Kankanbou
A Fukuoka-based independent Japanese publisher known for its innovative tanka poetry series, literary mooks, and translated literature.
Last updated September 29, 2026
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Overview
Kankanbou (書肆侃侃房) is an independent publishing house based in Fukuoka City, Japan. Founded in 2002 by poet Yasue Tajima, it began as a small literary press and grew into one of the most influential publishers in the contemporary Japanese tanka (short poetry) scene. The company is known for its innovative tanka series such as Shinei Tanka Series (新鋭短歌シリーズ), Gendai Kajin Series (現代歌人シリーズ), and Gendai Tanka Classics (現代短歌クラシックス), which have reshaped how tanka collections are published and marketed. It also publishes literary mooks like Kotoba to (ことばと) and Taberu no ga Osoi (たべるのがおそい), as well as translated literature, particularly Korean and Taiwanese literature. Kankanbou organizes two literary awards: the Sasai Hiroyuki Prize for new tanka poets and the Kotoba to Newcomer Prize for fiction. In 2018, it opened a bookstore specializing in poetry and international literature, "Hon no Aru Tokoro ajiro," in Tenjin, Fukuoka. The company celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2022 and received the 38th Azusa-kai Publishing Culture Award. It continues to be a vital force in Japanese literary publishing, with numerous works winning major literary prizes.
History
Kankanbou was established in 2002 in Fukuoka City by poet Yasue Tajima. Initially a small literary press, it gradually expanded its scope. In 2010, it opened Read cafe in Yakuin, Fukuoka, which operated until 2020. The following year, 2011, marked a turning point with the publication of Sasai Hiroyuki's tanka collections 'Hitosarai' and 'Tentorori', and the launch of the 'KanKanTrip' travel guide series. In 2013, Kankanbou launched the 'Shinei Tanka Series' (New Wave Tanka Series), which brought fresh voices to the tanka world and is credited with contributing to the current tanka boom in Japan. The series was supervised by prominent poets such as Naoko Higashi and Jiro Kato. In 2015, the 'Gendai Kajin Series' (Contemporary Tanka Poets Series) began, further solidifying its presence in tanka publishing. The following year, 2016, saw the launch of the literary mook 'Taberu no ga Osoi' (edited by Ken Nishizaki), the 'Korean Women's Literature Series', and the PR magazine 'Hon no Hitosaji'. In 2017, the company was incorporated as a stock company (Kabushiki Kaisha) on October 20. In 2018, it launched the tanka mook 'Nemuranai Ki' (edited by Yasue Tajima, later by Dai Fujieda) and opened the bookstore 'Hon no Aru Tokoro ajiro' in Tenjin, Fukuoka, specializing in poetry and international literature. In 2019, it established the Sasai Hiroyuki Prize for new tanka poets, commemorating the 10th anniversary of Sasai's death, and launched the web serialization page 'web Kanzume'. It also received the Fukuoka Citizens' Cultural Activities Merit Award. In 2020, it launched the literary mook 'Kotoba to' (edited by Atsushi Sasaki) and the 'Kotoba to Newcomer Prize', and began the 'Gendai Tanka Classics' and 'Modern Taiwanese Literature Selection' series. In 2022, Kankanbou celebrated its 20th anniversary, renewing its logo, and received the 38th Azusa-kai Publishing Culture Award for publications including 'The Complete Works of Chika Sagawa'. In 2023, it launched the 'Gendai Tanka Passport' anthology series, integrated System Create Yugen Kaisha on June 1, and appointed Yasue Tajima as chairperson and Yuki Ikeda as president. The company continues to publish award-winning literature and poetry, maintaining its influential role in Japanese literary culture.
- 2026
'Japanese Rap: Repeatedly Nodding' won 4th Music Book Award Individual Prize
- 2025
'Aomuke no Odoriba de Aomuke' won 1st CINRA Inspiring Awards Homura Hiroshi Prize
- 2024
'Gendai Shi La Mer no Atta Koro' won 24th Japan Poets Club Poetry World Award Special Prize; 'Watashi ga Shotou de Aru' won 46th Suntory Prize for Social Sciences and Humanities
- 2023
Launched 'Gendai Tanka Passport' series; integrated System Create Yugen Kaisha on June 1; Yasue Tajima became chairperson, Yuki Ikeda president
- 2022
Celebrated 20th anniversary; received 38th Azusa-kai Publishing Culture Award
- 2021
Launched 'Shinpen Kashu Series' with 'Kazuko Kuzuhara Kashu'
- 2020
Launched literary mook 'Kotoba to' and 'Kotoba to Newcomer Prize'; began 'Gendai Tanka Classics' and 'Modern Taiwanese Literature Selection'
- 2019
Established Sasai Hiroyuki Prize; launched web serial 'web Kanzume'; received Fukuoka Citizens' Cultural Activities Merit Award
- 2018
Launched tanka mook 'Nemuranai Ki'; opened bookstore 'Hon no Aru Tokoro ajiro' in Tenjin, Fukuoka
- 2017
Incorporated as a stock company on October 20
Products and positioning
Independent literary publisher specializing in tanka poetry and innovative literary mooks, with a strong focus on nurturing new talent and introducing international literature to Japanese readers.
新鋭短歌シリーズ (Shinei Tanka Series)
A series of tanka collections by emerging poets, launched in 2013, supervised by Naoko Higashi and Jiro Kato, later with other supervisors. It has published numerous award-winning collections.
現代歌人シリーズ (Gendai Kajin Series)
A series featuring established contemporary tanka poets, launched in 2015. Includes works by Chiba Satoshi, Matsumura Yuriko, and others.
現代短歌クラシックス (Gendai Tanka Classics)
Reprints of classic contemporary tanka collections, launched in 2020.
文学ムック『ことばと』 (Kotoba to)
A literary mook edited by Atsushi Sasaki, launched in 2020. Features fiction, criticism, and interviews. A story published in it won the Kawabata Yasunari Prize.
文学ムック『たべるのがおそい』 (Taberu no ga Osoi)
A literary mook edited by Ken Nishizaki, launched in 2016. Stories from it have been nominated for the Akutagawa Prize.
短歌ムック『ねむらない樹』 (Nemuranai Ki)
A tanka mook launched in 2018, featuring new tanka, criticism, and the Sasai Hiroyuki Prize announcements.
KanKanTrip series
A travel guide series launched in 2011.
本のあるところ ajiro
A bookstore specializing in poetry and international literature, opened in Tenjin, Fukuoka in 2018.
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