Kodansha: Book Sales Reach 30 Billion Yen Mark for First Time in Seven Years

Account statements for the period ending November 2007 will show book sales at Kôdansha reaching the 30 billion yen mark for the first time in seven years. Factors responsible for the growth include more emphasis on advance promotions of authors at bookstores, pumping up the number of new pocketbooks, and the positive reception of prize winners. Projections for the end of this period are expected to be as high as 31.5 billion yen. The three-volume series Become the Wind for a Single Moment, shining winner of the Bookstore Grand Prix, was the first of the millennium to sell a total of one million copies, and by the end of September, all departments had exceeded their numbers from last September. Although magazine and advertising departments have been sluggish, rival publisher Shogakkan posted falling numbers for the first half of last year, a continuing trend which has allowed Kôdansha to capture the lead.

Kodansha's goal at this start of this period was to increase last year's sales of 29.93 billion yen by 2.3%, to 30.6 billion, but by the end of September, sales were already up to 30.98 billion. If sales continue in this way, a significant increase of 4 to 5%, or 31.2 to 31.5 billion yen, is expected.


*Some of the book titles are tentative translations.
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