Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

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Haruki Murakami, who loves cats, ran a jazz bar and coffee shop called Peter Cat before making his debut as a writer[UPDATED: 2-26-2018]

While studying at Waseda University in Tokyo Haruki Murakami, probably the best known contemporary Japanese writer in the English speaking world, met his wife Yoko, while working in a record store and set up a jazz bar and coffee shop called Peter Cat. He and his wife ran… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Kazufumi Shiraishi
- Mitsuyo Kakuta
- Cats
- translation
Haruki Murakami, who loves cats, ran a jazz bar and coffee shop called Peter Cat before making his debut as a writer Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Mishima, who was “openly gay”, married at the age of 33 after considering a number of prominent women as ‘marriage candidates’[UPDATED: 2-26-2018]

Despite living “openly” as a homosexual the brilliant Japanese author Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) had a “conventional marriage” to Yoko Sugiyama and had two children, a boy and a girl. They married in June 1958 at a ceremony at International House in Roppongi, Tokyo. A central location,… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Nobel
- Prizes
Mishima, who was “openly gay”, married at the age of 33 after considering a number of prominent women as ‘marriage candidates’ Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Historically, many of Japan’s most creative authors started life as samurai[UPDATED: 2-25-2018]

Monzaemon Chikamatsu (1653-1725), author of Love Suicides at Somezaki who is considered to be Japan’s Shakespeare and Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), often said to be the greatest master of haiku, were both born into samurai families and grew up as samurai before switching to the pen… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Culture
- History
- Poetry
Historically, many of Japan’s most creative authors started life as samurai Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Despite being rivals for the Nobel Prize, Kawabata and Mishima were friends[UPDATED: 2-25-2018]

Yasunari Kawabata (1899-1972) became the first Japanese winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1968, ahead of Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) who was nominated more than once for the prize and throughout the 1960s was considered a very strong candidate. The two men first met in… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Nobel
- Prizes
Despite being rivals for the Nobel Prize, Kawabata and Mishima were friends Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
The Book of Tea, published in 1906, provides guidance on how to appreciate not just tea, but Japanese literature and all that is pure and refined[UPDATED: 2-23-2018]

“The tiny incidents of daily routine are as much a commentary of radical ideals as the highest flight of philosophy or poetry”, writes Tenshin Okakura (1862-1913) in his highly influential and acclaimed essay: The Book of Tea, in which he argues that tea has influenced… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Culture
- History
The Book of Tea, published in 1906, provides guidance on how to appreciate not just tea, but Japanese literature and all that is pure and refined Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
The first bilingual English-Japanese dictionary was compiled in 1830 by someone who had never visited Japan[UPDATED: 2-23-2018]

The English missionary Walter H. Medhurst (1796-1857), who never actually visited Japan, compiled the first bilingual ‘dictionary’ An English and Japanese, and Japanese and English Vocabulary in 1830. The 334-page book was printed in Batavia (Jakarta) Indonesia, where Medhurst was based with his family. It contains Japanese printed… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Dictionary
- History
- translation
The first bilingual English-Japanese dictionary was compiled in 1830 by someone who had never visited Japan Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Most Japanese literary prizes are linked to publishers[UPDATED: 2-22-2018]

Many of Japan’s literary prizes were set up by publishers or have links to publishing companies. The two most prestigious prizes: the Akutagawa Prize and the Naoki Prize were both set up by Kan Kikuchi the founder of Bungeishinju, one of Japan’s leading magazines. The Noma… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Mitsuyo Kakuta
- Industry
- Prizes
- Retail
Most Japanese literary prizes are linked to publishers Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s first monthly book series for Kindergartens, launched in 1907, is still being published 90 years later[UPDATED: 2-22-2018]

Kinderbook was launched in 1927 as the Observational Picture Books Kinder Book, by Froebel-Kan, a Tokyo based company named after the German educator Friedrich Wilhelm A. Froebel (1782-1852), who established the world’s first kindergarten, and coined the name for these learning centres. The decision to… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Book production
- Children's
- Culture
- History
- Magazines
Japan’s first monthly book series for Kindergartens, launched in 1907, is still being published 90 years later Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan

Factbook

Haruki Murakami, who loves cats, ran a jazz bar and coffee shop called Peter Cat before making his debut as a writer[UPDATED: 2-26-2018]

Mishima, who was “openly gay”, married at the age of 33 after considering a number of prominent women as ‘marriage candidates’[UPDATED: 2-26-2018]

Historically, many of Japan’s most creative authors started life as samurai[UPDATED: 2-25-2018]

Despite being rivals for the Nobel Prize, Kawabata and Mishima were friends[UPDATED: 2-25-2018]

The Book of Tea, published in 1906, provides guidance on how to appreciate not just tea, but Japanese literature and all that is pure and refined[UPDATED: 2-23-2018]

The first bilingual English-Japanese dictionary was compiled in 1830 by someone who had never visited Japan[UPDATED: 2-23-2018]

Most Japanese literary prizes are linked to publishers[UPDATED: 2-22-2018]

Japan’s first monthly book series for Kindergartens, launched in 1907, is still being published 90 years later[UPDATED: 2-22-2018]

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