Koyusha

Koyusha is a Japanese publishing house based in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, with a history dating back to 1901. It is best known as the publisher of the railway enthusiast magazine Railfan (Tetsudō Fan) and a range of books and periodicals for railway professionals and hobbyists. The company was incorporated in September 1934. Its origins lie in producing textbooks and examination guides for the training schools of the former Japanese National Railways and private railway operators. Alongside instructional materials, it launched the industry monthly The Locomotive Engineering in 1929, which was later renamed Kikansha-kai and, after a wartime hiatus, revived in 1952. Over the decades Koyusha expanded into consumer railway publishing, including Railfan, which became a flagship title. The company remains a private, family- or management-owned publisher headquartered in Nagoya, with a Tokyo branch handling hobby publications.

Koyusha traces its origins to 1901, when Yamada Kappan Insatsu began using the name 'Koyusha' for its railway textbook publishing operations. The company initially produced textbooks and examination guides for the training schools (locomotive driver training centers) of the former Japanese National Railways and various private railway companies. Among its prewar bestsellers for the industry were 'The Structure and Theory of Locomotives' (Kikansha no Kōzō oyobi Riron), published in three volumes from 1931 for steam locomotive crew and engineers, and 'Schematic Locomotives' (Ryakuzu no Kikansha) from 1933 for assistant engineers. Its customers were therefore the national railway and major private railways of the time. Alongside textbook production, Koyusha launched the industry monthly 'The Locomotive Engineering' in 1929, aimed at railway department personnel. In October 1940 the magazine was renamed 'Kikansha-kai' (Locomotive World). It was temporarily suspended during the war. In October 1952 it was revived as 'The Locomotive Engineering' (renamed 'Loco and Diesel' in 1955, then 'Diesel' until 1989). Sister publications included 'Electric Car and Locomotive' (renamed 'Densha-kai' during the war, later split into 'Densha' until 1997 and 'Electric Locomotive' until 1985). At the request of railway personnel, Koyusha was approached to publish a railway hobby magazine. It issued 'Railfan' (Tetsudō Fan) with editing by the Japan Railway Fan Club, and the positive reception led the company to publish many books aimed at railway enthusiasts. Hobby books are handled by the Tokyo branch rather than the head office. The company was reorganized as a joint-stock company (kabushiki gaisha) in September 1934. The oldest known Koyusha railway book is 'Air Brake Questions and Answers' (Kūki Seidōki Mondō), co-authored by Komori and Yokota and published on December 27, 1926; whether older books exist is unclear.

• 1989

  'Diesel' magazine ceases publication.

• 1955

  Magazine renamed 'Loco and Diesel'.

• 1952

  Revival of 'The Locomotive Engineering' in October after wartime suspension.

• 1940

  'The Locomotive Engineering' renamed 'Kikansha-kai' from the October issue.

• 1934

  Reorganized as a joint-stock company (kabushiki gaisha) in September.

• 1933

  Publication of 'Schematic Locomotives' for assistant engineers.

• 1931

  Publication of 'The Structure and Theory of Locomotives' (three volumes) for steam locomotive engineers.

• 1929

  Launch of the industry monthly 'The Locomotive Engineering'.

• 1926

  Publication of 'Air Brake Questions and Answers', the oldest known Koyusha railway book.

• 1901

  Yamada Kappan Insatsu begins using the name 'Koyusha' for railway textbook publishing; founding date of September 1901.

Specialist publisher for railway professionals and enthusiasts, bridging technical training materials and consumer hobby magazines.

• Railfan (Tetsudō Fan)

  Flagship railway enthusiast magazine, edited by the Japan Railway Fan Club.

• The Locomotive Engineering / Kikansha-kai / Diesel

  Industry monthly for railway personnel, launched 1929, renamed several times, ceased 1989.

• Electric Car and Locomotive / Densha / Electric Locomotive

  Sister publications covering electric trains and locomotives.

• The Structure and Theory of Locomotives

  Three-volume textbook for steam locomotive engineers, from 1931.

• Schematic Locomotives

  Textbook for assistant engineers, from 1933.

• Air Brake Questions and Answers

  Oldest known Koyusha railway book, published 1926.

1. 1Koyusha - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2交友社 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org