Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

If you would like to contribute to this compendium please submit your ideas here.
All will be considered for publication by our expert panel.

Category Index:

Factbook Keyword Search:
Search for:

In Meiji Japan books were the ultimate ‘must-clutch’ fashion accessories for young women and schoolgirls[UPDATED: 10-28-2020]

In Meiji era (1868-1912) Japan, when the nation was experiencing a period of rapid modernisation and opening up to the West, books and often Western imported ones were a ‘must-clutch’ fashion accessory for young women.An example of this can be seen in the 1897 woodblock… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Literacy
In Meiji Japan books were the ultimate ‘must-clutch’ fashion accessories for young women and schoolgirls Posted October 28th, 2020 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s first ‘I-novels’ were written and published in 1906 and 1907[UPDATED: 10-12-2020]

The I-novel also known as watakushi shosetsu, is a type of confessional autobiographical Japanese novel generally written in the first person. The very first ones are said to have been Hakai, Broken Commandment by Toson Shimazaki (1872-1943) and Futon, The Quilt, by Katai Tayama (1872-1930), published in 1906 and… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Cats
- History
Japan’s first ‘I-novels’ were written and published in 1906 and 1907 Posted May 29th, 2020 by Richard Nathan
Japanese literature and novels littered with cats[UPDATED: 9-18-2020]

There is a long tradition of cats within Japanese literature, folk stories and art. Many ‘cat books’ feature amongst the ranks of Japan’s bestselling titles. Natsume Soseki (1867-1916) wrote a highly regarded satirical account of the Meiji Era in Japan titled: I am a Cat, for… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Cats
- Culture
- Prizes
Japanese literature and novels littered with cats Posted March 23rd, 2017 by Richard Nathan
Japanese authors in the 1800s turned tuberculosis into a romantic condition[UPDATED: 9-18-2020]

In Japan’s Meiji era (1868-1912) when the nation was rapidly modernising after more than 250 years of isolation, Western influences were extremely strong. These spanned almost everything – even literary perceptions of tuberculosis, which was originally stigmatised in Japan. The disease became a romantic condition… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Medicine
Japanese authors in the 1800s turned tuberculosis into a romantic condition Posted March 16th, 2020 by Richard Nathan
More than 50 Japanese authors have killed themselves since 1900[UPDATED: 9-11-2020]

Research shows that at least 54 Japanese authors have committed suicide since 1900. This includes some of Japan’s most famous and highly regarded authors and one of its two Nobel prize winners, Yasunari Kawabata (1899-1972), as well as Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927) after whom one of… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Culture
- History
- Industry
- OECD
More than 50 Japanese authors have killed themselves since 1900 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Two influential books from the 1700s helped shape Japan as a Robot Nation[UPDATED: 8-21-2020]

Japan is sometimes referred to as the Robot Kingdom due to its large number of robots and its openness to new technologies including robotics. Japan has more industrial robots than most countries; and more Artificial Intelligence (AI) patents than any other, according to some OECD measures…. Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Kazufumi Shiraishi
- Soji Shimada
- History
- Robots
- Textbooks
Two influential books from the 1700s helped shape Japan as a Robot Nation Posted August 21st, 2020 by Richard Nathan
Newspaper novels, Shimbun Shosetsu, still popular today, were launched in Japan in 1886 by the Yomiuri newspaper[UPDATED: 7-20-2020]

There is some debate amongst academics about which work was the very first published newspaper novel, Shimbun Shosetsu, in Japan. Several are often mentioned, but some consider Torioi Omatsu Kaijo Shinwa, The New Martine Tales of Bird-Chasing Omatsu, by Hikosaku Kubota (1846-1898), published between 1877, and… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Fuminori Nakamura
- Kazufumi Shiraishi
- Mitsuyo Kakuta
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Serialised fiction
Newspaper novels, Shimbun Shosetsu, still popular today, were launched in Japan in 1886 by the Yomiuri newspaper Posted July 15th, 2020 by Richard Nathan
The Japanese word for novel entered the Japanese language in 1754 via China[UPDATED: 7-13-2020]

The Japanese word shosetsu written using two letters or characters meaning ‘small’ and ‘talk ’ first came into use as a Japanese term for fiction in 1754; following the successful translation and adaptation of Chinese books such as Sui-Hu Chuan (The Water Margin), pronounced Suikoden… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Book production
- China
- Culture
- History
- novel
The Japanese word for novel entered the Japanese language in 1754 via China Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan

Factbook

In Meiji Japan books were the ultimate ‘must-clutch’ fashion accessories for young women and schoolgirls[UPDATED: 10-28-2020]

Japan’s first ‘I-novels’ were written and published in 1906 and 1907[UPDATED: 10-12-2020]

Japanese literature and novels littered with cats[UPDATED: 9-18-2020]

Japanese authors in the 1800s turned tuberculosis into a romantic condition[UPDATED: 9-18-2020]

More than 50 Japanese authors have killed themselves since 1900[UPDATED: 9-11-2020]

Two influential books from the 1700s helped shape Japan as a Robot Nation[UPDATED: 8-21-2020]

Newspaper novels, Shimbun Shosetsu, still popular today, were launched in Japan in 1886 by the Yomiuri newspaper[UPDATED: 7-20-2020]

The Japanese word for novel entered the Japanese language in 1754 via China[UPDATED: 7-13-2020]

Newsletters