Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

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Japan’s first ‘I-novels’ were written and published in 1906 and 1907[UPDATED: 6-3-2021]

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
Manga magazines and books generate more than half of all publishing revenues in Japan[UPDATED: 6-2-2021]

According to The All Japan Magazine and Book Publisher’s and Editor’s Association (AJPEA) manga magazines and books generate more than half of all publishing revenues, which are estimated at 1.4 trillion yen (US$14 billion), in Japan.
- TOPICS:
- Industry
- manga
- Market Data
Manga magazines and books generate more than half of all publishing revenues in Japan Posted June 2nd, 2021 by Richard Nathan
The term ‘Atomic Bomb Literature’ came into wide use in the 1960s[UPDATED: 5-5-2021]

The term Atomic Bomb Literature, Genbaku bungaku, only came into use in the 1960s despite international publishers including, for example, The New Yorker publishing special issues and books about the atomic bombs much earlier and Japanese survivors documenting and writing about their personal experiences. In August 1946, The… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- atomic bomb
- History
The term ‘Atomic Bomb Literature’ came into wide use in the 1960s Posted May 5th, 2021 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s first ‘detective story’ was published in 1889[UPDATED: 5-4-2021]

Ruiko Kuroiwa (1862-1913), who founded a newspaper and edited several others, is widely thought and cited as having written Japan’s first ‘detective story’, a classic whodunit style short story titled Muzan (In Cold Blood), nine years after the first modern Japanese short story, Dancing Girl,… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Crime
- History
- Mystery
- Prizes
- Science Fiction
Japan’s first ‘detective story’ was published in 1889 Posted January 4th, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Kobo Abe is said to be ‘The Kafka of Japan’[UPDATED: 4-27-2021]

Kobo Abe (1924-1992) is said to be ‘The Kafka of Japan’. He is best known for: The Road Sign at the End of the Street (1948), The Woman in the Dunes (1962), as well as being avant-garde, being expelled from the Japanese Communist Party, and collecting… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Culture
- Horror
- Prizes
Kobo Abe is said to be ‘The Kafka of Japan’ Posted March 23rd, 2017 by Richard Nathan
The translation of Harry Potter triggered a major tax investigation and fine in Japan[UPDATED: 4-21-2021]

Yuko Matsuoka, the multi-millionaire Japanese translator and publisher of the Harry Potter novels in Japan, lost a case with the Japanese authorities, who sent her an extraordinary additional tax demand for 700 million yen, US$7 million, for undeclared income of more than $29 million. … Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Copyright
- Rights
- translation
The translation of Harry Potter triggered a major tax investigation and fine in Japan Posted January 1st, 2018 by Richard Nathan
The first professional Japanese author who generated enough literary earnings to live from was born in 1765[UPDATED: 4-21-2021]

Jippensha Ikku (1765-1831) the prolific bestselling author and illustrator of titles such as the Shank’s Mare, a comic novel that follows two amiable scoundrels on a madcap road trip adventure along the great highway leading from Tokyo to Kyoto (Tokaido), was reportedly the first creative… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Rights
The first professional Japanese author who generated enough literary earnings to live from was born in 1765 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
The first ‘modern Japanese short story’ was written by Ogai Mori and published in 1890[UPDATED: 4-21-2021]

The modern short story in Japan was a Western import that arrived at the turn of the 20th century in the 1890s. It is hard to confirm what was the very first modern authentic Japanese short story, but academics often attribute this honor to Maihime… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Short Story
The first ‘modern Japanese short story’ was written by Ogai Mori and published in 1890 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan

Factbook

Japan’s first ‘I-novels’ were written and published in 1906 and 1907[UPDATED: 6-3-2021]

Manga magazines and books generate more than half of all publishing revenues in Japan[UPDATED: 6-2-2021]

The term ‘Atomic Bomb Literature’ came into wide use in the 1960s[UPDATED: 5-5-2021]

Japan’s first ‘detective story’ was published in 1889[UPDATED: 5-4-2021]

Kobo Abe is said to be ‘The Kafka of Japan’[UPDATED: 4-27-2021]

The translation of Harry Potter triggered a major tax investigation and fine in Japan[UPDATED: 4-21-2021]

The first professional Japanese author who generated enough literary earnings to live from was born in 1765[UPDATED: 4-21-2021]

The first ‘modern Japanese short story’ was written by Ogai Mori and published in 1890[UPDATED: 4-21-2021]

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