(This article is based on an original story written by Tadashi Miyazaki and translated by David Tharp.)

The Sasakawa Japan-China Friendship Foundation announced the publication in China of 8 books about Japan, the first installment of 100 planned publications that will introduce contemporary Japan to the Chinese people. The official announcement about this project took place in both Beijing and Nanjing on the 9th and 10th of August.

Seven major publishers in China will be involved in the joint publication of the series. The 100 books were selected by a panel of Chinese and Japanese experts. The project is expected to take 5 years, with the goal of publishing 20 books every year.

The Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa announces 100 book project in Beijing

Among the first eight books that were presented at the announcement ceremonies in Beijing and Nanjing were: 1) The History of Japanese Culture by Masahide Bito, 50 Years of Post-War Manga by Takeshi Takeuchi, and Mt Fuji and The Japanese, edited by Seikyusha Publishers.

Five of the books, including The History of Japanese Culture, were published by Nanjing University Publishing, and the other three by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The books are targeted at university-educated intellectuals, and it is planned to publish five thousand copies of each book for distribution around China.

The first 5 volumes of the 100 books series published by Nanjing University

Publication announcements and celebrations were held at both Nanjing University and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, and were attended by representatives of the publishers, Chinese and Japanese researchers, translators, and university students.

At the book-launching in Beijing, Chairman Sasakawa mentioned that during the past 10 years The Nippon Foundation and related organizations have donated 2,370,000 books to 28 universities in China to promote cross-border historical awareness and friendly relations between Japan and China.

Sasakawa told the audience that the Japanese must make the effort to spread knowledge about contemporary Japan, and expressed gratitude to the organizations and people who have cooperated in this endeavor. At the Nanjing announcement ceremony, he said, “first we must understand where Japan and China are different,” and he emphasized the need to make efforts to understand these differences.

Commemorative photo taken at Nanjing University

During the ceremonies several Chinese participants expressed their positive attitude and views about China-Japan relations. One person said that compared to European and American relationships, China has much more in common with Japan.

The 5 person book selection committee on the Japanese side is led by Tokyo University Professor Akio Takahara, and on the Chinese side are 5 persons led by Professor Wang Zhong Chen of Tsinghua University.

Attending the ceremonies was Kaoru Takumasu, Consul of the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai

Members of the selection committees on the Japanese and Chinese sides have strong academic backgrounds and will work together to understand the differences in general attitudes at the human level in China towards Japan.

This will help to find ways to make adjustments in the selection of books and better promote mutual understanding, it is felt. At present the vast majority of publications about Japan in China are novels and manga.