1Pick the series
2Find the colophon (奥付)
Flip to the back of the book. The 奥付 is the publisher's info page — you're reading two things off it.
2016年6月8日 第1刷発行
著 者 ○○ ○○
発行者 ○○ ○○
発行所 株式会社集英社
The date (green) — 年 = year, 月 = month, 日 = day. This tells you when this copy was printed.
The printing (red) — 第1刷 = 1st printing (a first print). 第2刷, 第3刷… = later printings.
Reading the printing number
初版 / 第1刷= first edition / 1st printing
刷= printing
発行= issued
一 二 三 四 五 六 七 八 九 十
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 — the number before 刷
3What does yours say?
Enter what you read off the colophon.
The verdict
Fill in the three steps above
Pick a series, read the colophon, and enter the printing and year — the verdict updates as you go.
Why this is the whole game
A first printing (第1刷) is made once, at a volume's original release — so its date also tells you whether the volume is early or late in the run. For anime-driven series, an early, pre-anime first printing is the scarce one; a first printing from after the boom is genuine but common. A later printing (第2刷+) is a reprint at any date — usually a fraction of a true first print. When in doubt, photograph the colophon and check the number before you buy.