Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture

What Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture does

Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture (JPIC; 一般財団法人 出版文化産業振興財団) is a Tokyo-based non-profit General Incorporated Foundation founded in 1991 to promote Japanese reading and publishing culture. The organization operates a portfolio of reading promotion programs including the long-running picture book and read-aloud magazine 「この本読んで！」(Kono Hon Yonde!, published since November 2001 and scheduled to cease with issue 100 in September 2026), the JPIC Reading Advisor Training Course (now in its 32nd-33rd session), the annual nationwide Manga Essay Contest (マンガ感想文コンクール, which drew 14,270 student submissions in 2025), BOOK MEETS NEXT book fairs tied to November 1st Book Day, the Ueno Forest Parent-Child Book Festival, and the children's reading forum series. JPIC also runs cross-border publishing industry channels through TOKYO RIGHTS MEETING and JPIC INTERNATIONAL, and an e-commerce storefront (JPIC ONLINE).

JPIC's revenue model combines modest direct earned income streams with industry sponsorship. Disclosed revenue streams include magazine subscriptions at 2,640 yen for the final two issues (including tax and shipping), back-issue sales at tiered pricing (550-1,320 yen per issue), Reading Advisor Training Course fees, and online lecture course fees (3,500-4,800 yen per two-session course or 2,000 yen per individual session). The Manga Essay Contest is funded through co-sponsorship from the Japan Book Publishers Association, Japan Magazine Publishers Association, Japan Publishers Services Association, Japan Bookstore Commerce Association, the Agency for Cultural Affairs' letterpress culture body, and the Comic Publishers Association, plus prize sponsorship from 9 comic publishers (Akita Shoten, Alphapolis, KADOKAWA, Kodansha, Shueisha, Shogakukan, Square Enix, Hakusensha, Futabasha) and Celsys (CLIP STUDIO PAINT software from 2025). Distribution operates through direct subscription via the JPIC website, the JPIC ONLINE storefront at jpic-online.stores.jp, nationwide bookstore retail, and bookstore event networks coordinated via distributor Nippan, with the Sumitomo Life Insurance-supported スミセイおはなしひろば extending corporate-sponsorship channels. Customer segments span parents and families, elementary and junior high schools, kindergartens and libraries, bookstores, and publishing industry participants, with no disclosed revenue figures and headcount in the 11-50 range. Leadership is chaired by 近藤敏貴 (Kondo Toshiki) as 理事長 (Chairman) of the Executive Committee.

Name

Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture

Legal name

Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture

Website

https://jpic.or.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture (JPIC) is a Tokyo-based non-profit cultural foundation promoting Japanese reading and publishing culture through its long-running 「この本読んで！」 magazine, Reading Advisor Training Course, annual Manga Essay Contest, BOOK MEETS NEXT book fairs, and TOKYO RIGHTS MEETING international rights forum.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Publishing Culture Promotion

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Book Publishers (513130), Periodical Publishers (513120)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAJAFAH

Children’s Comics, Graphic Novels & Manga Publishing

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Publishing (Books, News, Magazines)/Children’s Publishing (Picture Books, Middle Grade, YA)

SECONDARYBPAMAJAJ

Digital Comics, Manga & Serialized Reading Platforms

Business & Public Services/Web, Mobile & Digital Platforms/Media Streaming, Publishing & Content Platforms

Keywords

• Reading promotion services
• Publishing culture foundation
• Children's literacy programs
• Book industry coordination
• Reading advisor training

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Magazine Subscriptions and Sales: Revenue from subscription fees for 「この本読んで！」magazine and individual back issue sales. Regular subscription for issues 99-100 costs 2,640 yen for 2 issues including tax and shipping.
2. Training Course Fees: Revenue from JPIC Reading Advisor training courses (JPIC読書アドバイザー養成講座) which train participants in reading promotion and publishing knowledge.
3. Online Event Fees: Fees collected for online lecture sessions and seminars. Full 2-session course costs 3,500 yen (viewing only) or 4,800 yen (with magazine). Individual sessions available for 2,000 yen each.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture (JPIC) is a non-profit General Incorporated Foundation that promotes reading culture in Japan. Its flagship offering is the long-running children's book recommendation magazine "Kono Hon Yonde!" (Kono-Hon-Yonde), supplemented by a paid JPIC Reading Advisor training course for school librarians and reading volunteers, annual reading-promotion events including the Manga Essay Contest and BOOK MEETS NEXT book fair, the international TOKYO RIGHTS MEETING, and an online store and event platform.

Product overview

Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture (JPIC) operates a portfolio of reading promotion and publishing culture programs. The core offerings include: 'この本読んで！' magazine providing picture book and reading aloud recommendations; 'BOOK MEETS NEXT' as a major book fair initiative; 'マンガ感想文コンクール' as a manga essay contest for students; and 'JPIC読書アドバイザー養成講座' as a reading advisor training course. Supporting services include JPIC ONLINE e-commerce store, JPIC INTERNATIONAL for overseas operations, and TOKYO RIGHTS MEETING for rights trading. The foundation also runs events like the Ueno Forest Parent-Child Book Festival and various forums on children's reading. These programs are supplemented by specialized projects like MINT for manga promotion and the Book Design Competition.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• この本読んで！ (Kono Hon Yonde!): A magazine dedicated to picture books and reading aloud, published by JPIC since 2001, featuring book recommendations, interviews with picture book authors, and reading programs.
• マンガ感想文コンクール (Manga Essay Contest)
• JPIC読書アドバイザー養成講座 (JPIC Reading Advisor Training Course)
• BOOK MEETS NEXT

Products and services

• Kono Hon Yonde! Magazine (この本よんで！) Children's book recommendation magazine published for parents, educators, and school librarians, featuring librarian-vetted book selections for elementary-aged readers. Available in small/junior-high school editions and back-issue volumes, distributed via subscription and bookstores.
• JPIC Reading Advisor Training Course (JPIC読書アドバイザー養成講座) Paid online and in-person training course that certifies individuals as JPIC Reading Advisors, providing standardized skills for selecting, recommending, and presenting books to children. Targeted at school librarians, reading volunteers, and educators nationwide.
• Manga Essay Contest (マンガ感想文コンクール) Annual nationwide writing contest for elementary and junior-high school students where participants submit essays about a manga they have read. Submission-based with associated awards and recognition.
• BOOK MEETS NEXT Industry-wide book fair initiative bringing together publishers, bookstores, and readers in collaborative promotions and events to drive ongoing book discovery and sales.
• TOKYO RIGHTS MEETING International rights-trading event where Japanese and overseas publishers negotiate translation, film, and other content rights. Serves publishers and rights professionals worldwide.
• JPIC ONLINE Store E-commerce storefront operated by JPIC for selling the foundation's magazines, related books, and reading-promotion merchandise to consumers.
• JPIC ONLINE Online events and webinar platform run by JPIC, hosting live and on-demand programs for educators, librarians, and reading-promotion stakeholders.
• JPIC INTERNATIONAL International division of JPIC that coordinates overseas activities, partnerships, and content rights initiatives for Japanese publishers and reading-culture promotion abroad.
• Ueno Forest Parent-Child Book Festival (上野の森親子ブックフェスタ) Ticketed outdoor book festival in Ueno Onshi Park, Tokyo, featuring publishers and bookstores and offering book sales and reading-promotion experiences for parents and children.
• Children's Reading Future Forum (子どもの読書みらいフォーラム) Forum event for educators, librarians, families, and policymakers to discuss children's reading challenges and policy, with paid registration.
• Book Design Competition (造本装幀コンクール) Annual industry awards competition recognizing excellence in Japanese bookbinding, cover design, and overall book production quality, with paid entry submissions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,270 essays submitted to Manga Essay Contest 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• 大垣書店 (Ogaki Shoten)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOgaki Shoten serves as the managing organizer (幹事社) for special events such as the book launch talk event featuring Princess Akiko of Kunio with author Naoko Nameku. This is a co-organizational partnership for specific events.
• 日本書籍出版協会 (Japan Book Publishers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor (共催) of the Manga Essay Contest, providing organizational support for one of JPIC's flagship reading promotion programs targeting students nationwide.
• 日本雑誌協会 (Japan Magazine Publishers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Manga Essay Contest, supporting nationwide reading promotion among youth through the annual contest.
• 日本出版取次協会 (Japan Publishers Services Association)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-sponsor of the Manga Essay Contest, providing distribution and logistics support for the contest operations.
• 日本書店商業組合連合会 (Japan Bookstore Commerce Association)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCo-sponsor of the Manga Essay Contest, coordinating bookstore participation in reading promotion activities.
• 文字・活字文化推進機構 (Japan Culture Agency for Letterpress)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the Manga Essay Contest, supporting literary and reading culture initiatives in Japan.
• コミック出版社の会 (Comic Publishers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner (協力) for the Manga Essay Contest, providing comic publishing industry support and prizes.
• 9 Comic Publishers (秋田書店, アルファポリス, KADOKAWA, 講談社, 集英社, 小学館, スクウェア・エニックス, 白泉社, 双葉社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrize sponsors (協賛) for the Manga Essay Contest, providing prize funds and book gift certificates to winning students. Listed in alphabetical order.
• 株式会社セルシス (Celsys)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrize sponsor providing CLIP STUDIO PAINT digital painting software as additional prizes to contest winners starting from 2025.
• 日本图书普及株式会社 (Nippon Book Supply)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorContest supporter providing operational assistance for the Manga Essay Contest activities.
• 国立国会図書館国際子ども図書館 (National Diet Library International Library of Children's Literature)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-host of the 上野の森親子ブックフェスタ (Ueno Forest Parent-Child Book Festival), providing venue and institutional support for children's reading events.
• 日本児童文学者協会 (Japan Children's Literature Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPIC works with this association on children's reading promotion through various forums and events.
• 日本出版販売株式会社 (Nippan)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHOST company for BOOK MEETS NEXT 'Book Cover Award' secretariat. Manages bookstore recruitment and coordination for the book cover design initiative.
• 紀伊國屋書店 (Kinokuniya)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOperating committee chairman for BOOK MEETS NEXT 2025, providing leadership for the reading promotion initiative.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Literacy Trust (UK): UK-based independent charity working to improve literacy skills across all ages, with strong overlap to JPIC's reading promotion and literacy training programs. Comparable in running nationwide campaigns, training educators, and partnering with publishers and booksellers.
• Reading Is Fundamental (RIF): US-based non-profit focused on children's literacy and reading motivation, distributing books and running reading programs for underserved youth. Highly comparable to JPIC's mission of connecting children with quality literature and providing curated reading recommendations.
• BookTrust (UK): UK charity that has historically distributed free books to children and runs reading promotion programs for families and schools. Directly comparable to JPIC in mission (children's reading promotion) and operating model (foundation with publisher partnerships, training for reading champions, nationwide programs).
• Japan Culture Agency for Letterpress (文字・活字文化推進機構): A core co-sponsor of JPIC's Manga Essay Contest with a near-identical mandate of advancing print and reading culture in Japan. Both organizations promote literacy initiatives, coordinate with publishers and bookstores, and run events tied to 'Book Day' (November 1st), making them the closest mission-aligned peer.
• Japan Book Publishers Association (日本書籍出版協会): Industry trade association that co-sponsors JPIC's Manga Essay Contest. It is a natural peer as both organizations sit at the intersection of publisher interests and reading promotion, with JBPA representing the commercial publishing side and JPIC representing the cultural/educational promotion side.
• Children's Book Council (CBC): US non-profit trade association of children's book publishers and creators that promotes reading and literacy through annual events like Children's Book Week. Comparable to JPIC as an industry-coordinating body for children's book promotion with formal publisher partnerships.

Broad incumbents

• International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY): International non-profit dedicated to promoting children's literature globally, with national sections in 70+ countries including Japan (JBBY). Operates the Hans Christian Andersen Award and IBBY-Asahi Reading Promotion Project, giving it significant overlap with JPIC's mandate in children's literacy promotion and international children's book rights.
• Japan Foundation: Japan's principal governmental institution for international cultural exchange. Comparable to JPIC as a publicly-oriented cultural foundation promoting Japanese content abroad, with potential overlap through JPIC INTERNATIONAL and TOKYO RIGHTS MEETING activities.
• National Diet Library International Library of Children's Literature: Government-operated children's library in Tokyo that co-hosts JPIC's Ueno Forest Parent-Child Book Festival and shares JPIC's mission of promoting children's reading and literacy. It is a larger, publicly-funded institution with overlapping programs including exhibitions, story-time events, and research into children's literature.

Regional players

• Korea Publication Industry Promotion Agency (KPIPA): South Korean government-affiliated agency promoting the publishing industry and reading culture domestically and internationally, with parallels to JPIC's mandate of supporting the publishing sector and facilitating international rights trading (TOKYO RIGHTS MEETING). Comparable as a regional cultural foundation counterpart.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jpic_web
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/japan-publishing-industry-foundation-for-culture-jpic

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture