Shumpusha Publishing

Shumpusha Publishing (春風社, Shumpusha) is a small independent Japanese publishing house based in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Founded in October 1999 by Mamoru Miura, who serves as its representative director, the company began operations from the founder's home in Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama, and later moved to the Yokohama City Education Hall in Nishi-ku, where it remains today. The publisher focuses on academic books and textbooks across the humanities and social sciences, with particular strengths in philosophy, literature, education, and cultural anthropology. Its stated mission is to bring scholarly work out of the university and into the wider world — a philosophy captured in its slogan '野の学へ' (toward scholarship in the field). Shumpusha's catalogue spans literary criticism, social history, geography, linguistics, psychology, philosophy, religion, and education. Notable titles include the collected works of Okui Ōshin (『新井奥邃著作集』, 10 volumes), the Community Encyclopedia (『コミュニティ事典』), the Urban Science Encyclopedia (『都市科学事典』) compiled by Yokohama National University's Faculty of Urban Sciences, and translations such as bell hooks's All About Love. The company also publishes several university-affiliated series, including the Yokohama City University New Series, the Rikkyo University Humanities Series, and the Toyo Eiwa University Social Science Research Series. One of Shumpusha's best-known commercial successes is Jun Nishimura's memoir 'Omoshiro Nankyoku Ryōrinin' (面白南極料理人, 'The Interesting Antarctic Chef'), published in 2001. The book gained widespread media attention, was reissued in paperback by Shinchosha in 2004, adapted into the 2009 film 'Nankyoku Ryōrinin' directed by Shuichi Okita, and later became a 2019 TV Osaka drama series. This title exemplifies the publisher's ability to reach beyond a purely academic readership. Shumpusha remains a small operation, with a staff of about eight people as of the Japanese Wikipedia entry. It publishes a biannual catalogue and PR newspaper, originally launched in 2007 as 'Shunpū Mokuroku Shinbun' and renamed 'Shunpū Shinbun' from its 14th issue in 2014. The company celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2009 with a party and the publication of a company history, its 15th anniversary in 2014 with an event titled 'Listening to Tōhoku,' and its 20th anniversary in 2019 with a commemorative volume 'Shunpū to Ya.' In 2026 it marked its 30th anniversary with the first issue of a commemorative booklet, 'Shunpū no Tane.' Shumpusha continues to position itself as a publisher of scholarly works aimed at a global readership, maintaining an active book review presence in major Japanese newspapers.

Shumpusha Publishing was founded in October 1999 by Mamoru Miura, who started the business from his home in Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama. The company was established as a yūgen-gaisha (limited company) and initially operated with a very small team. In 2001, the publisher released Jun Nishimura's 'Omoshiro Nankyoku Ryōrinin' (面白南極料理人), a memoir by a chef who worked at the Japanese Antarctic research station. The book received extensive coverage on television and radio, bringing significant attention to the young publishing house. Its success led Shinchosha to issue a paperback edition in 2004, and in 2009 the book was adapted into the film 'Nankyoku Ryōrinin' directed by Shuichi Okita. A television drama series produced by TV Osaka followed in 2019, further cementing the title's place in Japanese popular culture. In 2002, Shumpusha relocated to the Yokohama City Education Hall in Nishi-ku, Yokohama, where it continues to be based. The move provided a more central and accessible location for the publisher's operations. In 2007, the company launched a biannual catalogue and public relations newspaper called 'Shunpū Mokuroku Shinbun' (春風目録新聞). This publication was renamed 'Shunpū Shinbun' (春風新聞) starting from its 14th issue in 2014 and remains a key channel for communicating with readers and booksellers. Shumpusha marked its 10th anniversary in 2009 with a commemorative party and the publication of a company history titled 'Shuppan wa Kaze Makase: Otoboke Shachō Funtōki' (出版は風まかせ――おとぼけ社長奮闘記). In 2014, the 15th anniversary was celebrated with an event called 'Tōhoku wo Kiku' (東北をきく, 'Listening to Tōhoku'). The company's 20th anniversary in 2019 was commemorated with the publication of 'Shunpū to Ya' (春風と野). In 2026, Shumpusha began issuing a 30th anniversary commemorative booklet, 'Shunpū no Tane' (春風の種), with the first issue released in September of that year. Throughout its history, Shumpusha has maintained a clear focus on academic publishing in the humanities and social sciences. Its catalogue includes major reference works such as the 'Community Encyclopedia' (コミュニティ事典) and the 'Urban Science Encyclopedia' (都市科学事典), as well as scholarly series affiliated with universities including Yokohama City University, Rikkyo University, and Toyo Eiwa University. The publisher has also released significant translations, such as bell hooks's 'All About Love' (オール・アバウト・ラブ). The company's philosophy, articulated by founder Miura, emphasizes taking scholarship beyond the university and into the field ('野の学へ'), and engaging with a global readership. As of the Japanese Wikipedia entry, the company operates with a staff of approximately eight people, remaining a small but active independent publisher in Japan's academic book market.

• 2026

  Published first issue of 30th anniversary commemorative booklet 'Shunpū no Tane'.

• 2019

  Celebrated 20th anniversary with publication of 'Shunpū to Ya'; TV drama adaptation of 'Omoshiro Nankyoku Ryōrinin' aired.

• 2014

  Held 15th anniversary event 'Tōhoku wo Kiku'; newspaper renamed 'Shunpū Shinbun' from issue 14.

• 2009

  Celebrated 10th anniversary; published company history 'Shuppan wa Kaze Makase'; film adaptation of 'Nankyoku Ryōrinin' released.

• 2007

  Launched biannual catalogue/PR newspaper 'Shunpū Mokuroku Shinbun'.

• 2004

  'Omoshiro Nankyoku Ryōrinin' reissued in paperback by Shinchosha.

• 2002

  Moved to Yokohama City Education Hall in Nishi-ku, Yokohama.

• 2001

  Published Jun Nishimura's 'Omoshiro Nankyoku Ryōrinin', which gained widespread media attention.

• 1999

  Founded in October by Mamoru Miura in Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama.

Independent academic publisher bringing humanities and social science scholarship from universities to the wider world, with a global outlook.

• 『新井奥邃著作集』(Collected Works of Okui Ōshin, 10 volumes)

• 『妊娠するロボット――1920年代の科学と幻想』(The Pregnant Robot: Science and Fantasy in the 1920s)

• 『Beowulf』by Shuichi Hashimoto

• 『ダンテ神曲原典読解語源辞典』(Dante's Divine Comedy Original Text Reading Etymological Dictionary, 3 volumes)

• 『わしといたずらキルディーン』(The Eagle and the Mischievous Kildin) by Queen Marie, translated by Nachiko Nagai

• 『九十九浜』(Kujūkuri Beach) photography collection by Yoshiro Ozeki

• 『コミュニティ事典』(Community Encyclopedia)

• 『都市科学事典』(Urban Science Encyclopedia)

• 『オール・アバウト・ラブ――愛をめぐる13の試論』(All About Love: New Visions) by bell hooks

• Yokohama City University New Series

• Rikkyo University Humanities Series

• Toyo Eiwa University Social Science Research Series

• Series: Anthropology to Come (シリーズ 来たるべき人類学)

• Series: English Literature of Fantasy and the Strange (シリーズ 幻想と怪奇の英文学)

1. 1春風社 Shumpusha Publishing official websiteshumpu.com
2. 2春風社について | 春風社 Shumpusha Publishingshumpu.com
3. 3交通アクセス | 春風社 Shumpusha Publishingshumpu.com
4. 4お問い合わせ | 春風社 Shumpusha Publishingshumpu.com
5. 5Shumpusha Publishing - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6春風社 - Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org