Aki Shobō

Aki Shobō (亜紀書房) is a Japanese publishing house headquartered in Kanda-Jinbōchō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo. Founded in 1967 by Kinji Natsumeda, the company's name expresses the aspiration to 'lead the coming Asian century.' It is a privately held corporation, Akishobo Inc., with a second office, the ZERO division, in Bunkyō-ku. The publisher is known for its commitment to social issues, progressive nonfiction, and translated works that bring international perspectives to Japanese readers. Aki Shobō's early identity was shaped by books tied to Japan's student movement and environmental activism. Its 1969 title '砦の上にわれらの世界を: ドキュメント東大闘争' (On the Fortress, Our World: Document of the University of Tokyo Struggle) captured the intense University of Tokyo protests and became a hit among student activists. In 1971 it published Ui Jun's '公害言論' (later '公害原論'), a landmark work that helped pioneer environmental studies in Japan by taking the side of pollution victims. The 1977 '作文集 泣くものか' (Collection of Essays: Will You Cry?), featuring writings by children in foster care, won the 32nd Mainichi Publishing Culture Award and became a long-selling classic. In the 1980s, Aki Shobō published '凍土の共和国' (Republic of Frozen Soil), a sensational exposé of North Korea by a former pro-Pyongyang Korean residents' organization official under the pen name Kim Won-jo, which revealed the realities of hunger and forced labor. The 2000s saw the launch of the 'American Life' practical guide series and the 'Aki Shobō Translated Nonfiction Series,' which introduced authors such as Rebecca Solnit, Jason Leopold, and Alison Gopnik to Japanese audiences. The 2005 bestseller '失礼ながら、その売り方ではモノは売れません' by Hayashi Fumiko sold 130,000 copies. In 2011, Aki Shobō launched its ZERO division to explore cross-media projects beyond traditional publishing, including digital content on the Fan+ platform such as '談志市場' (Danshi Market) and 'サイエンスエレメンツ' (Science Elements). In 2013, the division was spun off as dZERO Inc., which took over those digital services. Today, Aki Shobō continues to publish a diverse list of nonfiction, essays, translations, and practical guides, with a catalog that includes works by authors like Erika Kraus, Azusa Shigenobu, and Akino Kondō. Its official website lists upcoming titles and reprints, reflecting an active publishing schedule.

Aki Shobō was founded in 1967 by Kinji Natsumeda. The name 'Aki Shobō' was chosen to mean 'leading the coming Asian century.' The publisher quickly made its mark with the 1969 publication of '砦の上にわれらの世界を: ドキュメント東大闘争' (On the Fortress, Our World: Document of the University of Tokyo Struggle), a book about the intense University of Tokyo protests that became a hit among student activists. In 1971, it published Ui Jun's '公害言論' (later expanded into '公害原論'), a pioneering work on pollution that advocated for the victims' perspective and helped establish environmental studies in Japan. The book was reissued in a combined edition in 1988 and a new edition in 2006. In 1977, Aki Shobō published '作文集 泣くものか' (Collection of Essays: Will You Cry?), writings by children in foster care, which won the 32nd Mainichi Publishing Culture Award in 1978 and became a long-selling classic with 22 printings. A sequel, '続泣くものか', followed in 1990. In 1984, the publisher released '凍土の共和国' (Republic of Frozen Soil), a diary by a former pro-Pyongyang Korean residents' organization official under the pen name Kim Won-jo, which exposed the realities of North Korea and caused a sensation; a new edition was published in 2008. In 1991, Aki Shobō published '公害自主講座15年', a compilation of lectures from a 15-year independent seminar at the University of Tokyo, later retitled and reissued in 2007 and 2016. The 2000s brought new series: the 'American Life' practical guides began in 2001, and the 'Aki Shobō Translated Nonfiction Series' launched in 2007 with 'News Junkie' by Jason Leopold, followed by works such as 'Amish Grace' (2008), 'The Zookeeper's Wife' (2009), 'Lone Survivor' (2009), 'The Philosophical Baby' (2010), and 'A Paradise Built in Hell' (2010). In 2005, Hayashi Fumiko's '失礼ながら、その売り方ではモノは売れません' became a bestseller with 130,000 copies sold. In 2007, the publisher also began releasing a series on security by National Defense Academy professors. In 2009, '環境問題を経済から見る' won the Nikkei BP Biz-Tec Book Award. In 2011, Rebecca Solnit's 'A Paradise Built in Hell' gained widespread attention after the Great East Japan Earthquake, and Aki Shobō received the 27th Azumi Publishing Culture Award Special Prize. That same year, the ZERO division was established on February 21, 2011, to explore new fields and methods beyond traditional publishing, including digital content on the Fan+ platform such as 'Danshi Market' and 'Science Elements.' In July 2013, the division was spun off as dZERO Inc., which took over the digital services. In 2018, Aki Shobō received the 15th Publishing Azumi Newspaper Arts and Culture Award. The company continues to operate from its headquarters in Kanda-Jinbōchō and its ZERO division office in Bunkyō-ku, publishing a wide range of nonfiction, essays, and translations.

• 2018

  Received 15th Publishing Azumi Newspaper Arts and Culture Award.

• 2013

  ZERO division spun off as dZERO Inc. in July.

• 2011

  ZERO division established on February 21; received 27th Azumi Publishing Culture Award Special Prize for 'A Paradise Built in Hell'.

• 2009

  '環境問題を経済から見る' won the Nikkei BP Biz-Tec Book Award.

• 2008

  Published new edition of '凍土の共和国'.

• 2007

  Launched 'Aki Shobō Translated Nonfiction Series' with 'News Junkie'.

• 2005

  '失礼ながら、その売り方ではモノは売れません' became a bestseller with 130,000 copies sold.

• 2001

  Launched 'American Life' practical guide series.

• 1991

  Published '公害自主講座15年', compilation of University of Tokyo lectures.

• 1990

  Published sequel '続泣くものか'.

• 1984

  Published '凍土の共和国', a sensational exposé of North Korea.

• 1977

  Published '作文集 泣くものか', which won the 32nd Mainichi Publishing Culture Award in 1978.

• 1971

  Published Ui Jun's '公害言論' (later '公害原論'), pioneering environmental studies in Japan.

• 1969

  Published '砦の上にわれらの世界を: ドキュメント東大闘争', a hit among student activists.

• 1967

  Aki Shobō founded by Kinji Natsumeda.

Independent publisher focused on social issues, progressive nonfiction, and translated works that bring international perspectives to Japanese readers.

• 1969

  砦の上にわれらの世界を: ドキュメント東大闘争

• 1971

  公害言論 (later 公害原論)

• 1977

  作文集 泣くものか

• 1984

  凍土の共和国

• 1990

  続泣くものか

• 1991

  公害自主講座15年

• 2005

  失礼ながら、その売り方ではモノは売れません

• 2007

  ニュース・ジャンキー

• 2008

  アーミッシュの赦し

• 2009

  ユダヤ人を救った動物園

• 2009

  アフガン、たった一人の生還

• 2010

  哲学する赤ちゃん

• 2010

  災害ユートピア

1. 1亜紀書房 公式ウェブサイトakishobo.com
2. 2亜紀書房 - 会社案内akishobo.com
3. 3亜紀書房 - Wikipediaja.wikipedia.org
4. 4Aki Shobō - Wikidatawikidata.org