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| Kana (publisher) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Kana |
| Type | Imprint |
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 1996 |
| Founder | Yves Schlirf |
| Headquarters | Paris, France |
| Products | Manga, graphic novels |
| Parent | Dargaud |
Kana (publisher) is a French publishing imprint specializing in Japanese manga and graphic novels, established in 1996 in Paris. Over several decades Kana developed a catalog that features translations of works by prominent creators such as Osamu Tezuka, Naoki Urasawa, and Rumiko Takahashi, and forged relationships with Japanese publishers including Shogakukan, Kodansha, and Shueisha. Kana operates within the European comics market alongside publishers like Glénat, Casterman, and Delcourt.
Kana was founded in 1996 by Yves Schlirf in Paris to bring contemporary and classic manga to French-speaking readers, following earlier European interest catalyzed by works such as Akira and Dragon Ball. In the late 1990s and early 2000s Kana expanded its catalog by licensing titles from major Japanese houses including Kodansha, Shueisha, and Shogakukan, contributing to the popularization of creators like Katsuhiro Otomo, Eiichiro Oda, and Clamp. In 2003 Kana became part of the Dargaud group, aligning it with Franco-Belgian publishers such as Dupuis and Le Lombard and enabling collaborations across European markets including Belgium, Switzerland, and Spain. Through the 2010s Kana adapted to digital distribution trends alongside platforms tied to companies like Amazon (company), Apple Inc., and Google while maintaining print editions distributed by European wholesalers including Hachette Livre and retailers such as Fnac and Cultura.
Kana’s primary products are translated manga volumes, omnibus editions, and special collector’s printings of landmark works such as Monster and 20th Century Boys. Imprints and sub-lines have included editions aimed at youth readers comparable to offerings from Kodansha Comics and VIZ Media, as well as deluxe releases following models used by Vertical, Inc. and Yen Press. Kana also publishes art books, guidebooks, and tie-in merchandise for series with cross-media presence in franchises like One Piece, Naruto, and Pokémon. The imprint has produced translated works across genres from sports manga exemplified by Slam Dunk to seinen titles like Berserk and josei manga comparable to Nodame Cantabile translations.
Kana’s catalog includes titles by celebrated creators: Osamu Tezuka (whose works transformed modern manga), Naoki Urasawa (including Monster and 20th Century Boys), Rumiko Takahashi (including Ranma ½ and Inuyasha), Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), Eiichiro Oda (One Piece), Takehiko Inoue (Slam Dunk), Kentaro Miura (Berserk), CLAMP (including Cardcaptor Sakura), Hajime Isayama (Attack on Titan), Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto), and Tsukasa Hojo (City Hunter). Kana has also introduced French readers to authors such as Keiko Takemiya, Moto Hagio, Yoshihiro Togashi, Tite Kubo, Yoshitomo Watanabe, and contemporary creators like Inio Asano and Hiroya Oku.
Kana operates as an imprint within the Dargaud group, itself part of the broader Media-Participations conglomerate, which includes Franco-Belgian publishers such as Dupuis, Casterman, and Le Lombard. This corporate structure places Kana alongside European comics houses like Glénat and retail partnerships with chains such as Fnac and Amazon (company). Decisions on licensing, translation, and distribution are coordinated with parent-company executives and legal teams experienced in international rights deals with Japanese publishers including Shueisha and Shogakukan.
Kana’s distribution focuses on the French-speaking market in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and parts of Canada (notably Quebec). Kana titles are sold through bookstores such as Fnac, WHSmith in international contexts, specialty manga retailers, comic conventions like Japan Expo (convention), and online marketplaces including Amazon (company). Kana collaborates with international partners for co-editions and licensing that reach Spain, Italy, and Germany, comparable to cross-border arrangements by Panini Comics and Tokyopop in Europe.
Works published by Kana have won industry awards and critical acclaim, with authors in its catalog honored by accolades such as the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize, the Angoulême International Comics Festival awards, and nominations at the Manga Taishō. Titles like Monster and 20th Century Boys have been cited in critics’ lists and have contributed to awards garnered by creators such as Naoki Urasawa and Katsuhiro Otomo at festivals including Angoulême and ceremonies in Japan.
Category:French publishing companies Category:Manga distributors