NTT Docomo has announced that its U.S.-based digital manga service MANGA MIRAI will shut down later this year, ending the platform’s run less than two years after its launch.
The service, which offers Japanese manga translated into English for readers in the United States, officially launched in March 2025. During its operation, MANGA MIRAI built a library of more than 2,400 manga titles and 28,000 volumes.
According to NTT Docomo, the decision to end the service was made based on the current business environment.
MANGA MIRAI Will Shut Down in December
MANGA MIRAI has already stopped accepting new users and new purchases as of August 20, 2026. The service’s app has also been discontinued, although users can continue accessing their previously purchased works through the website until the service itself ends.
The complete shutdown is scheduled for:
December 16, 2026, at 4:59 PM Japan time
December 15, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific Time
After that point, MANGA MIRAI will no longer be available.
However, NTT Docomo isn’t simply leaving users without access to the manga they purchased.
Purchased Manga Will Move to MangaPlaza
As part of the shutdown, NTT Docomo will transfer user information and eligible purchased works from MANGA MIRAI to MangaPlaza, the U.S.-focused digital manga service operated by NTT Solmare.
This means users will be able to continue reading eligible manga they previously purchased through MANGA MIRAI on MangaPlaza.
There is an important requirement, however.
Users who want to transfer their library must create a MangaPlaza account using the same email address registered with MANGA MIRAI by October 1, 2026.
The transfer will not automatically apply to every piece of content. Manga that users received for free, including paid works obtained for $0 through promotions, will not be eligible for transfer. NTT Docomo also noted that some paid titles may be excluded from the migration depending on rights and other conditions.
Details regarding which titles will not be transferred are expected to be announced around mid-October 2026.
Users who do not want their information and purchased library transferred can also submit a request to refuse the migration before the October 1 deadline. However, doing so means they will lose access to their purchased works once MANGA MIRAI shuts down.
A Short Run for MANGA MIRAI
MANGA MIRAI’s shutdown comes roughly 21 months after the service launched in March 2025.
The platform was created to bring officially translated Japanese manga to readers in the United States, building a sizable catalog of more than 2,400 titles during its relatively short operation.
Rather than keeping the service running separately, NTT Docomo is now directing eligible purchased content toward MangaPlaza, another U.S.-focused manga platform operated within the NTT group.
For existing MANGA MIRAI users, the move means their purchased manga can continue to be accessed through another service, provided they complete the required account registration and their titles qualify for the transfer.
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Source: Press Release (Docomo)
