Formats Explained

 

Bunkoban (文庫判)

Width 105mm x height 148mm

This is a compact postcard-sized manga book, also called pocket size. Many of the papers are thin, so they don't take up much storage space and are easy to carry.

 

Shinshoban (新書判)

Width 112mm x height 174mm

This size is common in boys' and girls' comics. The size is the size of a boy's or girl's hand, making it easy to read. It is slightly taller than Bunkoban pocket size formats.

 

B6

Width 128mm x height 182mm

This size is common among young men and women's comics. It is slightly larger than the Shinshoban format, making it easier for adults to read. Many of them are particular about the cover material and binding, and many of them are beautiful to display.

 

Shirokuban (四六判)

Width 128mm x height 188mm

This size is common among young men and women's comics. Slightly larger than B6 size, it is the standard size of books currently in circulation.

 

A5

Width 148mm x height 210mm

This size is also called "wide format" by some publishers. In many cases, successful works are also published as A5-sized "complete editions." You can read manga with a power that is not available in Shinsho format/B6 format.

 

Kikuban (菊判)

Width 150mm x height 220mm

Larger than A5 size, it is often used in books for children, such as educational comics and picture books.

 

B5

Width 182mm x height 257mm

It is the same size as manga magazines such as Weekly Shonen Jump. The larger the paper, the softer it feels, giving it a unique feel when turning the pages. You can often see it in doujinshi as well.

 

AB

Width 210mm x height 257mm

The size is slightly smaller than A4 size. It is often used in art books, illustration books, photo books, magazines, etc.

 

A4

Width 210mm x height 297mm

Often used in art books. Many of the prints are of high quality, and even the finest details of the illustrations are reproduced. It is rarely used in comics, but some illustrated books and doujinshi are printed in A4 size.