Starts Publishing Corporation
7849・Standard Market・Information & Communication
書籍コンテンツ事業
Content business publishing books and comics originating from the company's own novel-posting sites. A core segment accounting for 56.5% of company-wide sales.
| Period | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Net sales (cumulative Q1, FY2026 (ending December 2026)) | ¥1,133 million | ¥1,081 million (cumulative Q1, FY2025 (ended December 2025)) | ↑ |
| Segment profit (operating profit) (cumulative Q1, FY2026 (ending December 2026)) | ¥299 million | ¥393 million (cumulative Q1, FY2025 (ended December 2025)) | ↓ |
| Segment profit margin (cumulative Q1, FY2026 (ending December 2026)) | 26.4% | 36.4% (cumulative Q1, FY2025 (ended December 2025)) | ↓ |
| YoY change in net sales | +4.8% | — | ↑ |
| YoY change in segment profit | △23.9% | — | ↓ |
| Share of company-wide net sales (cumulative Q1, FY2026 (ending December 2026)) | 56.5% | 55.8% (cumulative Q1, FY2025 (ended December 2025)) | ↑ |
Business Details
Operates three novel-posting sites—Noichigo, Berry's Cafe, and Novema!—and publishes works spanning romance novels, isekai fantasy, and light literary fiction as books and comics. The business spans both print and digital channels, and also promotes IP expansion such as film/TV adaptations. The company continues upfront investment aimed at expanding its electronic comic labels, including "BeLuck COMICS," which launched in the previous fiscal year.
Recent Overview
Sales grew on strong hit-title revenue, but margins declined sharply due to upfront investment in e-comics and rising printing costs.
In the cumulative Q1 of FY2026 (ending December 2026), net sales rose to ¥1,133 million (up 4.8% year on year), driven by increased revenue from hit works including "Oni no Hanayome," which was adapted into a live-action film in March. On the other hand, segment profit declined sharply to ¥299 million (down 23.9% year on year), due to a combination of increased upfront investment costs aimed at expanding electronic comic labels such as "BeLuck COMICS," launched in the previous fiscal year, and higher manufacturing costs such as book printing costs stemming from price inflation.
Key Products
Growth Drivers
- Boosting work recognition and promoting related book sales through enhanced IP expansion such as film/TV adaptations
- Expanding the reader base and genre coverage through the launch and expansion of new labels (e.g., BeLuck COMICS)
- Expanding e-book and e-comic sales to capture growth in the e-comic market
- Raising awareness and acquiring readers through promotional measures utilizing SNS and other channels
- Rapid content development aligned with reader needs based on thorough market research
Risks
- Reliance on sales from hit works and the risk of a rebound decline in the following period
- Margin decline due to continued upfront investment costs for expanding electronic comic labels
- Margin decline due to rising printing and manufacturing costs amid price inflation
- Shrinking trend in the print publishing market (declining number of bookstores, persistently high return rates, rising logistics costs)
- Increasing competition from peers in the same genre and business model, and risk of entry by major capital from other industries
- Return risk associated with the consignment sales system (recorded as a refund liability)
Last updated: March 23, 2026