Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

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Japan is not included on the list of key international publishing locations[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

The Tokyo International Book Fair (TIBF) is not included or even mentioned in the IPA Global Book Fair Report 2017, published by the International Publishers Association (IPA). Although, 75 international book fairs are listed in the IPA report whose introduction states that it “provides an… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Book Fairs
- Industry
- IPA
Japan is not included on the list of key international publishing locations Posted August 14th, 2017 by Richard Nathan
Despite large number of crime fiction titles being written Japan has one of the world’s lowest homicide rates[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

Despite a large number of crime fiction titles or Suiri Shosetsu (Japanese detective fiction) being written and published each year, Japan has one of the world’s lowest homicide rates of 0.3 (the number of murders per 100,000 inhabitants), according to the OECD. This compares with… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Crime
- Culture
- OECD
Despite large number of crime fiction titles being written Japan has one of the world’s lowest homicide rates Posted March 23rd, 2017 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s first medical textbook, written in 984, is considered Asia’s first book on medical ethics[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

Japan’s first medical textbook was written in 984 by Yasunori Tamba (912- 995), who is sometimes referred to as the Hypocrates of Japan, during Japan’s Heian Period (794-1185). The book, known as Ishimpo or Ishinpo was written in kanbun, the Chinese writing system used during this… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Educational
- Ethics
- History
- Medicine
- Textbooks
Japan’s first medical textbook, written in 984, is considered Asia’s first book on medical ethics Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
The first commercial translation of a work of Japanese fiction in any European language was published in Austria in 1847[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

According to Sepp Linhart, Professor of Japanology and Director of the Institute of East Asian Studies at the University of Vienna, the first commercial translation in any European language of a Japanese work of fiction was published in 1847, in German in Vienna, by its… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Industry
- translation
The first commercial translation of a work of Japanese fiction in any European language was published in Austria in 1847 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Japan introduced its first copyright legislation in 1869[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

The Publishing Ordinance of 1869 was Japan’s first legislation on copyright. The regulations in the ordinance covered both the protection of copyright and the regulation of publishers. Prior to this, despite property rights generally being linked to the ownership (legal title) to the print blocks… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Copyright
- Industry
- Rights
Japan introduced its first copyright legislation in 1869 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Many influential Japanese authors have been Christians[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

Leading Japanese authors have been influenced by Christianity and have expressed a fascination with the lives of missionaries in Japan; Japan’s Christian Century (1546-1638); and the search for meaning immediately after the Second World War. Despite being few in number, Japan’s Christian authors have had an… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Christian Fiction
- Religion
Many influential Japanese authors have been Christians Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s first magazine targeting women, Katei-no-Tomo, was launched in 1903[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

It took 36 years from the launch of Japan’s first western-style magazine in 1867, Seiyo-Zasshi (Western Magazine), for a magazine exclusively targeting Japanese women to be published. Katei-no-Tomo, The Family Friend, was launched in 1903 by Yoshikazu Hani (1880-1955) and his wife Motoko Hani (1873-1957)…. Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Kazufumi Shiraishi
- Mitsuyo Kakuta
- Industry
- Magazines
Japan’s first magazine targeting women, Katei-no-Tomo, was launched in 1903 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
The world’s smallest printed book is a Japanese flower book[UPDATED: 2-12-2018]

The Japanese printer Toppan produced the world’s smallest printed book in 2013, a 26-page book on Japanese flowers with pages just 0.75 mm in size. The micro-book titled: Shiki no Kusabana, flowers of season, lists the names of important Japanese flowers next to their illustrations… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Book production
The world’s smallest printed book is a Japanese flower book Posted September 23rd, 2017 by Richard Nathan

Factbook

Japan is not included on the list of key international publishing locations[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

Despite large number of crime fiction titles being written Japan has one of the world’s lowest homicide rates[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

Japan’s first medical textbook, written in 984, is considered Asia’s first book on medical ethics[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

The first commercial translation of a work of Japanese fiction in any European language was published in Austria in 1847[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

Japan introduced its first copyright legislation in 1869[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

Many influential Japanese authors have been Christians[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

Japan’s first magazine targeting women, Katei-no-Tomo, was launched in 1903[UPDATED: 2-14-2018]

The world’s smallest printed book is a Japanese flower book[UPDATED: 2-12-2018]

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