Manga Creators Are Finally Getting a Raise as the Industry Faces an Overdue Reckoning

Weekly Shonen Jump is the ultimate champion among manga publications, with its serialized stories creating billion-dollar franchises that sweep the globe across generations. With over fifty years in its illustrious history, the Shueisha magazine imprint has become a popular fixation among readers worldwide, generating high demand and revenue. But in light of this revenue, Shonen Jump announced on X (formerly Twitter) that they are raising the rates for their artists, effective November 2024.

Considering the average income of ¥4 million-6.6 million annually cited by Shukatsu-Mirai via Mipon in 2022, and Shonen Jump being among the most profitable magazines in the industry, its creators are seeing a noteworthy pay raise. Manga artists will earn a starting rate of ¥31,350 ($203 USD) per color page and ¥20,900 ($135 USD) per black-and-white page, with opportunities for annual rate increases as noted by Sora News 24. While this still leaves several unanswered questions, it also opens the discussion on compensation for creative teams, what that looks like, and how it addresses other problems in the manga industry.

Shonen Jump Is Raising Their Pay Rates, but Is It Enough?

An Impressive Pay Increase Addresses One Part of the Issue

While the raise for Shonen Jump writers is reasonably impressive, it’s important to consider that their pay rates for successful creators who get their manga through the first year can technically run around six-figure rates in USD. However, with most creative teams often not a sole artist writing and drawing everything, there’s a matter of pay distribution, especially between the creator and their assistants. This can dampen the moment, although, with subsequent years of success, their arrangement can progressively become more comfortable at Weekly Shonen Jump.

With many Weekly Shonen Jump manga not surviving a full calendar year in 2023, the ¥500,000 fund cushion can help mangaka bounce back should a series meet a premature end. However, as many know, payment is merely one part of the problem in the realm of manga artists. It’s even been the basis for a scathing critique on the industry in Inio Asano’s Downfall manga, with erratic hours, ruthless deadlines, and often poor health resulting from juggling the line of work’s demands.

Manga Working Conditions Are Still a Major Issue

One Piece Isn’t Worth Hospitalizing Oneself

With the recent additional chapter delay of One Piece due to Eiichiro Oda’s failing health, a pay rate increase across the company is certainly a net positive, but doesn’t address the pressure of the industry. Combining the issue of splitting pay and meeting enormous demands for weekly content that’ll last for years, it’s no wonder that massive hits like Black Clover changed publications, wishing to avoid overworking themselves. Yūki Tabata’s new home magazine, Jump GIGA, also had its pay increased according to the announcement, with creators making ¥19,800 ($128 USD) for color pages, and ¥13,200 ($86 USD) for black-and-white.

The industry is loaded with genre-defining series hampered by these demands, with Bleach‘s manga ending being rushed due to similar health concerns. This problem isn’t solved with a quick and easy pay bump—writers and artists in any industry also need to live comfortably. It’s up to major entities like Shueisha and Weekly Shonen Jump to address these persistent problems, especially should new mangaka aspire to create similar hits.

Source: Sora News 24, Shonen Jump on X, Mipon