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Corporate Information

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Creating a Tomorrow for Publishing Companies

Ever since Toyokuni’s foundation in 1946, we have been accumulating knowledge and changing our technology to suit the times. As a member of the Kodansha Group, we focus on making paper books, manga and magazines. Furthermore, we started producing electronic publications in 2007, striving to expand into all fields that encompass publication.
Consumers’ demands have been shifting greatly towards goods and services that allow efficient use of time. It can be said that over the last 10 years, distance perception has changed extremely across the world, which has become more equal and borderless.
‘The future is created by words.’ This is the principle we keep in mind when we work together with publishers to create outstandingly efficient and user-friendly products, no matter whether these are on paper or electronic, in Japanese or in other languages. For that purpose, we strive to acquire more and more skills and technology.
Why not work with us to create something that surpasses your idea of ‘amazing’? We support businesses that define the future.

Company Principles

Toyokuni Identity

We encourage those who love books, manga and magazines.

We make, create and build in order to turn publishers’ and authors’ ideas into reality.
Mission statement
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Complete devotion to supporting any business in the world with a vision. (make)
By accumulating technological strength, improving our potential to define the future. (create)
Bringing sheer joy to everyone who gets their hands on the product. (build)
The code of conduct for Toyokunians, our 10 rules.
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- Treat all the people you meet thoughtfully.
- Whatever the circumstances, be honest when you deal with problems.
- Always keep in mind the constant need for change.
- Do not be constricted by your familiar ways. Stay in the habit of asking yourself why things are the way they are.
- Be earnest in your cooperation to support achievements of all creative businesses, starting with publishers.
- When you deal with a project that might change things, do not lose your cool, do not give in to weariness, and do not give up.
- Do not be contented with just making an effort. Remember to enjoy completing what you are doing, too.
- Bear in mind that without a vision, nothing gets created.
- Talent does not simply grow, it needs to be nurtured.
- Aim for a business that grows together with the children of the world.

Unsung Heroes Who Create

Company History

July 1946

Toyokuni Printing Co., Ltd. incorporated on July 23rd
Shoichi Noma appointed company president
Printing starts inside Kodansha Main Building in Otowa, Bunkyo ward
May 1950

Takuro Hasegawa appointed company president
May 1951

Ryukichi Shibuya appointed company president
June 1958

Junji Hamada appointed company president
March 1959

Company office building moved to Otsuka 6-chome, Bunkyo ward
October 1959

Toyokuni Phototype Co., Ltd. incorporated in 6-chome, Bunkyo ward
Production of Weekly Shonen Magazine begins
May 1964

Construction of Toyokuni Phototype Co., Ltd. company office building completed in Tabata 4-chome, Kita ward; offices moved
October 1970

Toyokuni Offset Co., Ltd. incorporated in Oi-machi, Iruma district, Saitama
prefecture (present-day Fujimino city, Saitama prefecture)
December 1970

Construction of new offset printing site completed
July 1971

Kodansha Bunko launched using phototypesetting and offset printing
October 1979

Teiji Saito appointed company president
May 1985

Mitsuo Otsubo appointed company president
October 1985

Toyokuni Printing Co., Ltd., Toyokuni Phototype Co., Ltd., and Toyokuni Offset Co., Ltd. merge and become Toyokuni Printing Co., Ltd. with Otsuka, Tabata and Saitama divisions
May 1987

Kiichi Hasegawa appointed company president
May 1990

Akira Kusaka appointed company president
May 2000

In order to unify prepress production, Tabata plant moved to Otsuka

June 2000

Takashi Takeshita appointed company president
September 2001

Digital platemaking for manga magazines commenced using the Shaken Hayate System
January 2002

The “Antique” font developed in collaboration with Morisawa Inc., enabling digital platemaking of manga magazines using Mac computers for the first time in the world
July 2004

Commencement of the use of InDesign for typesetting
October 2005

Manga production system using InDesign launched
Automatization continues
January 2008

Company moved to Mejirodai, Bunkyo ward
June 2008

Junichi Yoshii appointed company president
Establishment of the basis for the production of electronic publications, data contents management, metadata preparation etc.
April 2010

ndd (Next Door Design), a design business, established
June 2013

Koji Hirota appointed company president
October 2014

NMM (Next Motion Media), a video production business, established
August 2015

At the Fujimino factory, KBF (Kodansha Book Factory) established and operation to cooperate with book making and color printing companies commenced, aiming to create a straight workflow
October 2017

Next Door Localization, a translation business aimed at overseas markets, established
September 2018

DTP production subsidiary Toyokuni Comic Production, Co., Ltd., established