Japan getting Kindle

[injapan]

Japan will get Kindle next month (at last)
it will be very interesting to see how much Japanese content will be there

http://www.afterdawn.com/news/articl...pan_next_month

[Kumabjorn]

About time. Nothing on Amazon.co.jp about it yet though.
I wonder if this means you can obtain Japanese books to already existing Kindles?

[Namekuseijin]

kobo competition

Forget about ebooks: hoping to see manga e-publishing soaring.

they don't even need colors and with something like guided view it could be very worthwhile...

[Kumabjorn]

The ability to view single panes in Manga is probably what have delayed them. There is a huge backlist of available Manga in Japan, it is fairly easy to format shift this so they could probably offer 10,000 titles, each one for 20 yen. It would be a killing.

[Stitchawl]

15 years ago, it seemed as if 25% of the train passengers were reading manga. The large ones, 2" thick, etc. These days, if I see two or three people reading even the small pocket sized ones it surprises me. Manga sales must have dropped through the basement. Having Kindle pick them up would be a real boost for the manga publishers.


Stitchawl

[Kumabjorn]

The reason you don't see them anymore is that they are way too busy with their keitai.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

The reason you don't see them anymore is that they are way too busy with their keitai.

You hit that nail right on the head! I almost got the perfect photo last week... Every single person sitting and standing was head down into either their keitai or Gameboy! EVERY ONE!!!


Stitchawl

[Canuck_in_Japan]

Originally Posted by Kumabjorn

The ability to view single panes in Manga is probably what have delayed them. There is a huge backlist of available Manga in Japan, it is fairly easy to format shift this so they could probably offer 10,000 titles, each one for 20 yen. It would be a killing.

I thought you knew about Japan. There's no way they'll offer titles for 20 yen. They'll cost exactly the same amount that they do in the store - probably more if I know Japan.

[kyteflyer]

What on earth is a keitai?

[odiakkoh]

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

What on earth is a keitai?

Japanese word for cell phone.

[StoryEnthusiast]

I don't expect much price competition. 20 yen is very unlikely. On the other hand, I never picked up the habit of reading Manga (even political ones) while riding the crowded trains in Tokyo.

[StoryEnthusiast]

Originally Posted by kyteflyer

What on earth is a keitai?

Keitai = 携帯 = 携帯電話 = mobile phone

[Kumabjorn]

Originally Posted by Canuck_in_Japan

I thought you knew about Japan. There's no way they'll offer titles for 20 yen. They'll cost exactly the same amount that they do in the store - probably more if I know Japan.

I know that, but Amazon is to eBooks what IKEA is to furniture. A move like that by Amazon will instantly gain them recognition and it will be a topic that gain them bilions of yen in free advertising.

[Stitchawl]

Something is amiss... I see bookstores closing all over the world. Japanese book stores are cutting back on stocks. 'Kinokuniya,' Japan's #1 book store chain has reduced stock by 50% and is discounting books left and right. Only one row of English Language books now instead of three! I see Japanese convenience stores devoting 1/4 the space previously used for manga. More and more people are using e-readers, and today two models of Sonys can be found in EVERY electrical department store all over Japan. Amazon.co.jp is coming out with their Kindle.

But... 'Maruzen,' Japan's second largest book seller just opened a brand new seven-floor book store in one of the highest rent areas in Osaka! And one entire floor is devoted to English language books! Huh?


Stitchawl

[StoryEnthusiast]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

But... 'Maruzen,' Japan's second largest book seller just opened a brand new seven-floor book store in one of the highest rent areas in Osaka! And one entire floor is devoted to English language books! Huh?
Stitchawl

That's going against the crowd! Is there something special about the new store? Back in those days Maruzen and Kinokuniya were the two places where I spent a lot of time reading books.