San-ichi Publishing Co., Ltd.

San-ichi Publishing Co., Ltd. (三一書房, San-ichi Shobō) is a Japanese independent publishing house founded in November 1945 in Kyoto by Takemura Hajime, Tabata Hiroshi, and Pak Won-jun. It is one of Japan's notable postwar publishers, with a catalogue that has long leaned toward progressive, critical, and socially engaged nonfiction. Its name, literally 'three-one,' is commonly associated with the three founders. The company moved its headquarters to Iidabashi, Chiyoda, Tokyo, in 1957, and later, on 1 July 2011, relocated to Kanda-Jinbocho, also in Chiyoda — Tokyo's famous book-publishing district. Over the decades San-ichi Shobo has published literature, criticism, essays, history, philosophy, social and political reportage, documentary works, sports and professional-wrestling titles, subculture books on TV, film, music and comics, as well as practical lifestyle, health, education, and even go and shogi books. Its commercial high point came with the San-ichi Shinsho paperback line. In 1955, Gomikawa Junpei's novel 'The Human Condition' (『人間の条件』, Ningen no Jōken), issued in that series, became what is described as the best-selling book in Japanese history up to that time. The house also won major recognition: the 1967 publication 'Nihon Josei Bunka-shi' (A Cultural History of Japanese Women) received the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award, and the 1968 'Nihon Shomin Seikatsu Shiryō Shūsei' (Compendium of Historical Materials on Japanese Commoners' Life) received the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award Special Prize. In 1970, 'The Secret of Prices' (『価格の秘密』) sold 300,000 copies. San-ichi Shobo celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2005 and continues to operate as an independent publisher. Its current output, as shown on its official website, includes new titles on witch trials in Vienna, Korean cold noodles (naengmyeon) as food culture, Zainichi Korean literature, the trial records of the Abe assassination case, the Kanto Massacre, feminism in Japan, and a Zainichi Korean political prisoner's memoir — reflecting its enduring focus on human rights, discrimination, history, and East Asian social issues. It also maintains the San-ichi Booklet and San-ichi Shinsho series and sells directly through its own online store.

San-ichi Publishing Co., Ltd. was founded in November 1945 in Kyoto by Takemura Hajime, Tabata Hiroshi, and Pak Won-jun, in the immediate aftermath of World War II. The name 'San-ichi' (three-one) is generally linked to the three founders. From its early years the house built a reputation as an independent, socially engaged publisher willing to take on politically and socially sensitive subjects. A decisive commercial breakthrough came in 1955, when Gomikawa Junpei's novel 'The Human Condition' (『人間の条件』, Ningen no Jōken) was published in the San-ichi Shinsho paperback series and became the best-selling book in Japanese history up to that point. This success established both the author and the San-ichi Shinsho line in the Japanese reading public's mind. In 1957 the company relocated its headquarters to Iidabashi in Chiyoda ward, Tokyo, moving its center of operations from Kyoto to the capital. The 1960s brought critical recognition: 'Nihon Josei Bunka-shi' (A Cultural History of Japanese Women), published in 1967, won the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award, and 'Nihon Shomin Seikatsu Shiryō Shūsei' (Compendium of Historical Materials on Japanese Commoners' Life), published in 1968, won the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award Special Prize. In 1970, 'The Secret of Prices' (『価格の秘密』) sold 300,000 copies, another commercial success. Through the later 20th century San-ichi Shobo continued to publish across a wide range of fields — literature, criticism, essays, history, philosophy, social and political documentary, sports and professional wrestling, subculture titles on television, film, music and comics, as well as practical books on lifestyle, health, education, go and shogi. The company marked its 60th anniversary in 2005. On 1 July 2011, the headquarters moved again, to Kanda-Jinbocho in Chiyoda, Tokyo, placing the publisher in the heart of Japan's antiquarian and publishing book district. In the 2020s the catalogue continues to emphasize human rights, discrimination, East Asian history and social issues, with recent and forthcoming titles including works on the Vienna witch trials, Korean cold noodles as food culture, Zainichi Korean literature, the trial records of the Abe assassination case, the Kanto Massacre, feminism in Japan, and a Zainichi Korean political prisoner's memoir. The publisher maintains its own online store and continues to operate as an independent house.

• 2011

  On 1 July, headquarters moves to Kanda-Jinbocho, Chiyoda, Tokyo.

• 2005

  Celebrates its 60th anniversary.

• 1970

  'The Secret of Prices' (『価格の秘密』) sells 300,000 copies.

• 1968

  'Nihon Shomin Seikatsu Shiryō Shūsei' (Compendium of Historical Materials on Japanese Commoners' Life) wins the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award Special Prize.

• 1967

  'Nihon Josei Bunka-shi' (A Cultural History of Japanese Women) wins the Mainichi Publishing Culture Award.

• 1957

  Headquarters relocated to Iidabashi, Chiyoda, Tokyo.

• 1955

  Gomikawa Junpei's novel 'The Human Condition' is published in the San-ichi Shinsho series and becomes the best-selling book in Japanese history up to that time.

• 1945

  Founded in November in Kyoto by Takemura Hajime, Tabata Hiroshi, and Pak Won-jun.

Independent, progressive-minded Japanese publisher with a long postwar tradition of critical nonfiction, social reportage, and human-rights-oriented titles.

• 1955

  The Human Condition (人間の条件) by Gomikawa Junpei

• 1967

  Nihon Josei Bunka-shi (A Cultural History of Japanese Women)

• 1968

  Nihon Shomin Seikatsu Shiryō Shūsei (Compendium of Historical Materials on Japanese Commoners' Life)

• 1970

  The Secret of Prices (価格の秘密)

• San-ichi Shinsho paperback series

• San-ichi Booklet (さんいちブックレット)

• 'Abunai' (あぶない) series on environment and food

1. 1三一書房 - San-Ichi Shobo Publishing Inc. official website31shobo.com
2. 2San-ichi Publishing Co., Ltd. — Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3三一书房 — 维基百科zh.wikipedia.org