In the market where digital comics took off first, the sales of manga collections in digital format in Japan have now surpassed sales of physical books, according to the Research Institute for Publications, as reported by NHK World (via AnimeNewsNetwork). Sales of digital manga grew to approximately $1.6 billion in 2017, while sales of manga as physical books dropped to $1.56 billion.
Digital sales grew 17% year-on-year, with discount campaigns and catalogue titles stimulating sales, according to the report, while sales of physical books fell over 14% from the previous year, a record rate of decline.
The combined market fell 0.9% in 2017, with digital piracy a contributing factor, the report said. The analysis did not include manga periodicals.

In Japan
Posted by Milton Griepp on March 1, 2018 @ 8:13 pm CT

MORE COMICS
Michigan Ave., Chicago, July 5, 2025
July 11, 2025
We visited the POP MART store on a high-visibility stretch of Michigan Avenue in Chicago, Illinois on July 5, 2025.
Plus: Middle-Grade Peach-Pit, New Titles from Creators of 'That Wolf-Boy Is Mine,' 'Otomen'
July 10, 2025
Other newly announced shojo titles include a middle-grade series by Peach-Pit and new series by the creators of That Wolf-Boy Is Mine and Otomen.
MORE NEWS
Robot-fighting Card Game by DV Games
July 10, 2025
DV Games will release Rumblebots, a new card game, into retail.
Former Chairman and CEO of Hasbro
July 10, 2025
Former Chairman and CEO of Hasbro Alan Hassenfeld has passed away on July 8, 2025.