Buka

Buka (布卡漫画) was an online comics platform established in 2011 and operated by Zhuhai Buka Technology Co., Ltd. The company was officially registered in Zhuhai on December 13, 2012. The platform operated as a mobile app-based comic book reader, at one point claiming to have a total user base of 50 million with 20 million active users.

Initially, Buka provided access to unauthorized, pirated comics. However, starting in September 2015, the company began removing pirated content and securing official licensing deals for simplified Chinese electronic versions of Japanese manga. It acquired licenses from several Japanese publishers, including Takeshobo, Ichijinsha, Futabasha, and others. Over time, the business model shifted from free content to a paid model, where all chapters, regardless of VIP membership status, became fee-based. The company also collaborated with Bilibili in 2016 to jointly publish a mobile game.

In November 2015, Buka raised $15.7 million (approximately 100 million RMB) in a Series B funding round from investors including Legend Capital and Songcheng Performance Development. Despite its initial growth and funding, the company faced challenges. By August 2019, all manga licensed from Ichijinsha and Takeshobo were removed from the platform. In November 2020, the company was reported by the Guangdong Provincial Communications Administration for user rights violations and security risks. The platform eventually ceased operations in August 2023, with some reports citing bankruptcy as the reason for its closure.

Keywords: digital comics, mobile comics reader, Chinese comics platform, online manga, electronic manga, Buka Manhua, Zhuhai Buka Technology, licensed comics, digital content platform, mobile entertainment