AI-generated manga reaches top seller status on major Japanese e-book platform

AI-generated manga has topped young adult e-book rankings in Japan, prompting debate among readers and creators

An AI-generated manga has climbed to the top of the popularity rankings on one of Japan’s largest digital manga platforms, highlighting the growing presence of artificial intelligence in commercial publishing.

According to a report by Automaton, the title My Dear Wife, Will You Be My Lover? became the most popular e-book in the Young Adult category on Comic C’moA.

The four-volume digital series was released on December 28 and centres on a married couple in their mid-30s attempting to rekindle their relationship.

Reviews on the site have raised concerns about the manga’s execution, with some users citing repetitive character designs, extended novel-style dialogue and minimal background detail. Others have questioned whether AI-generated works should be sold on the platform at all.

The title’s success has also led to speculation among readers over whether some favourable reviews were artificially boosted. In response, some users have said the ranking has prompted them to consider moving to services that restrict or prohibit AI-created content.

Manga author and editor Kazuaki Ishibashi, known for his work on Mob Psycho 100, suggested that audiences may already be accustomed to the use of AI tools.

“The reviews aren’t particularly heated either, and readers don’t seem to care whether the artist is AI or not,” he said, according to translations published by Automaton.

He added: “Perhaps it’s only the creators themselves who are concerned. Has this era finally arrived? I expect it will explode in popularity this year.”