The「eBook Initiative Japan」just released a new eBook and manga service today. Four days after the introduction of their new ebook service for Macintosh computers, they also launched an optimized version for the iPhone and the iPod touch.

The iPhone service offers over 22.000 ebooks, including about 16.000 mangas in a very wide range and from most famous Japanese publishers. The release dates and the purchase prices are exactly the same like the printed versions but some special online-only offers will be available soon.

All eBooks can be purchased directly from the phone by VISA card and through several popular Japanese eCash and online banking services. The service uses a special ebook reader which is not yet available for ordinary Japanese mobile phones. Therefore the typical payment methods for Japanese cell phones, like payment via phone bill or in the convinience store are not available. ( The new iPhone firmware will open doors for new distribution channels soon.)

Time will prove if the ECO-trendy Japanese are willing to pay the same price for the digital version and what manga collectors think about that service. For all jam-packed houses in Japan and all subways and trains, where thousands of mangas are thrown away after a single read-through every day, a trend to digital manga consumption would definately be a big relief!

And all manga fans around the world should listen up! Your beloved art works are accessable from around the world now! Just download them directly to your iPhone or iPod touch and enjoy them on their release date. Of course some Japaneses proficiency is assumed for reading the original Japanese material, but I guess high access from abroad can be assumed as soon as some finds out about it. Maybe this blog entry will give it’s part to it!