Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

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Two of Japan’s most famous authors Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Yukio Mishima translated ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ into Japanese[UPDATED: 3-8-2021]

Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, published in English in 1865, has been translated into Japanese more times than any other language, and two of Japan’s most famous authors; Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927), after whom one of Japan’s most prestigious literary prizes is named; and Japan’s… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- translation
Two of Japan’s most famous authors Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Yukio Mishima translated ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ into Japanese Posted November 25th, 2020 by Richard Nathan
A Japanese literary magazine launched in 1910, called ‘White Birch’, was probably the most culturally influential magazine of Japan’s Taisho Period[UPDATED: 2-4-2021]

A magazine or author can sometimes capture a national zeitgeist of the times. For British popular culture and style, the magazine The Face probably played that role in 1980s Britain, and Haruki Murakami is said to be the author that best represents and captures Heisei Japan… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Magazines
A Japanese literary magazine launched in 1910, called ‘White Birch’, was probably the most culturally influential magazine of Japan’s Taisho Period Posted February 4th, 2021 by Richard Nathan
The ‘best Japanese work of fiction’ published in Japanese during Japan’s Heisei era was ‘IQ84’ by Haruki Murakami[UPDATED: 1-13-2021]

In 2019 Japan’s imperial age known as the Hesei era (1989-2019) ended and a new era began called the Reiwa era. The inception of a new era and the end of another led to the media reflecting on the highlights of the last era and… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Industry
- Market Data
The ‘best Japanese work of fiction’ published in Japanese during Japan’s Heisei era was ‘IQ84’ by Haruki Murakami Posted January 11th, 2021 by Richard Nathan
In Meiji Japan books were the ultimate ‘must-clutch’ fashion accessories for young women and schoolgirls[UPDATED: 10-28-2020]

In Meiji era (1868-1912) Japan, when the nation was experiencing a period of rapid modernisation and opening up to the West, books and often Western imported ones were a ‘must-clutch’ fashion accessory for young women.An example of this can be seen in the 1897 woodblock… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Literacy
In Meiji Japan books were the ultimate ‘must-clutch’ fashion accessories for young women and schoolgirls Posted October 28th, 2020 by Richard Nathan
Japanese literature and novels littered with cats[UPDATED: 9-18-2020]

There is a long tradition of cats within Japanese literature, folk stories and art. Many ‘cat books’ feature amongst the ranks of Japan’s bestselling titles. Natsume Soseki (1867-1916) wrote a highly regarded satirical account of the Meiji Era in Japan titled: I am a Cat, for… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Cats
- Culture
- Prizes
Japanese literature and novels littered with cats Posted March 23rd, 2017 by Richard Nathan
Japanese authors in the 1800s turned tuberculosis into a romantic condition[UPDATED: 9-18-2020]

In Japan’s Meiji era (1868-1912) when the nation was rapidly modernising after more than 250 years of isolation, Western influences were extremely strong. These spanned almost everything – even literary perceptions of tuberculosis, which was originally stigmatised in Japan. The disease became a romantic condition… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Medicine
Japanese authors in the 1800s turned tuberculosis into a romantic condition Posted March 16th, 2020 by Richard Nathan
More than 50 Japanese authors have killed themselves since 1900[UPDATED: 9-11-2020]

Research shows that at least 54 Japanese authors have committed suicide since 1900. This includes some of Japan’s most famous and highly regarded authors and one of its two Nobel prize winners, Yasunari Kawabata (1899-1972), as well as Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927) after whom one of… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Culture
- History
- Industry
- OECD
More than 50 Japanese authors have killed themselves since 1900 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Two influential books from the 1700s helped shape Japan as a Robot Nation[UPDATED: 8-21-2020]

Japan is sometimes referred to as the Robot Kingdom due to its large number of robots and its openness to new technologies including robotics. Japan has more industrial robots than most countries; and more Artificial Intelligence (AI) patents than any other, according to some OECD measures…. Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Kazufumi Shiraishi
- Soji Shimada
- History
- Robots
- Textbooks
Two influential books from the 1700s helped shape Japan as a Robot Nation Posted August 21st, 2020 by Richard Nathan

Factbook

Two of Japan’s most famous authors Ryunosuke Akutagawa and Yukio Mishima translated ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’ into Japanese[UPDATED: 3-8-2021]

A Japanese literary magazine launched in 1910, called ‘White Birch’, was probably the most culturally influential magazine of Japan’s Taisho Period[UPDATED: 2-4-2021]

The ‘best Japanese work of fiction’ published in Japanese during Japan’s Heisei era was ‘IQ84’ by Haruki Murakami[UPDATED: 1-13-2021]

In Meiji Japan books were the ultimate ‘must-clutch’ fashion accessories for young women and schoolgirls[UPDATED: 10-28-2020]

Japanese literature and novels littered with cats[UPDATED: 9-18-2020]

Japanese authors in the 1800s turned tuberculosis into a romantic condition[UPDATED: 9-18-2020]

More than 50 Japanese authors have killed themselves since 1900[UPDATED: 9-11-2020]

Two influential books from the 1700s helped shape Japan as a Robot Nation[UPDATED: 8-21-2020]

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