Koyama,a former film producer, founded her company in 2007, using money she had earned from investing in the stock market to publish works by various indie creators, including Michael DeForge, Jesse Jacobs, Rokudenashiko, and Julia Wertz. “But that money ran out about four years ago,” she revealed. “I didn’t play the stock market again because I’m not risking what I have now. Even if it was the right time to get back into the market, I just don’t really have the interest. That was a means to an end for me. I don’t have unlimited resources. I want to make that really clear. This is all coming from my own funds.”
While Koyama Press has remained profitable, and received financial support from the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, and the Ontario Media Development Corporation, Koyama expressed dissatisfaction with her never-ending work schedule, and wanted to close the company to devote more time to her loved ones, especially her partner, whom she stated she had been a “shitty girlfriend” to.
Koyama is currently planning the final seasons of Koyama Press’s books. “We have some really exciting books coming for 2019 and look forward to fully supporting those artists and books, as well as our rich backlist, until early 2021. It will be business as usual,” she said. As well as investing directly in comic book artists’ projects, she also plans on supporting fine artists, and returning to the world of film production.
