Japanese Publisher Magazine House Announces US English Editions Of ‘Popeye’ And ‘Brutus’ Magazines
by Brendan M. Allen
Magazine House, a publishing company based in Ginza, Tokyo, is marking its 80th anniversary with a bold step toward international expansion. The company recently released English editions of its popular magazines: Popeye and Brutus.
The excitement surrounding Magazine House’s 80th anniversary also reached New York City. As part of the anniversary celebrations, a special bookazine fair was held recently at the SoHo branch of McNally Jackson Books.
Following strong sales at U.S. branches of Japanese bookstores such as Kinokuniya, the collaboration with the renowned New York independent bookseller took place over two days, October 10 and 11. A total of 12 titles, including the newly released English editions of Popeye and Brutus featuring Tokyo, as well as two additional Magazine House publications, Casa Brutus and &Premium, captivated New Yorkers.
The event offered a glimpse into the next possibilities for Magazine House as it celebrates its 80th anniversary and validated the continued popularity of Japanese culture and aesthetics for an eager global audience.
“The McNally Jackson Books owner, Sarah McNally, and I share intense enthusiasm and appreciation for culture around printed matter in Japan,” said store manager Jack Kyono, who elaborated about how the fair came together. “New York, ‘the reading capital of the country,’ is a very important city in terms of literature, magazines and culture and we can feel that same energy in Tokyo. There is the enthusiasm for ephemera, actual tangible work.”
“Japanese magazines have a sensibility, a focus on visual design. It’s like why Japanese stationery is praised around the world – the quality of the paper and printing is exceptional. Popeye is my personal favorite. The photography, art direction, and product features are all extraordinary. The Japanese edition is stocked in our shop every month and it always sells out, even though 95 percent of the people who come in and buy it from us cannot understand Japanese. I think (would be able to appreciate) very few magazines as much without the ability to read the words.”
It may have been inevitable that this fair was held at such a notable retail location. McNally Jackson has established itself as a cultural hub rooted in New York, with a strong focus on foreign literature and global culture. While many bookstores face challenges, McNally Jackson has grown to five locations in one of the world’s most multilingual, multicultural cities since its founding in 2004.
The store carries everything from highly talked about works such as Asako Yuzuki’s Butter to classics by Ryunosuke Akutagawa, contemporary writers like Mieko Kawakami, and even works by online creator Uketsu.
