The Frankfurt Book Fair had its 57th exhibition this year (2005), and we have been an exhibitor there for 51 consecutive years, since the 7th exhibition of 1955. Recently, as comic works and fashion from Japan are gaining more fans, a greater number of people all around the world are interested in the nation. During this year's exhibition, visitors from many different countries showed their interest in our English publications.

We publish, both on our own and in collaboration with some major domestic publishers, English publications to communicate many aspects of Japan's culture. Such aspects include "origami" paper folding art, Japanese cooking, bead accessories, which are a recent trend in Japan, and other handicrafts, comics, and many more. And those English publications we display at our own booth at the Book Fair. By now, we have published more than 150 English books to the world and are making twelve to thirteen titles of new publications each year in the middle of this ever-diversifying world. One thing we have to hold firm in our mind is that we are not publishing "books on Japan" any more. Instead, we are making and selling "books from Japan," i.e., we are spreading information that only the Japanese can do. With this conviction in our mind, we are determined to make more English publications in the years to come, as a pioneer in spreading the nation's culture. Those efforts of ours should help Japan develop its culture further, we believe.

■Categories of publications we exhibited at Frankfurt Book Fair 2005

Japanese Traditional	Japanese Garden, Ikebana, Flower Arrangement, etc
Origami	Books on origami, written for many ranging from  beginners through advanced artists
Cooking	Asian cooking books, mainly introducing sushi  and other Japanese cuisines to the readers
Manga	How To Draw Manga, Manga Techniques, Super Character Design & Poses
New Title	Our new titles to be published in fall to winter of  2005 and spring to summer of 2006
Beads	All our books on beads
Language	Many different books to help students learn  Japanese
Craft&Embroidery （Japanese Books）	Books written in Japanese from Ondori-sha,  Nihon  Vogue-sha, and Boutique-sha
Craft&Embroidery （English Books)	Books written in English from Ondori-sha and  Nihon Vogue-sha