For many people, coloring conjures up fond memories of childhood -- books scattered across the table, engrossed in one's work, clutching crayons until one's hands ached.
Seeking to capitalize on a bit of nostalgia, publishers have come out with coloring books for grownups, especially the elderly. Their popularity has been a surprise.
Junko Takeshita, 31, an editor at Kawade Shobo Shinsha Publishers, said she suggested a coloring book series for seniors last spring, after a friend working at a home for the elderly asked why there were no such books available.