Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

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The ‘best Japanese work of fiction’ published in Japanese during Japan’s Heisei era was ‘IQ84’ by Haruki Murakami[UPDATED: 1-13-2021]

In 2019 Japan’s imperial age known as the Hesei era (1989-2019) ended and a new era began called the Reiwa era. The inception of a new era and the end of another led to the media reflecting on the highlights of the last era and… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Industry
- Market Data
The ‘best Japanese work of fiction’ published in Japanese during Japan’s Heisei era was ‘IQ84’ by Haruki Murakami Posted January 11th, 2021 by Richard Nathan
By the early 1900s so many books had been published ‘Explaining Japan’ that one author felt compelled to write a book summarising them[UPDATED: 12-11-2020]

In 1904, Kiyoshi Kawakami (1873-1949), a Japanese journalist based in Seattle, wrote a book titled Japan and the Japanese, where he looked back and summarised how Western writers had opined on and written about Japan.He explained his objective as: “I had read a considerable number… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
By the early 1900s so many books had been published ‘Explaining Japan’ that one author felt compelled to write a book summarising them Posted December 11th, 2020 by Richard Nathan
Two of Japan’s most famous authors Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Yukio Mishima translated ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ into Japanese[UPDATED: 11-25-2020]

Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published in English in 1865, has been translated into Japanese more times than any other language, and two of Japan’s most famous authors; Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927), after whom one of Japan’s most prestigious literary prizes is named; and Japan’s… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- translation
Two of Japan’s most famous authors Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Yukio Mishima translated ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ into Japanese Posted November 25th, 2020 by Richard Nathan
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

Factbook

The ‘best Japanese work of fiction’ published in Japanese during Japan’s Heisei era was ‘IQ84’ by Haruki Murakami[UPDATED: 1-13-2021]

By the early 1900s so many books had been published ‘Explaining Japan’ that one author felt compelled to write a book summarising them[UPDATED: 12-11-2020]

Two of Japan’s most famous authors Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Yukio Mishima translated ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ into Japanese[UPDATED: 11-25-2020]

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]

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