Spanish manga artist Juan Albarrán has launched a new manga titled A Mangaka’s Road to Japan, which is now available for English simulpub on Kodansha’s K MANGA service. The series debuted on Monday on Kodansha’s Comic Days app and website in Japan.
Delving into A Mangaka’s Road to Japan
The new series is an essay manga that chronicles Albarrán’s unique journey and challenges as an overseas artist striving to debut as a mangaka in Japan, particularly without Japanese language proficiency. The manga offers an inside look at the “ups and downs” of his path to serialization within the highly competitive Japanese manga industry.
Simulpub and Release Details
A Mangaka’s Road to Japan premiered on Monday, October 13, 2025, on Kodansha’s Comic Days app and website in Japan. Simultaneously, Kodansha’s K MANGA service began the English simulpublication, making the series accessible to a global audience right from its Japanese launch. This simultaneous release highlights a growing trend of Japanese publishers making manga available to international readers more quickly.
Juan Albarrán’s Journey from DC Comics to Japanese Manga
Juan Albarrán is a Spanish creator who initially established himself in the American comics industry, working as an inker for DC Comics for approximately seven years. During this period, he collaborated with notable artists such as Bruno Redondo and Daniel Sampere. However, a significant shift in his career occurred after 2020, prompting him to pivot towards the Japanese manga market. He currently resides in Kitakyushu, Japan, alongside his wife, immersing himself in the demanding world of a mangaka.
Concluding His Previous Work, Matagi Gunner
Prior to this new venture, Albarrán was the artist for the manga Matagi Gunner, a series he worked on in collaboration with writer Shōji Fujimoto. Matagi Gunner began its serialization in Kodansha’s weekly seinen magazine Morning in 2022. The story centered on an elderly rural hunter who discovers an unexpected talent for first-person shooter video games and becomes embroiled in the world of e-gaming. The series concluded its run with its eleventh and final compiled book volume, which shipped on June 23.
Albarrán’s dedication to his craft in Japan is evident in his rigorous work schedule, often drawing from 8 AM to 10 PM. He works with a team that includes a writer and assistants specializing in backgrounds, and he utilizes digital translation tools for communication with his Japanese colleagues. His ability to navigate cultural and linguistic barriers to succeed in the Japanese manga industry makes his new essay manga particularly insightful for aspiring artists and international fans alike.
