Yen book - Enpon

This refers to complete works and books published at the low price of 1 yen per book from the end of the Taisho period to the beginning of the Showa period. It was planned to overcome the recession in the publishing industry, and sparked an unprecedented boom in 100-yen books. The catalyst was Kaizosha's "Complete Works of Modern Japanese Literature." It covered the major works of the Meiji and Taisho periods in 37 volumes (plus a separate volume, "Chronological Table of Modern Japanese Literature," which was later added to make a total of 63 volumes), and took preorders for the books at a flat rate of 1 yen, instantly gaining over 300,000 subscribers. According to the preorder regulations, distribution began in November 1926 (Taisho 15), and was scheduled to be completed at the end of 1928 (Showa 3), with a 1 yen application fee (allocated to the final volume) and a monthly membership fee of 1 yen. The first book to be distributed was "Ozaki Koyo Collection," a 311-page, 6-size book that included not only the works but also a short biography of the author, a chronology of his works, and a frontispiece. The text was set in three columns with furigana (furigana readings) and 6-size typeface. Kaizosha president Sanehiko Yamamoto declared when taking preorders that "our art, which was the exclusive domain of the privileged class, will be released to the masses of one million people," calling it a publishing revolution, and appealing for the support and cooperation of readers. Inspired by Kaizosha's success, other companies planned and published a succession of inexpensive complete works and books. Major works published in 1952 included Shinchosha's "Complete Works of World Literature," Shunyodo's "Complete Works of Meiji and Taisho Literature," Daiichi Shobo's "Complete Works of Modern Drama," Heibonsha's "Complete Works of World Art," "Complete Works of Contemporary Popular Literature," Ars' "Japanese Children's Library," Kobunsha's "Complete Works for Elementary School Students," and Shunjusha's "Complete Works of World Great Thoughts." In 1953, Nippon Hyoronsha published Modern Law Collection, Modern Economics Collection, Kaizosha published Economics Collection, and others. The 100-yen books opened up a potential readership, but on the other hand, they led to an influx of cheap books, which weakened readers' trust in books and led to a slump in sales of general books. Another impact that cannot be overlooked was the difficulty of publishing high-quality books and books in separate volumes.

[Yahagi Katsumi]

"Publishing: A Century of Rise and Fall in Prosperity and Tragedy" by Toshio Suzuki (1970, Publishing News Company)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

大正末期から昭和初期にかけて定価1冊1円という廉価で出版された全集や双書類をいう。出版界の不況打開のために企画され、史上空前の円本ブームを巻き起こした。きっかけをつくったのは改造社の『現代日本文学全集』である。明治・大正期の代表作を全37巻（ほかに別巻『現代日本文学大年表』。のち追加され全63巻）に網羅し、これを1円均一で予約募集を行い、一挙に三十数万の予約購読者を獲得した。予約規定によると、1926年（大正15）11月に配本を開始し28年（昭和3）末に完結の予定で、申込金1円（これは最終巻に充当）のほか、会費として月1円を払い込む、というもの。第1回配本は『尾崎紅葉集』で、菊判、311ページ、作品のほか、著者の小伝、著作年表、口絵1丁を付し、本文は6号活字ルビ（振り仮名）付き3段組みである。改造社社長山本実彦(さねひこ)は予約募集にあたり「特権階級の専有物であったわが芸術を百万大衆に解放する」と宣言、これが出版革命であると称し、読者の支持と協力を訴えた。改造社の成功に刺激された各社は、廉価の全集、双書類を次々と企画、出版した。27年のおもなものとして、新潮社『世界文学全集』、春陽堂『明治大正文学全集』、第一書房『近代劇全集』、平凡社『世界美術全集』、同『現代大衆文学全集』、アルス『日本児童文庫』、興文社『小学生全集』、春秋社『世界大思想全集』などがある。28年には、日本評論社『現代法学全集』、同『現代経済学全集』、改造社『経済学全集』その他がある。円本によって潜在読者層が開拓されたが、その反面、廉価本が氾濫(はんらん)し、読者の本に対する信頼感が薄らぎ、一般書籍の売れ行き不振を招いた。また、質の高い双書類や単行本の出版が困難になるなどの影響も見逃せない。

［矢作勝美］

『鈴木敏夫著『出版　好不況下興亡の一世紀』（1970・出版ニュース社）』

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