Factbook

A Dynamic Compendium of Interesting Japanese Literary and Publishing Facts

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Japan’s publishers not ranked as global players[UPDATED: 3-1-2018]

No Japanese publisher features in the ranking of the top ten publishers by revenue produced by the International Publishers Association (IPA). Despite Japan being the world’s 4th largest publishing market, according to the IPA.Publishers from all of the largest five country markets, except Japan, appear in the IPA’s… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Industry
- IPA
Japan’s publishers not ranked as global players Posted March 23rd, 2017 by Richard Nathan
David Bowie’s favourite novel by Yukio Mishima, an author he was fascinated by, was The Sailor Who Fell from Grace from the Sea[UPDATED: 2-28-2018]

It is well known that David Bowie (1947-2016), the British singer songwriter and actor, was a fan of the Japanese author Yukio Mishima (1925-1970). He painted his portrait, included his name in the lyrics of at least one of his songs; and Yukio Mishima was… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Culture
- History
David Bowie’s favourite novel by Yukio Mishima, an author he was fascinated by, was The Sailor Who Fell from Grace from the Sea Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Japan’s first national library was set up following a legal decree in 702[UPDATED: 2-28-2018]

According to historians, the first libraries in Japan were set up by by Shotoku Taishi (574-622) – The Prince of Holy Virtue – a regent and author also known as Prince Umayado (Prince of the Stables). The Horyuji Temple, in Nara, founded in 607, is believed to have… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- History
- Libraries
Japan’s first national library was set up following a legal decree in 702 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
The first Japanese dictionary was published in 682[UPDATED: 2-28-2018]

According to the Nihon Shoki, Japan’s second oldest history book often translated as The Chronicles of Japan, the Japanese Emperor Tenmu (631-686) was given a dictionary in 682 titled Niina (New Characters). Early Japanese dictionaries like this one were actually dictionaries of Chinese characters (letters) written in… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Dictionary
- Industry
The first Japanese dictionary was published in 682 Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
In 1964 after Junichiro Tanizaki was nominated and shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature, AFP announced in error that he had won[UPDATED: 2-28-2018]

In 1964 four Japanese authors were amongst the 76 candidates nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature; Junichiro Tanizaki (1886-1965), Yasunari Kawabata (1899-1972), Yukio Mishima (1925-1970) and Junzaburo Nishiwaki (1894-1982). That year there were 19 new candidates for the prize including two nominated for the first… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Nobel
- Prizes
In 1964 after Junichiro Tanizaki was nominated and shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature, AFP announced in error that he had won Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan
In 2017 JK Rowling was overtaken by a Japanese crime fiction writer as the top royalty-earning international author in China[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

In 2017 the Japanese crime fiction master Keigo Higashino, author of The Devotion of Suspect X and many other titles, overtook JK Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series as the highest non-Chinese royalty-earning author in China. JK Rowling has headed the annual ranking for… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- China
- Crime
- Exports
- Rights
In 2017 JK Rowling was overtaken by a Japanese crime fiction writer as the top royalty-earning international author in China Posted January 4th, 2018 by Richard Nathan
Japan has around 500 different literary prizes[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

Japan has around 500 different literary prizes. Some literary prizes target new writers, others specific genres such as the Seiun Award for the best science fiction, awarded by the Federation of Science Fiction Fan Groups of Japan (FSFFGJ). Two of the most coveted awards are the… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Industry
- Prizes
- Science Fiction
Japan has around 500 different literary prizes Posted March 23rd, 2017 by Richard Nathan
At least one Japanese literary prize rewards its judging panel and prize-winners equally[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

The Akutagawa Prize, one of Japan’s most prestigious literary prizes founded in 1935 in honour of Ryunosuke Akutagawa (1892-1927), reportedly pays each of its nine judges an annual retainer of 1 million yen to select the winner twice a year. In contrast, the prize awarded… Read more »
- TOPICS:
- Prizes
At least one Japanese literary prize rewards its judging panel and prize-winners equally Posted January 3rd, 2018 by Richard Nathan

Factbook

Japan’s publishers not ranked as global players[UPDATED: 3-1-2018]

David Bowie’s favourite novel by Yukio Mishima, an author he was fascinated by, was The Sailor Who Fell from Grace from the Sea[UPDATED: 2-28-2018]

Japan’s first national library was set up following a legal decree in 702[UPDATED: 2-28-2018]

The first Japanese dictionary was published in 682[UPDATED: 2-28-2018]

In 1964 after Junichiro Tanizaki was nominated and shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature, AFP announced in error that he had won[UPDATED: 2-28-2018]

In 2017 JK Rowling was overtaken by a Japanese crime fiction writer as the top royalty-earning international author in China[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

Japan has around 500 different literary prizes[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

At least one Japanese literary prize rewards its judging panel and prize-winners equally[UPDATED: 2-27-2018]

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