In a time of change and uncertainty, Japanese readers continue to seek comfort and practical advice in their reading. In particular, best sellers last year reflected the concerns of middle-aged and older individuals, with the top 10 sellers including two books on how to age gracefully, two on the Japanese language, and two on using English.

One observer, in DaVinci (Jan. 2003), relates the boom in language books to fears about globalization: English conversation books are used by those feeling such skills are necessary for the new age, while books about Japanese appeal to those experiencing anxiety about their Japanese identity.

However, the biggest publishing phenomenon was Harry Potter, with a record first printing in October of 2.35 million copies of the fourth volume in the series. Indeed, Nikkei Entertainment (Jan. 2003) estimates total sales in Japan of 80 billion yen in 2002 for the Harry Potter movies, books, DVDs, videos and tie-in products.