Compared with the influx of translated foreign books into Japan, the amount of Japanese books translated for overseas readers is a mere trickle, with the ratio standing at 20-to-1.

This imbalance reflects the strong appetite the Japanese have for overseas culture, which contrasts with the generally tepid interest in Japan overseas, according to publishing industry officials.

"Japan has always been keen on importing culture from all kinds of countries, but apart from its economy, the rest of the world isn't that interested in Japan," said Junichi Yoshii, executive director of digital operations at the publisher Kodansha Ltd.