The recently released list of top taxpayers for fiscal 2003 has shown that, despite the overall slump in the book trade, the payoff can still be great for authors who strike a chord with the public.
According to the breakdown, third on the list of top authors was Takeshi Yoro, whose "Baka no Kabe" (The Wall of a Fool)" became the No. 1 best seller. Sixth was Kyoichi Katayama, author of "Sekai no Chushin de, Ai o Sakebu (Crying for Love in the Center of the World)," holder of the new sales record for Japanese novels.
According to an estimate by Nikkei Entertainment (July 2004), "Baka-no Kabe" sold over 3.5 million copies for Yoro, generating 240 million yen in royalties (charged at 10 percent of the 680 yen cover price).