Frequently Asked Questions

COVID-19 Shipping UPDATE [October 2023]

Shipments to most countries (including US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe) are now open. See the leftmost column of this page to check shipping for your country (a checkmark in the left column means we CAN ship to you). Confused? Please contact us

Are the manga in Japanese?

Yes. Yes. YES! They're in Japanese. Yes, the language Japanese. Which means they are NOT in English. Did I mention they're in Japanese?

Why are your prices so low?

Great question! Our prices are so low because we send you used comics. But because Japanese are so picky about quality, the books are often as good as new!

What's in the box?

Each box is a carefully curated surprise, but we try to follow several rules: (1) the manga should be friendly for beginners; (2) all series should start from volume 1 (we'll send you volumes 1-5 but never 20-25); (3) the manga should be friendly for both males and females.

Who are you?

We're Charles and Eri, a Japanese-American couple living in Japan. A few years ago, Charles taught himself Japanese reading manga, and now we want to help you do the same! Nyaa!

Can I choose what titles I get?

Of course not! That would ruin the surprise! :)

Will you send me random, out-of-order titles?

  No. We promise not to send you disjoint titles—you won't get, say, volume numbers 13, 57, 3, and 9 in a single box. You'll either get (a) consecutive volumes from vol. 1 (such as Naruto vol. 1-5 ) or (b) the first volume of 4-5 different series. 

What if I own manga already?

During checkout, there's an option to let us know what you already own. That way we won't send you duplicates! After you've subscribed, you can email us at any time to add additional (separately purchased) titles to our database.

Is there a one-month trial option?

The easiest way to try one month is to register for a subscription and then cancel your subscription before the monthly renewal date. 

I am considering a multi-month subscription. Can I change my reading level partway through?

Yes. At any time during a multi-month subscription, you can change your reading level via your account, or by contacting us directly via email.

Shipping Questions

When is the monthly order cut-off?

You must order by the end of the month to receive the following month's box. For example, you will need to order by March 31st to receive a shipment in April. If you order on April 1st, you won't receive a shipment until May!

When does my box ship?

We ship all our boxes once a month, and the beginning of the month. This usually happens on the 2nd or 3rd, depending on how weekends line up. So, if you ordered on January 15th, your order would ship at the beginning of February.

How long does shipping take?

We ship with the Japan Post SAL shipping. Most boxes will take 2-4 weeks, depending on where you are. (Note: Due to the effects of COVID-19, we are shipping all packages with Japan Post Airmail. This, in theory, has a shorter time-to-arrival, but things may end up about the same with the current global congestion.)

Why can't I select my country at checkout?

The Japan Post won't let us ship to certain countries. If your country is listed, that means we can't ship to you. Sorry!

Do you provide tracking numbers?

No, we use Japan Post SAL shipping, and that doesn't come with a tracking number. 

Why hasn't my box arrived?

Boxes can take longer when the Japan Post is busy. In almost all cases, the box will arrive if you wait a few more days! If your box is over a month late, please send us an email and we'll fix things for you!

My question isn't listed here!

Can't find the answer to your question? Please see our Contact Us page or email us at charles [at] boxofmanga [dot] com.

Enough with the questions! 

Why not get your first box and try it out for yourself?