Overseas Fans Donate Money for Struggling Mangaka to “Buy a Coffee”

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Some manga, like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen, become incredibly popular almost immediately. However, many others have a hard time gaining traction, particularly if they appear in smaller, less well-known magazines. These magazines, often from smaller publishers, don’t receive the same level of attention as series published in Shonen Jump, though other large magazines also occasionally produce hits. The manga industry is highly competitive, and most creators struggle to earn a sustainable income from their work.

Today, many authors use the internet and social media to connect with readers. But Shiten Akiyama, a manga artist, recently took this a step further by openly sharing his financial difficulties. He was incredibly touched by the generous support he received from fans around the world.

Overseas Fans Help Mangaka “Buy Some Coffee”

Manga artist Shiten Akiyama recently shared on X (formerly Twitter) that he’s struggling financially, even having trouble affording coffee. He asked fans to support him through Ko-fi or by purchasing his manga, which is available in Japanese on digital platforms like Amazon and BookWalker. While his manga, Horizon, isn’t currently available in English, the recent attention he’s received might encourage a publisher to license it.

Akiyama shared his financial difficulties with his fans, and the response was overwhelming. His post quickly went viral, receiving over 2,800 retweets, and numerous fan accounts encouraged others to contribute. He received over ¥900,000 (approximately $5,600) in donations – more than he’s made from his manga work so far. He later shared a photo of a coffee he purchased at Lawson, a well-known convenience store in Japan.

Shiten Akiyama Was Inio Asano’s Assistant

I’ve noticed a lot of people compare Akiyama’s manga style to Inio Asano’s – he actually assisted Asano early in his career, so that makes sense. But Akiyama definitely has his own unique touch. His original manga, Horizon, is a really interesting story. It centers around a woman named Mieko who’s feeling lost and unhappy. I watched as the story unfolded, starting with her seeing some students and remembering her own school days. After having a drink, she impulsively decides to dress up in a sailor uniform and go to a park at night. That’s where she meets an attractive man, and what begins as a fairly lighthearted encounter gradually becomes much more complex.

Akiyama recently made headlines when he started translating his own manga into English and posting it on MangaDex, a platform that’s faced many copyright removal requests. His publisher discovered this and asked him to stop. In a thank-you message to his supporters, Akiyama stated that the passion for his work was demonstrated by fans themselves, not by companies.

Horizon is not officially licensed in the US for the time being.

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2026-04-21 12:07