Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

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In the 17th century Japan experienced the world’s first camellia publishing boom[UPDATED: 2-9-2018]

A confluence of events created Japan’s, and probably the world’s first, camellia publishing boom in the second quarter of the 17th century. The arrival from Korea of movable type technology and the printing of the first Japanese book using the technology in 1593 was the catalyst… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Book production
- Culture
- History
- Industry
- Poetry
In the 17th century Japan experienced the world’s first camellia publishing boom Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
David Bowie was a Yukio Mishima fan, and painted his portrait in 1970[UPDATED: 2-8-2018]

David Bowie (1947-2016), the British singer songwriter and actor, was a fan of the Japanese author Yukio Mishima (1925-1970), especially his novel The Sailor Who Fell from Grace from the Sea, published in 1963. The novel was made into a film, directed by Lewis… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Culture
David Bowie was a Yukio Mishima fan, and painted his portrait in 1970 Posted January 1st, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Keigo Higashino is the most popular contemporary Japanese author in China[UPDATED: 2-7-2018]

The award-winning Japanese mystery writer Keigo Higashino is the most popular living Japanese author in China. His books regularly top the bestsellers lists in China. The Chinese translation of Higashino’s Miracles of the Namiya General Store was Amazon’s bestselling paperback in China in 2017 and its… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- China
- Crime
- Exports
- IPA
- Mystery
- Rights
Keigo Higashino is the most popular contemporary Japanese author in China Posted January 4th, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s ‘first modern novel’ was written by Futabatei Shimei in 1887[UPDATED: 2-5-2018]

Ukigumo, The Drifting Cloud, by Futabatei Shimei (1864-1909) is considered by academics as Japan’s ‘first modern novel’ due to its realism and focus on the psychology and personalities of the novel’s four characters, as opposed to being a chronicle of deeds and actions. An… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Industry
- translation
Japan’s ‘first modern novel’ was written by Futabatei Shimei in 1887 Posted January 1st, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Both of Japan’s Nobel literature prize-winners now have literary prizes named after them[UPDATED: 2-5-2018]

There are Japanese literary prizes named after both of Japan’s two winners of Nobel prizes in Literature. The Kawabata Yasunari Prize, was founded in 1973 using the Nobel Prize money. It is awarded once a year for the best work of short fiction. The winner receives 1 million… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Fuminori Nakamura
- Nobel
- Prizes
Both of Japan’s Nobel literature prize-winners now have literary prizes named after them Posted January 1st, 2018 by Richard Nathan
One bookstore in Tokyo stocks & sells only one book at a time[UPDATED: 1-25-2018]

Morioka Shoten located in Ginza in Tokyo, has a unique merchandising strategy. It only sells one book title at a time despite around 80,000 new books being published every year in Japan. The shop, which opened in May 2015, has a single book strategy of stocking… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Bookshops
- Industry
One bookstore in Tokyo stocks & sells only one book at a time Posted August 15th, 2017 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s public libraries have the highest lending rates of public libraries within the G7[UPDATED: 1-24-2018]

The number of public libraries in Japan is on the low side when compared to other G7 nations, the informal group of industrialized democracies (the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom) that meets annually to discuss issues such as economics,… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- G7
- Industry
- Libraries
- Retail
Japan’s public libraries have the highest lending rates of public libraries within the G7 Posted March 23rd, 2017 by Koji Chikatani
Book rental and lending schemes have a very long history in Japan[UPDATED: 1-24-2018]

Historically, book production and consumption in Japan was focused on the country’s aristocrats, Buddhist monks, Shinto priests and society’s upper classes not the mass market. However, in the early 1800s book lending shops started to appear. According to historians, their number grew from around 650… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Culture
- Industry
- Retail
Book rental and lending schemes have a very long history in Japan Posted March 23rd, 2017 by Richard Nathan

Factbook

In the 17th century Japan experienced the world’s first camellia publishing boom[UPDATED: 2-9-2018]

David Bowie was a Yukio Mishima fan, and painted his portrait in 1970[UPDATED: 2-8-2018]

Keigo Higashino is the most popular contemporary Japanese author in China[UPDATED: 2-7-2018]

Japan’s ‘first modern novel’ was written by Futabatei Shimei in 1887[UPDATED: 2-5-2018]

Both of Japan’s Nobel literature prize-winners now have literary prizes named after them[UPDATED: 2-5-2018]

One bookstore in Tokyo stocks & sells only one book at a time[UPDATED: 1-25-2018]

Japan’s public libraries have the highest lending rates of public libraries within the G7[UPDATED: 1-24-2018]

Book rental and lending schemes have a very long history in Japan[UPDATED: 1-24-2018]

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