Viz Media Manga and Anime Publishing

Viz Media is the premier publisher and distributor of manga and anime in North America. Founded in 1986, the company was established to bring Japanese pop culture to an English-speaking audience. Over the decades, it has become the leading force in the localization of iconic titles such as Naruto, One Piece, and Dragon Ball. While its editorial and licensing operations are based in San Francisco, its physical products—like manga volumes—are typically printed in the United States or Canada for the domestic market, while digital content and streaming licensing are managed globally.

Ownership of Viz Media is a strategic partnership between Japan's most powerful publishing entities. It is a joint venture primarily owned by Shueisha Inc. and Shogakukan Inc., which are both part of the Hitotsubashi Group. This direct link to the Japanese creators and publishers allows Viz Media to maintain a dominant position in the international market, ensuring that Japanese content is expertly translated and distributed to Western audiences with high fidelity to the original works.