Major publishers started on Monday making online editions of children's books and back editions of manga magazines accessible for free, as elementary, junior high and high schools across the country canceled classes for two weeks at the government's request due to the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The initiative is aimed toward students left with no choice but to stay home.
Among the temporarily free online publications are the first 13 issues of this year's Shukan Shone Jump (Weekly Jump) manga magazine published by Shueisha, Inc., which can be viewed until March 31 on the company's e-book website Zebrack and the manga app "Shonen Jump+."
Shogakukan Inc. also made its monthly Corocoro Comic manga magazine available for free on its online store, Shogakukan eComic Store, and the first 12 issues of this year's Shukan Shonen Sunday manga magazine as well as manga works featured in the magazine in the past are also for free on the publisher's manga app., Sunday Weburi (Sunday Web Every), all for a limited period of time. The company has plans to gradually increase the number of works available for free.
Kadokawa Corp. has also uploaded 207 books aimed at young readers, including those from the Kadokawa Tsubasa Bunko young adult book series, to Yomeruba, the publishing house's portal website for children's books, until April 5.
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