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If you walk outside Bandra or Matunga railway stations in Mumbai, you’ll find small book vendors selling collections of novels, self-help guides, and, nestled among them, volumes of Chainsaw Man, Demon Slayer, and Naruto.
At first glance, the sight might fill an anime or manga fan with pride, but a closer look reveals a darker truth: these copies are blatant pirated ripoffs.
Poor-quality prints and watermarks from piracy websites on random pages give them away. Yet, for unsuspecting buyers, these counterfeit copies are often their first introduction to manga—unknowingly feeding a growing piracy hub in India.
This alarming trend was highlighted by ABJ (Authorized Books of Japan), a Japan’s piracy watchdog, during a recent Diet session, where they warned that India could become the next major hub for manga piracy.
Manga piracy is a global issue, with illegal sites attracting 1.5 billion visits per month globally and costing the industry nearly 1 trillion yen ($6.7 billion) annually (estimated for 2024).
While Vietnam currently serves as the epicenter of manga piracy, ABJ has identified Indonesia and India as the next potential hotspots.
During a visit to India, ABJ executives discovered pirated copies of manga being sold openly at a major kiosk in a train station. This was pointed out at the session by Atsushi Ito, Chairman of ABJ’s Public Relations Committee.
Why India is Vulnerable
Publishers like Simon & Schuster (distributing Viz Media titles) and Penguin Random House (distributing Kodansha titles) are making strides in improving manga distribution in India.
However, data of physical copy sales is hard to get by to make a proper estimate, even though there are clear indicators of a surge in interest.
India’s manga market is growing rapidly, fueled by the popularity of anime and a young, digitally savvy population.
However, the lack of accessible and affordable legal options has created a vacuum that piracy is filling. While platforms like MangaPlus and Viz Media offer official digital releases, their limited catalogs and regional restrictions leave many readers turning to illegal alternatives.
While physical piracy is visible, digital piracy is rampant and largely unaccounted for. Websites offering unauthorized translations of popular manga series attract millions of Indian readers monthly.
These sites often monetize through ads for adult games, online casinos, and other questionable services, further complicating enforcement efforts.
ABJ has noted that in many countries, including India, reading pirated manga is seen as normal.
The Road Ahead
ABJ is urging Japanese lawmakers and international partners to address the piracy threat overseas before it escalates.
For India, the solution lies in expanding legal access to manga through affordable digital platforms and localized distribution.
Until then, the country risks becoming a major piracy hub, undermining the growth of its burgeoning manga market and the global industry at large.
