KOMODO has today announced NIUHI, a new digital community designed to connect fans and creators of manga and comics worldwide. NIUHI will be the newest platform on the market to help the otaku community discover, purchase, sell and translate indie and mainstream manga, with its full release slated for the first half of 2025. The first beta is set to launch on 10 December 2024 (Japan Time), and fans can sign up now at the official NIUHI website to join the beta invite pool.
NIUHI aims to offer a range of features for both fans and creators. For enthusiasts, the platform boasts an extensive library, including NIUHI Originals, alongside interactive features like language learning tools that enable users to tap on speech bubbles for translations. Fans will also have the ability to connect directly with creators and other members of the community.
For creators, NIUHI aims to provide tools for global distribution, majority revenue shares, free translations, marketing communication, and analytics. Its translation capabilities will support human-generated translations by independent and commercial translators while also integrating AI-based tools for wider accessibility.
Beta invites will be distributed on an ongoing basis to those who join the invite pool via the NIUHI website. Initially, the beta will be available in the U.S. and Japan, with further regions to follow.
Ricky Uy, CEO of KOMODO, explained the vision behind the platform:
Manga is a growing entertainment art form that needs a more powerful and inclusive digital solution. Until now, its migration from the print world to the digital space has equated to distribution of basic e-readers and limited language options. But with NIUHI, we are building a host of features and connectivity for everyone in the manga community.
