Shunyodo Publishing was founded in 1878 by Tokutarō Wada, a native of Gifu Prefecture, in Kanda Izumicho, Tokyo. The business began as a lending library, later expanding into itinerant book sales before starting to publish picture books and translated works. Books featuring beautiful woodblock-printed frontispieces quickly gained popularity.
In 1889, the company launched the magazine Shin Shosetsu (New Fiction), which became a leading force in the literary world of the time. The magazine, spearheaded by prominent literary figures such as Koyo Ozaki and Rohan Koda, featured contributions from many renowned authors of the Meiji and Taisho eras. From this magazine emerged literary masterpieces such as Ozaki’s The Golden Demon (Konjiki Yasha), Kyoka Izumi’s The Saint of Mount Koya (Koya Hijiri), Katai Tayama’s The Quilt (Futon), and Soseki Natsume’s The Three-Cornered World (Kusamakura).
In 1927, Shunyodo began publishing the Collected Works of Meiji and Taisho Literature, playing a key role in the booming popularity of affordable “yen books” (enpon) at the time. Later, the company focused on publishing paperback books, and after World War II, released numerous popular novels, featuring authors such as Edogawa Rampo, Kido Okamoto, and Kiichiro Yamate.
Postwar, Shunyodo also published celebrated children's songs and fairy tales by authors such as Hakushu Kitahara, Ujo Noguchi, Misuzu Kaneko, Kenji Miyazawa, and Nankichi Niimi. The Definitive Santoka Collected Works (Teihon Santoka Zenshu), published in 1972, brought public attention to previously unknown haiku poet Taneda Santoka and sparked a cultural boom. Since then, the company has continued to release many related works, including the Santoka Bunko series, which comprises 12 volumes and has sold approximately 200,000 copies in total.
In 2023, Shunyodo Publishing celebrated its 145th anniversary and relaunched the Shunyo Bunko series. Looking ahead, the company is committed to honoring its traditions while also exploring new forms and possibilities in book publishing.
Company Name
Shunyodo Publishing Co., Ltd.
Address
KEC Ginza Building 5F, Room 503, 3-10-9 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Founder Tokutarō Wada begins a retail and itinerant book-selling business in Kanda Izumicho.
1882
Begins full-scale publishing with the release of "Mitsudomoe Koi no Shirayuki" by Nanen Chikusui.
1884
Relocates to Minamidenma-cho, Kyobashi Ward.
1886
Begins publishing translated books, including Jules Verne’s "Aerial Voyage of 35 Days" (translated by Inoue Tsutomu).
1889
Launches the literary magazine Shin Shosetsu (New Fiction), edited and published by a group including Nansui Sudo, Koson Kyomura, and Shiken Morita.
Launches the art magazine Bijutsu Sekai (Art World), edited by Shotei Watanabe. Publishes 25 volumes.
1890
Publishes the anthology Shinsaku Juniban, including works by Koyo Ozaki (8 volumes total).
1891
Publishes the anthology Juyo Jusshu (10 volumes).
Publishes the anthology Bungaku Sekai (12 volumes).
1896
Resumes publication of Shin Shosetsu under the editorship of Rohan Koda (Second Period).
1897
Begins serializing The Golden Demon (Konjiki Yasha) by Koyo Ozaki.
Publishes Wakanashu, the first poetry collection by Toson Shimazaki. Subsequently publishes three more collections: Ichiyoshu, Natsukusa, and Rakubaisyu.
1902
Publishes Andersen’s The Improvisatore, translated by Mori Ogai.
1906
Publishes Natsume Soseki’s "Kusamakura" (later The Three-Cornered World) in Shin Shosetsu.
1907
Publishes Uzurakago by Natsume Soseki, containing "Botchan," "210th Day," and "Kusamakura."
Publishes Tayama Katai’s "Futon" in Shin Shosetsu.
1911
Begins publication of the Modern Literary Series (Gendai Bungei Sosho, 45 volumes). Volume 1: Doro Ningyo by Masamune Hakucho. Includes works by Toson Shimazaki, Miekichi Suzuki, Shusei Tokuda, Katai Tayama, and Mikihiko Nagata.
1914
Publishes Tsuchi by Setsu Nagatsuka.
1921
Publishes Aratama by Mokichi Saito.
1923
Kikuchi Kan launches Bungei Shunju. Shunyodo serves as distributor due to his involvement with Shin Shosetsu.
1925
Begins publication of Original Detective Fiction Collection, including Edogawa Rampo’s "Psychological Test."
1926
Publishes Original Detective Fiction Anthology Vol. 1, featuring works by Edogawa Rampo, Fumio Kunieda, and Seishi Yokomizo.
1927
Launches the Meiji Taisho Literary Complete Works (60 volumes) as part of its 50th anniversary project.
1931
Launches the Shunyodo Bunko series. First volume: Takiguchi Nyudo by Chogyu Takayama. Later renamed Shunyo Bunko and expanded significantly.
1947
Publishes Shunyo World Library (5 volumes), including translations of Heine, Gogol, Pushkin, and Hugo.
1948
Begins publication of Collected Novels of Soseki (10 volumes), followed by Complete Novels of Natsume Soseki (7 volumes + 1 appendix).
1949
Begins publication of Contemporary Long Novels Series (17 volumes) and Contemporary Popular Literature Series (13 volumes).
1954
Begins publication of Complete Works of Edogawa Rampo (16 volumes), later issued in paperback as Edogawa Rampo Bunko.
1965
Launches the Oeuvres Complètes series featuring both Japanese authors like Natsume Soseki and Ryunosuke Akutagawa and international authors like Maupassant and Tolstoy.
1972
Begins publication of Definitive Santoka Complete Works (7 volumes).
1974
Publishes Complete Long Novels of Seishi Yokomizo (20 volumes in paperback), including The Honjin Murders.
1977
Launches the Shunyodo Youth Library series. Publishes 105 titles from Soseki’s Botchan to The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
Begins publication of Complete Historical Novels of Juichiro Yamate (82 volumes + 2 appendices), followed by Complete Short Historical Novels (12 volumes).
1986
egins expanded edition Santoka Complete Works (11 volumes).
1989
Publishes Santoka Library to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his death. Includes many photos and appeals especially to female readers.
1992
Publishes The Dandelion Book, a poetry and illustration collection by Shinmin Sakamura. Later followed by collections by Misuzu Kaneko, Torao Kojima, and Kunio Koike.
Establishes the Taneda Santoka Award to honor inspiring cultural figures and creators. First recipient: Akaji Maro (founder of Dairakudakan, dancer, and actor).
Moves headquarters to Ginza 3-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.
Hosts the Taneda Santoka Award. Second recipient: poet and novelist Hiromi Ito.
Begins publication of Complete Ningyo Sashichi Torimonocho (10 volumes), a newly edited edition based on original publications with detailed annotations.
2020
Launches members-only monthly literary web magazine Web Shin Shosetsu.
Hosts Taneda Santoka Award online for the first time. Third recipient: pianist Toshiki Usui.
Commemorates 80th anniversary of Santoka’s death with new 8-volume Revised Santoka Complete Works, with new materials and updated commentary, along with Manga Santoka, a biographical comic.
Revives Shunyo Bunko, known for postwar popular literature. First title: Sakuran by Shotaro Ikenami.
Launches Collaborative Detective Fiction Collection (8 volumes), a re-edited version of works connected to Rampo, including many first-time publications.
Hosts Taneda Santoka Award. Fifth recipient: Japanese literature scholar Robert Campbell.
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