Broken Frontier

Diamond Book Distributors has been awarded the rights to exclusively distribute TOKYOPOP products to the UK and Ireland book markets. TOKYOPOP will continue to be represented to the U.S. book market by HarperCollins.

Diamond and TOKYOPOP’s relationship stems from their close ties within the comic book specialty market, a ten year association in which Diamond has distributed TOKYOPOP’s manga graphic novels and comics. In that time, both companies have successfully expanded the reach of manga in the English language market, and introduced such well-known Japanese titles as Fruits Basket, Tsubasa: Those With Wings, Chibi Vampire, Domo, Junjo Romantica, and many others.

Kuo Yu-Liang, Vice-President of Diamond Book Distributors, commented, "TOKYOPOP placing their trust in Diamond for the UK market speaks volumes to our ability to deliver in the region. The TOKYOPOP brand, quality, and style can be truly successful in the market and we anticipate additional expansion in the immediate future."

John Parker, TOKYOPOP Group President observed, ”TOKYOPOP has been the manga pioneer in the UK and Ireland to develop a vital new category of publishing over the past 6 years. TOKYOPOP’s leadership has resulted in manga’s solid presence in nearly all High Street bookstores, libraries, and comic shops.

The grass roots Recon marketing program has held over 300 events with more than 50,000 manga fans across the territory to date. We are excited about our newly expanded relationship with Diamond UK and the potential for expansion in the coming years.”

Pan Macmillan, who has handled TOKYOPOP’s sales and distribution within the UK and Ireland Book Trade since 2006, will cease to carry the list in 2010. A handover timetable is in process and customers will be advised in the next few weeks.

Geoff Duffield, Group Sales and Marketing Director for Pan Macmillan, said “We are pleased that at this point in TOKYOPOP’s development in the UK they are now able to consolidate all their sales and distribution functions within one entity here.  Pan Macmillan has enjoyed carrying the list for the past three and a half years but we had both decided that the time had come to rethink the situation for the future.”