Japan’s largest anime and collectibles retailer reported top-line growth for the fiscal year ending September, though profitability declined as the company invested heavily in personnel and infrastructure.
Revenue at Mandarake Inc. climbed 5.0% to ¥15.18 billion ($98.1 million), driven by new locations in Kobe and a second Akihabara store opened in August. The Kyoto location, which launched the prior year, continues to generate steady sales momentum.
Net income fell 18.5% to ¥1.12 billion ($7.2 million), burdened by a one-time ¥198 million ($1.3 million) provision for executive retirement benefits following newly adopted compensation guidelines. Higher personnel costs related to expanded buying operations and workforce training also pressured the bottom line.
The retailer strengthened its digital presence by broadening its e-commerce logistics network and entering Mercari’s third-party marketplace. International demand remained resilient despite the company’s aggressive store expansion strategy.
Operating profit contracted 13.7% to ¥1.79 billion ($11.6 million), which executives cast as a temporary phase supporting future expansion. Executives prioritized inventory acquisition and human capital development as foundational investments preceding additional store launches.
For fiscal 2026, the company projects revenue of ¥15.84 billion ($102.4 million) and net income of ¥1.39 billion ($9.0 million), indicating confidence that early-stage expenses will normalize.
