Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

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An Italian who came to Japan to design the nation’s first modern banknotes helped found one of the country’s most important printers[UPDATED: 11-21-2019]

Edoardo Chiossone (1833-1898) an Italian painter, engraver and lithographer arrived in Japan in 1875 at the height of Japan’s period of rapid modernisation, known as the Meiji Era (1868-1912), to help design and create the country’s first modern banknotes. He designed banknotes including: a 5-Yen banknote;… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Printing
An Italian who came to Japan to design the nation’s first modern banknotes helped found one of the country’s most important printers Posted November 21st, 2019 by Richard Nathan
Narrative scrolls, emaki-mono, are the historical foundation of Japanese literature[UPDATED: 10-4-2019]

Historically, Japanese literature began life as a unique blend of painting and prose, which generally took the form of narrative scrolls, known as emaki-mono in Japanese. For thousands of years these handscrolls have been used to record and share stories in Japan. An extremely famous and… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Art
- History
Narrative scrolls, emaki-mono, are the historical foundation of Japanese literature Posted October 4th, 2019 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s first rugby book published in 1909 criticised baseball, arguing that rugby was the superior sport[UPDATED: 9-11-2019]

Japan’s first book on rugby, Ragubi Shiki Futoboru (Rugby-Style Football), was published in 1909, a digital copy of which can be accessed online at Japan’s National Diet Library. The book not only introduced the game and its rules to Japanese readers for the first time, but it… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Ruby
- Sports
Japan’s first rugby book published in 1909 criticised baseball, arguing that rugby was the superior sport Posted September 11th, 2019 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s oldest surviving cookbook was published in 1643[UPDATED: 8-26-2019]

According to historians, Japan’s first modern cookbook Ryori Monogatari, Accounts of Cooking, was published just as the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa (1543-1616), came to power in 1603, and Japan’s Edo Period began (1603-1863). Tokugawa was a supporter of publishing and in particular books that provided… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Cookbooks
- Food
Japan’s oldest surviving cookbook was published in 1643 Posted February 4th, 2019 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s most important library, The National Diet Library, serves Library Curry in its canteen[UPDATED: 8-19-2019]

Japan’s National Diet Library (NDL), founded in 1948, is the library of Japan’s parliament, The National Diet (Kokkai), and the nation’s national library. It is not only one of the most important libraries in Japan, but also one of the largest libraries in the world…. Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Cookbooks
- Culture
- Food
- Libraries
- National Diet Library
Japan’s most important library, The National Diet Library, serves Library Curry in its canteen Posted August 19th, 2019 by Richard Nathan
Long before Europe, papermaking know-how arrived in Japan[UPDATED: 7-5-2019]

Papermaking arrived in Japan via Korea from China in 610 when Japan was ruled by Shotoku Taishi (574-622), an important historical figure in Japan and still admired today as one of Japan’s early pioneers and modernisers.The so-called Prince of Holy Virtue, a regent and author, is… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Paper
- Printing
Long before Europe, papermaking know-how arrived in Japan Posted July 5th, 2019 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s only convicted cannibal, who lives at large and now describes himself as a food critic, has written more than 20 books[UPDATED: 6-7-2019]

Issei Sagawa killed and cannibalised a Dutch woman when he was living, and studying for a PhD in French literature, in Paris in 1981. The 25 year-old Dutch woman he murdered was his classmate at the Sorbonne. Sagawa was found legally insane and unfit to stand… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Horror
- Industry
- Magazines
Japan’s only convicted cannibal, who lives at large and now describes himself as a food critic, has written more than 20 books Posted June 7th, 2019 by Richard Nathan
For over a thousand years many of Japan’s emperors have played an active role in publishing: writing poems, books and even scientific papers[UPDATED: 5-2-2019]

Since Japan’s first book on the nation’s history was commissioned by Emperor Temmu, Japan’s 40th emperor, and published in 712 after his death, Japanese emperors have been intimately involved in many important publishing milestones in Japan. The nation’s first book to be produced using moveable type… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Culture
- History
- Poetry
For over a thousand years many of Japan’s emperors have played an active role in publishing: writing poems, books and even scientific papers Posted May 2nd, 2019 by Richard Nathan

Factbook

An Italian who came to Japan to design the nation’s first modern banknotes helped found one of the country’s most important printers[UPDATED: 11-21-2019]

Narrative scrolls, emaki-mono, are the historical foundation of Japanese literature[UPDATED: 10-4-2019]

Japan’s first rugby book published in 1909 criticised baseball, arguing that rugby was the superior sport[UPDATED: 9-11-2019]

Japan’s oldest surviving cookbook was published in 1643[UPDATED: 8-26-2019]

Japan’s most important library, The National Diet Library, serves Library Curry in its canteen[UPDATED: 8-19-2019]

Long before Europe, papermaking know-how arrived in Japan[UPDATED: 7-5-2019]

Japan’s only convicted cannibal, who lives at large and now describes himself as a food critic, has written more than 20 books[UPDATED: 6-7-2019]

For over a thousand years many of Japan’s emperors have played an active role in publishing: writing poems, books and even scientific papers[UPDATED: 5-2-2019]

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