By Jude 
Mangajikan has been a favorite place for free manga fans for many years. The site was a gateway to an unprecedented collection of manga titles, and closed a void for the worldwide audience craving to be able to read Japanese comics that weren’t available or were hiding behind a paywall. The place to be for those who really… love manga.” Tens of millions of fans read manga on Mangajikan from around the world, making it an unmissable place for manga fans from around the world. It, like the former, represented Olympus Scanlation, another renowned manga (and manhwa) translation group responsible for the release of many well-translated hard-to-find works.
But the tides have turned considerably, as Mangajikan is now officially closed for business, and it is being seen as a significant turning point for the online manga landscape.
The Rise (and Fall) of Mangajikan
The growth of Mangajikan cannot be exaggerated. At its height, MangaRock is said to have been visited by millions each month, making it one of the most extensive manga piracy operations out there. One Piece is also one of the most accessible manga to pick up as it spans time, but leaves enough time in between sagas to catch up until the next arc.
It didn’t take long, though, for rights holders, including Shueisha, one of the largest manga publishers in Japan, responsible for influential series like One Piece and My Hero Academia, to notice Mangajikan. Shueisha initiated strategic legal battles against Mangajikan and other such platforms to defend the livelihood of creative talent and the respect for its IP.
Shueisha’s Legal Action and Its Strategy
Shueisha was methodical in its battle with Mangajikan, it’s legal squad coming at the site prepared from all angles. Direct claims against offenders were part of the process, but the primary goal quickly became taking down the infrastructure that facilitated manga piracy.
In targeting server hosting companies, ad networks, and payment processors that made sites like Mangajikan possible, it was Shueisha that produced an atmosphere of chaos. Since they couldn’t find a reliable hosting or monetization system, the site was no longer able to survive and had to be shut down. This approach has taken other piracy sites by surprise, making it clear that their business models are now at risk.
The Impact of Piracy on the Manga Industry
Manga and the people who bring some of the world’s most beloved stories have continued to suffer huge damages from piracy. Piracy of manga and other content is estimated to cost the industry billions of yen in lost revenue annually, according to the Content Overseas Distribution Association of Japan.
Piracy has a significant impact on manga creators, who often work long hours to meet tight deadlines for low pay. By reading pirated material, readers are accidentally stealing from these creators the just rewards for their efforts, and that is respect, and in some cases, money as well. Finally, these standard practices damage the overall worldwide ecosystem of manga and force publishers to take risks on weaker talent and ideas.
How Piracy Sites Make Money and What Readers Risk
Mangajikan and other piracy sites like it may portray themselves as information warriors for the free and open internet, but the reality is far more cynical. These are usually hugely profitable platforms that make money through ads, so-called affiliate deals, and all sorts of dodgy subscription schemes. Readers, even those who only hover over ads, are in effect giving back to a system that fuels these illegal enterprises.
Not to mention piracy and the cyber risks that come with it. Adverts carrying malware or downloads of Trojan horses from pirate sites can leave personal information exposed or lead to devices becoming infected. Readers take a lot more risks than they may realize by prioritizing convenience over ethical consumption.
Reaper Scans, a separate piracy site that’s more or less dedicated to Korean webcomics (manhwa), exhibits the same pattern. Although some lauded the ease of the translations, the dangers of piracy and copyright infringement largely still remained obvious, not least the long-term damage it caused to the industry.
Where Manga Fans Can Go Now
But even in the wake of Mangajikan’s shutdown, fans have plenty of legal avenues through which to read their favorite manga series. These are platforms that support creators and provide quality content, usually with perks that are only available to subscribers.
Here are some top alternatives:
- Viz’s Shōnen Jump+
Subscription Cost: $1.99/month
Readers get access to a massive library of manga, including simultaneous releases of ongoing titles straight from Japan.
- Crunchyroll Manga
Pairing anime and manga under one platform, Crunchyroll Manga offers dedicated manga readers access to a curated collection.
- BookWalker
Perfect for eBook enthusiasts, BookWalker allows readers to purchase individual manga volumes for ownership.
- ComiXology
Amazon’s ComiXology Unlimited offers a diverse array of manga, graphic novels, and comics.
These options ensure that fans can consume manga without worrying about legality, and they help bolster the sustainability of the industry itself.
The Future of Manga Consumption
The closing of Mangajikan is a bold move in the continuing battle between piracy and copyright. With publishers like Shueisha turning to an all-out assault on piracy, manga fans are finding themselves in a new climate where ethical consumption is becoming the only way to read and watch their favorite series. Thanks to reasonably priced, widely available manga subscription services, fans have more choices than ever to show their support for creators and the creative process.
Platforms such as Viz’s Shōnen Jump+ provide readers a legal means to do that, and one that will also pass on royalties to the hardworking artists whose titles are being consumed.^10^11 Fans who opt for ethical solutions also help to construct a better future for the world of manga, paving the way for discoveries and new styles.
Even if sites like Mangajikan may fall off the radar, readers continue to seek out manga. Fans are now responsible for taking that enthusiasm and directing it toward avenues that strengthen rather than weaken the industry.
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Casey Rivers