90 Out-of-Print Books from Meiji to Showa Era Revived on Amazon! 'Old Book Revival Project' Launched Utilizing Amazon POD
The 'Old Book Revival Project,' a collaboration between the Japan Library Business Association and Ryozanpaku Publishing Department, utilizes Amazon's Print on Demand (POD) service to republish 90 out-of-print historical and academic books from the Meiji to Showa eras. This initiative aims to preserve cultural assets, make rare historical materials publicly accessible via Amazon, and establish a new publishing model.
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The General Incorporated Association Japan Library Business Association (Representative Director: Ryō Tokoyoda) has launched the 'Old Book Revival Project' with the Ryozanpaku Publishing Department (Representative: Kensaku Shimamoto) to republish out-of-print historical and academic books.
In recent years, as historical materials become scattered and difficult to obtain, the importance of preserving and redistributing cultural assets has increased.
This project started in 2022. Over approximately four years, 90 titles of old books have been revived.
Catalog cover for the 90 revived titles. Available on Amazon.
In this project, we utilize Amazon's Print on Demand (POD) service to republish and sell books that had become difficult to obtain, on demand. The General Incorporated Association Japan Library Business Association is also a designated agent for Amazon POD.
As a result, historical materials that were previously only available in the used book market or libraries can now be purchased by anyone through Amazon.
■Reviving Old Books with Amazon POD
This project utilizes Amazon's Print on Demand (POD) technology, adopting a publishing method where books are printed and bound only when an order is received.
This method enables:
- Publishing without inventory
- Small-batch publishing
- Revival of out-of-print books
Because the POD method prints only upon order, it eliminates the risks of mass printing and inventory associated with traditional publishing, making it a suitable mechanism for reviving out-of-print books.
▼Project details here
https://www.jmarc.or.jp/project.html
■Main Books to be Revived
In this Old Book Revival Project, we have focused on reviving historical materials and research books published during the Meiji to Showa periods. The revival targets include the following types of books:
- **The oldest book is 'Hyōhitsu Ippan' published in the 20th year of Meiji (1887), among others.**
- Biographies related to Ryoma Sakamoto
- Historical materials on the Bakumatsu and Meiji Restoration periods
- Materials on the history of thought and social thought
- Materials on labor movements during the Taisho Democracy period
- Kyoto administrative materials
- Pre-war social thought materials
These are historical materials that are currently difficult to obtain, making them valuable resources for researchers and history enthusiasts.
Figure: Catalog cover for the 90 revived titles. Available on Amazon.
From the catalog text
Valuable historical materials have been revived for the modern era.
The introductory text featured in this catalog was written by catalog editor Hiroshi Mori, who read and commented on all titles, making it bibliographically valuable content.
Titles can be viewed here.
http://ryozanhaku-publishing.com/
■Preservation and Redistribution of Cultural Materials
This project goes beyond mere revival, aiming for:
- Preservation of historical materials
- Redistribution of research materials
- Digital archiving of cultural assets
By making materials, previously limited to libraries and specialized institutions, widely accessible to the general public through Amazon, we promote the preservation and utilization of Japan's cultural resources.
■About Ryozanpaku Publishing Department
Ryozanpaku Publishing Department is a publishing project that republishes historical and academic materials. Its goal is to preserve and popularize cultural assets by reissuing out-of-print old books and research materials. For this project, they are responsible for the discovery, editing, and revival of historical materials.
Representative: Kensaku Shimamoto
Message
Discovering materials and literature that are still alive today, or rather, are useful precisely now, is a painstaking task. However, it also brings the enjoyment of what can be called artisanal work in the used book trade, as well as business acumen. Many feelings arise from encountering the 90 original texts revived here. We preserve them all in their original form, and to retain even a semblance of that image, we have reproduced the covers as closely as possible to the originals. We are proud that even the introductory texts in the sales catalog (existing POD guide) hold bibliographical value. Please utilize them. And please order them.
■About the General Incorporated Association Japan Library Business Association
The General Incorporated Association Japan Library Business Association has begun activities aimed at utilizing and disseminating library and academic materials. By leveraging new publishing technologies such as Amazon POD, they are working to create new systems for the preservation and distribution of cultural assets.
Representative Director: Ryō Tokoyoda
Message
'We are promoting this project as a new mechanism to deliver materials that have been dormant in libraries and research institutions to a wider audience. Furthermore, we are undertaking initiatives that comply with copyright-related laws and regulations. We welcome participation not only from publishers but also from voluntary organizations and individuals.'
■Future Development
By utilizing Amazon POD, we aim to establish a new publishing model through small-batch publishing and the revival of out-of-print books.
■Sales
The revived books are sold on Amazon or by the Ryozanpaku Publishing Department.
Ryozanpaku Publishing Department: Please search for 'Ryozanpaku Publishing Department' on the web.
Amazon POD Old Book Revival: Searching for 'Ryozanpaku Publishing Department' on Amazon will show you the list.
■What is Amazon POD?
●POD (Print on Demand) is a publishing method that allows printing and binding from a single copy.
●Since printing occurs only when an order is received, it enables publishing without inventory.
●It is a system well-suited for out-of-print books and small-batch publishing.
●Individuals can also use this service.
■Contact Us
General Incorporated Association Japan Library Business Association (Contact: info@jmarc.or.jp)
Through this project, we aim to pass on Japan's valuable cultural materials to the next generation and realize an environment where everyone can access them.
Municipalities, library professionals, and researchers interested in this initiative can find more details at the link below.
https://www.jmarc.or.jp/project.html
In recent years, as historical materials become scattered and difficult to obtain, the importance of preserving and redistributing cultural assets has increased.
This project started in 2022. Over approximately four years, 90 titles of old books have been revived.
Catalog cover for the 90 revived titles. Available on Amazon.
In this project, we utilize Amazon's Print on Demand (POD) service to republish and sell books that had become difficult to obtain, on demand. The General Incorporated Association Japan Library Business Association is also a designated agent for Amazon POD.
As a result, historical materials that were previously only available in the used book market or libraries can now be purchased by anyone through Amazon.
■Reviving Old Books with Amazon POD
This project utilizes Amazon's Print on Demand (POD) technology, adopting a publishing method where books are printed and bound only when an order is received.
This method enables:
- Publishing without inventory
- Small-batch publishing
- Revival of out-of-print books
Because the POD method prints only upon order, it eliminates the risks of mass printing and inventory associated with traditional publishing, making it a suitable mechanism for reviving out-of-print books.
▼Project details here
https://www.jmarc.or.jp/project.html
■Main Books to be Revived
In this Old Book Revival Project, we have focused on reviving historical materials and research books published during the Meiji to Showa periods. The revival targets include the following types of books:
- **The oldest book is 'Hyōhitsu Ippan' published in the 20th year of Meiji (1887), among others.**
- Biographies related to Ryoma Sakamoto
- Historical materials on the Bakumatsu and Meiji Restoration periods
- Materials on the history of thought and social thought
- Materials on labor movements during the Taisho Democracy period
- Kyoto administrative materials
- Pre-war social thought materials
These are historical materials that are currently difficult to obtain, making them valuable resources for researchers and history enthusiasts.
Figure: Catalog cover for the 90 revived titles. Available on Amazon.
From the catalog text
Valuable historical materials have been revived for the modern era.
The introductory text featured in this catalog was written by catalog editor Hiroshi Mori, who read and commented on all titles, making it bibliographically valuable content.
Titles can be viewed here.
http://ryozanhaku-publishing.com/
■Preservation and Redistribution of Cultural Materials
This project goes beyond mere revival, aiming for:
- Preservation of historical materials
- Redistribution of research materials
- Digital archiving of cultural assets
By making materials, previously limited to libraries and specialized institutions, widely accessible to the general public through Amazon, we promote the preservation and utilization of Japan's cultural resources.
■About Ryozanpaku Publishing Department
Ryozanpaku Publishing Department is a publishing project that republishes historical and academic materials. Its goal is to preserve and popularize cultural assets by reissuing out-of-print old books and research materials. For this project, they are responsible for the discovery, editing, and revival of historical materials.
Representative: Kensaku Shimamoto
Message
Discovering materials and literature that are still alive today, or rather, are useful precisely now, is a painstaking task. However, it also brings the enjoyment of what can be called artisanal work in the used book trade, as well as business acumen. Many feelings arise from encountering the 90 original texts revived here. We preserve them all in their original form, and to retain even a semblance of that image, we have reproduced the covers as closely as possible to the originals. We are proud that even the introductory texts in the sales catalog (existing POD guide) hold bibliographical value. Please utilize them. And please order them.
■About the General Incorporated Association Japan Library Business Association
The General Incorporated Association Japan Library Business Association has begun activities aimed at utilizing and disseminating library and academic materials. By leveraging new publishing technologies such as Amazon POD, they are working to create new systems for the preservation and distribution of cultural assets.
Representative Director: Ryō Tokoyoda
Message
'We are promoting this project as a new mechanism to deliver materials that have been dormant in libraries and research institutions to a wider audience. Furthermore, we are undertaking initiatives that comply with copyright-related laws and regulations. We welcome participation not only from publishers but also from voluntary organizations and individuals.'
■Future Development
By utilizing Amazon POD, we aim to establish a new publishing model through small-batch publishing and the revival of out-of-print books.
■Sales
The revived books are sold on Amazon or by the Ryozanpaku Publishing Department.
Ryozanpaku Publishing Department: Please search for 'Ryozanpaku Publishing Department' on the web.
Amazon POD Old Book Revival: Searching for 'Ryozanpaku Publishing Department' on Amazon will show you the list.
■What is Amazon POD?
●POD (Print on Demand) is a publishing method that allows printing and binding from a single copy.
●Since printing occurs only when an order is received, it enables publishing without inventory.
●It is a system well-suited for out-of-print books and small-batch publishing.
●Individuals can also use this service.
■Contact Us
General Incorporated Association Japan Library Business Association (Contact: info@jmarc.or.jp)
Through this project, we aim to pass on Japan's valuable cultural materials to the next generation and realize an environment where everyone can access them.
Municipalities, library professionals, and researchers interested in this initiative can find more details at the link below.
https://www.jmarc.or.jp/project.html