the overall user experience.
How to Access Content
The NOVELUS app employs a “coin” system for accessing content. Users can unlock long-term access to new chapters and series via in-app purchases using coins. Short-term access is also available through free coins, which are offered through various in-app promotions and methods.
Future Plans for NOVELUS
Shogakukan has ambitious plans for the NOVELUS app.
Expansion of Content
The company plans to significantly expand the app’s library, aiming to include 400 titles within the next two years. The goal is to provide a comprehensive collection of both light novels and manga.
Original Western Light Novels
Looking beyond translations, Shogakukan plans to include original light novels written in the West on the app. To promote this initiative, there will be an upcoming competition where participants can submit their own English light novels for a chance to be featured on NOVELUS. This move signals a commitment to fostering a global community of light novel writers.
User Growth
Shogakukan is targeting 1 million app users by the end of the fiscal year 2027, which highlights its focus on making NOVELUS a key platform for digital manga and light novel consumption.
Reactions and Implications
The launch of NOVELUS has been met with mixed reactions. While many fans are excited about the increased accessibility of Japanese light novels and manga, the use of AI-assisted translations has raised some concerns regarding accuracy and the overall quality of translations. However, it also appears that many fans appreciate the unique features, such as the character icons.
Cost-Effective and Increased Output
The use of AI translations is expected to significantly cut translation costs, allowing Shogakukan to release more content at a faster pace. This approach allows for more rapid releases in English, which could lead to an increase in the popularity of light novels and manga among international audiences.
Potential for Growth
With a large library planned and the introduction of original English content, NOVELUS has the potential to become a significant player in the global digital manga and light novel market. Shogakukan’s focus on user experience and community engagement may also appeal to a wide range of readers.
NOVELUS vs. Other Platforms
The launch of NOVELUS comes amid growing interest in digital manga and light novel platforms. Here’s how it compares with some other services:
MANGA Plus
Shogakukan’s approach with the NOVELUS app is similar to Shueisha’s MANGA Plus platform with the addition of features specifically designed for light novels. The two platforms have similar interfaces and engagement tools.
BOOK WALKER
BOOK WALKER is another popular platform for digital manga and light novels that offers a large library of titles from various publishers. While BOOK WALKER is focused on providing access to translated content, NOVELUS has the potential to offer a more community-focused experience while simultaneously fostering original content.
Other Apps
Other apps, such as NovelWorld and NovelNook, offer extensive libraries of web novels, often focusing on genres like romance and fantasy. NOVELUS aims to differentiate itself by providing translations of popular Japanese manga and light novels while focusing on original content and user experience.
Conclusion
The launch of NOVELUS marks a significant step in making Japanese light novels and manga more accessible to a global audience. With its unique features, community focus, and the use of AI-assisted translations, the platform has the potential to become a leading force in the digital distribution of Japanese entertainment. While the use of AI translation may face some initial scrutiny, Shogakukan’s commitment to expanding content, promoting original work, and engaging with users could lead to a successful and popular platform. As NOVELUS continues to evolve, it will be interesting to observe its impact on the global light novel and manga landscape.
