More than 200 new books are published daily in Japan, and the total market of books and magazines surpasses ¥2 trillion. But experts say the publishing industry is facing a historic crisis.
Hundreds of bookstores nationwide shut down every year, and the market has largely been shrinking since 1996.
The daunting new challenges the industry face have book-loving intellectuals worrying about the future.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.