J-Novel Club
Status | Active |
---|---|
Founded | 2016 |
Founder | Sam Pinansky |
Country of origin | United States |
Headquarters location | San Antonio, Texas |
Distribution | Worldwide (Ingram[1]) |
Publication types | Books (digital and print) |
Imprints |
|
Owner(s) | Kadokawa Corporation |
Official website | j-novel |
J-Novel Club is a publishing company specializing in the translation of Japanese light novels into English. It streams light novels and manga in regular installments before publishing finalized e-books. As of August 2021, J-Novel Club has licensed over 150 light novel and manga series and have published more than 800 e-books.[2] It has licensed titles from many Japanese publishers, including Hobby Japan, Overlap, Kodansha, Earth Star Entertainment, Kadokawa Corporation, Micro Magazine, Shufunotomo, and Softbank Creative. It was acquired by Kadokawa Corporation on April 28, 2021.
History
After coming to the conclusion that "there was a whole universe of content out there in Japan that's hardly available in the west at all,"[3] Sam Pinansky began working on the business model for J-Novel Club in 2015 and "took inspiration from what the fans had started to do on their own, as well as the more traditional models for book publishing."[4] J-Novel Club's overall purpose was "to create and grow a worldwide market for Japanese light novels translated into English."[5] The original name for the project was "K-Novel" because "kei" is Japanese for "light" (as in the K from K-On!), but before launch the "K" was changed to "J" (for Japanese) to avoid confusion with Korean novels. "Club" was added when it was noticed that the .club top-level domain name was available.[6]
J-Novel Club was founded in 2016 by Sam Pinansky and announced they would release light novels in weekly installments for their members before releasing the finalized books on e-book format. It launched with the titles Occultic;Nine, Brave Chronicle: The Ruinmaker, My Big Sister Lives in a Fantasy World, and My Little Sister Can Read Kanji.[7] Shortly after they announced two more light novels: Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash and I Saved Too Many Girls and Caused the Apocalypse.[8]
On January 19, 2017, J-Novel Club announced it would be collaborating with manga and light novel localization company Seven Seas Entertainment, who would publish print editions of two of J-Novel Club's light novels: Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash and Occultic;Nine.[9] On July 3, 2017, Seven Seas announced they would be publishing print editions of two more J-Novel Club light novels: Arifureta: From Commonplace to World's Strongest and Clockwork Planet.[10]
On July 5, 2018, J-Novel Club announced it would be printing physical versions of some of its light novel series.[11] After launching its print line with In Another World With My Smartphone, as of August 2021, J-Novel Club has 25 light novel and manga series in print.
On November 20, 2018, J-Novel Club launched an online manga reader with five launch titles:[12] A Very Fairy Apartment, Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles, Infinite Dendrogram, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, and Ascendance of a Bookworm.
On October 7, 2019, J-Novel Club launched a Kickstarter project for Invaders of the Rokujouma!? print edition and successfully funded it with more than $100,000 over its initial goal.[13][14]
On November 16, 2019, J-Novel Club announced the new J-Novel Heart imprint focusing on shojo titles.[15]
On April 2, 2021, the J-Novel Pulp imprint was announced with the titles John Sinclair: Demon Hunter, Jessica Bannister, and Perry Rhodan NEO.[16] This imprint focuses on translating and publishing German-language pulp fiction into English.[citation needed]
On April 28, 2021, Kadokawa Corporation announced they acquired the company.[17]
During their panel at Anime NYC 2022, J-Novel Club announced a new collaboration with Yen Press to publish their titles in print. The titles announced for a print release were Hell Mode light novel, The Misfit of Demon King Academy light novel, and the My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! light novel and manga adaptation.[18] J-Novel Club also announced that it is partnering with RBMedia and Podium to produce audiobook versions of their titles.[19]
Titles
Audiobook titles
- Black Summoner
- By the Grace of the Gods
- The Faraway Paladin
- Hell Mode
- How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom
- In Another World with My Smartphone
- Min-Maxing My TRPG Build in Another World
- My Daughter Left the Nest and Returned an S-Rank Adventurer
- Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire
Manga titles
- Animeta!
- An Archdemon's Dilemma: How to Love Your Elf Bride
- Ascendance of a Bookworm
- Bibliophile Princess
- Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill
- Campfire Cooking in Another World with My Absurd Skill: Sui's Great Adventure
- Cooking with Wild Game
- The Coppersmith's Bride
- Demon Lord, Retry!
- Der Werwolf: The Annals of Veight -Origins-
- Did I Seriously Just Get Reincarnated as My Gag Character?!
- Discommunication
- Doll-Kara
- The Emperor's Lady-in-Waiting Is Wanted as a Bride
- The Faraway Paladin
- Fushi no Kami: Rebuilding Civilization Starts with a Village
- Gushing over Magical Girls
- Housekeeping Mage from Another World: Making Your Adventures Feel Like Home!
- How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom
- I Love Yuri and I Got Bodyswapped With a Fujoshi!
- I Shall Survive Using Potions!
- I'm Capped at Level 1?! Thus Begins My Journey to Become the World's Strongest Badass!
- Infinite Dendrogram
- Isekai Tensei: Recruited to Another World
- Karate Master Isekai
- Lady Rose Just Wants to Be a Commoner
- The Magic in this Other World is Too Far Behind!
- Mapping: The Trash-Tier Skill That Got Me Into a Top-Tier Party
- Marginal Operation
- The Master of Ragnarok & Blesser of Einherjar
- My Instant Death Ability Is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me!
- Oversummoned, Overpowered, and Over It!
- Peddler in Another World: I Can Go Back to My World Whenever I Want!
- Reborn to Master the Blade: From Hero-King to Extraordinary Squire
- Rebuild World
- Record of Wortenia War
- The Saga of Lioncourt
- Seirei Gensouki: Spirit Chronicles
- The Skull Dragon's Precious Daughter
- Sometimes Even Reality Is a Lie!
- Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: Reckless Journey
- Sorcerous Stabber Orphen: The Youthful Journey
- Sweet Reincarnation
- The Tales of Marielle Clarac
- Tearmoon Empire
- The Unwanted Undead Adventurer
- A Very Fairy Apartment
- Villainess: Reloaded! ~Blowing Away Bad Ends with Modern Weapons~
- Welcome to Japan, Ms. Elf!
- The Wind That Reaches the Ends of the World
- Young Lady Albert Is Courting Disaster
References
- ^ "About".
- ^ "J-Novel Club". j-novel.club. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ "FEATURE: Found in Translation - An Exclusive Interview with J-Novel Club". Crunchyroll. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ^ "An Interview with Sam Pinansky, Founder and President of New Light Novel Streaming Service J-Novel Club". Taykobon. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ^ "Saturday AM #58". sellfy.com. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ^ "I'm Sam Pinansky (aka Quarkboy), founder and President of J-Novel Club! Ask Me Anything! • r/LightNovels". reddit. February 18, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
- ^ "J-Novel Club Publisher Launches to Release Light Novels in English Digitally". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "J-Novel Club Licenses Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash, I Saved Too Many Girls and Caused the Apocalypse Light Novels". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Seven Seas Collaborates with J-Novel Club to Bring Light Novels to Print | Seven Seas Entertainment". Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "Seven Seas Licenses Made in Abyss, Nameless Asterism, Soul Liquid Chambers, Getter Robo Devolution Manga (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved July 5, 2017.
- ^ "J-Novel Club Announces Print Publishing Line With In Another World With My Smartphone Novels". Anime News Network. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ Ressler, Karen (November 20, 2018). "J-Novel Club Launches Online Manga Reader, Licenses 5 Manga Titles". Anime News Network. Retrieved June 5, 2020.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (September 16, 2019). "J-Novel Club to Launch Kickstarter for Invaders of the Rokujouma!? Light Novels' Physical Release". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ "Invaders of the Rokujouma!? Print Edition". Kickstarter. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Sherman, Jennifer (November 16, 2019). "J-Novel Club Licenses 13 Light Novel Series, Reveals Print Editions for Sexiled, My Next Life as a Villainess". Anime News Network. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
- ^ "J-Novel Club Announces the Launch of J-Novel Pulp Imprint with Three New Licenses – English Light Novels". englishlightnovels.com. Retrieved June 28, 2021.
- ^ "KADOKAWA Announces Acquisition of J-Novel Club" (PDF). Kadokawa Corporation. April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (November 19, 2022). "J-Novel Club Announces Print Publishing Partnership with Yen Press". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (November 19, 2022). "J-Novel Club Produces 9 Audiobook Versions of Licensed Titles". Anime News Network. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
External links
- Book publishing companies based in Texas
- Publishing companies of the United States
- Ebook suppliers
- Light novels
- Kadokawa Corporation subsidiaries
- Manga distributors
- 2021 mergers and acquisitions
- Internet properties established in 2016
- American subsidiaries of foreign companies
- American companies established in 2016
- Publishing companies established in 2016
- Companies based in San Antonio