Books featuring the Democratic Party of Japan are enjoying vigorous sales at bookstores as readers try to gain any insight they can into the new force taking over the government.
Publishers are skeptical whether the trend will last, however, and they're being cautious about ordering additional printing.
Sanseido Bookstore Ltd.'s Jinbo-cho store in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, set up a special section for nearly 30 books on Aug. 31, the day after the DPJ triumphed in the Lower House election.
Books on politics normally draw only a few buyers at this store, but more than 20 DPJ books have been snapped up.
"Many people stop to take a look and books about the Liberal Democratic Party piled next to them are also selling well," said Noriyuki Kishimoto, a senior official at the outlet.
Publisher Diamond Inc. sold all 20,000 copies of "Minshuto ga Yakusoku suru 99 no Seisaku de Nihon ha do Kawaruka?" ("How will Japan Change with the 99 Policies the DPJ Promises?") and for now isn't responding to additional orders from bookstores.
"We didn't think the book would sell so much when we first planned it in January," said a Diamond official in charge of the book. "But we don't know if people's interest will last," which is why the publisher isn't planning to print additional copies for now.
Heibonsha Ltd. likewise printed and sold all 20,000 copies of "Shinpan Minshuto Kenkyu" ("A New Edition of Research on the DPJ").