I lived in Japan from 1991 until 2002 when I moved away. I returned to Kyoto in 2008 and was very surprised at what I saw....
Prior to moving, the single largest reading done by rush hour train commuters was the 'manga.' For those who aren't familiar with them, these are large comic book format 'series' books, often the thickness of a big city telephone directory, with new ones coming out each month. I was shocked to see so many adults reading comic books every day until I learned that the content was not necessarily super hero stuff. I would guestimate that 30%-40% of the male readers were reading these manga on the trains every day. Manga sales were very big business.
Leaving for 10 years and returning, the first thing I noticed was that very few people are reading manga now! I might only see 3 or 4 a week instead of 20-30 every day. Instead, people are reading their cell phones and PDA's! Everyone, men and women alike are staring into their phone screens, scrolling down as they read. Some are reading books, others reading the Internet, others text messages with friends. But the point is, very few are reading manga these days. I'd venture to say that in a few more years we won't even see manga for sale.
Several large bookstores have closed while I was away. Understandably, with the economy in decline people are spending less on books, but for such large bookstores to shut their doors, combined with the readily available e-books, there is certainly a decline in the number of books being sold in Japan.
Stitchawl
|