Most Japanese manga covers carry the same set of textual elements in a predictable layout: title, volume number, series subtitle, publisher logo, magazine name, and author. A reader who can identify a small set of recurring kanji can extract this information without a full reading knowledge of Japanese. This page collects the most-frequent characters used in manga cover design.
The volume number
- 巻 (kan) — the standard counter for manga volumes. Often paired with a numeral: 第1巻 (volume 1).
- 第 (dai) — an ordinal prefix. 第1 = number one.
- 上 / 中 / 下 (jō / chū / ge) — upper / middle / lower, used for two- or three-volume works in place of numbered volumes.
- 新装版 (shinsō-ban) — 'new-binding edition,' a reissue with new cover art.
- 完全版 (kanzen-ban) — 'complete edition,' typically a larger-format collected reissue.
Publishers and magazines
- 集英社 (Shueisha) — Shōnen Jump, Margaret, Ribon.
- 講談社 (Kodansha) — Shōnen Magazine, Afternoon, Morning.
- 小学館 (Shogakukan) — Shōnen Sunday, Big Comic Spirits.
- 白泉社 (Hakusensha) — Young Animal, LaLa.
- 角川 (Kadokawa) — Comp Ace, Shōnen Ace, light-novel imprints.
Common in-cover phrases
- 連載中 (rensai-chū) — 'currently serialised.'
- 最終巻 (saishū-kan) — 'final volume.'
- 続巻 (zoku-kan) — 'continuing volume.'
- 原作 (gensaku) — 'original work / story by.'
- 作画 (sakuga) — 'art by' (when story and art are separate authors).