Final answer:
Del Ray Publishing was the sole American source for Kodansha, a major Japanese media company specializing in manga and novels. Kodansha has since established its own American subsidiary, Kodansha USA, for direct publication in the U.S. market.
Step-by-step explanation:
Del Ray Publishing was once the sole American publishing source for the Japanese media company Kodansha. Kodansha is one of Japan's largest publishing firms, known for producing manga, novels, and other educational materials. Although Del Rey had a significant role in bringing Kodansha's products to the American market, the partnership has since evolved, with Kodansha now operating its own subsidiary, Kodansha USA, to handle its publications within the United States.