Brian wrote in to tell how Tolkien was catching on in Japan since the movies opened at the beginning of March:

“Well, I think it’s safe to say that Japan is really starting to get into Tolkien.

“Here’s a summary of LOTR’s bestseller status for three of the biggest bookstores in Tokyo, as well as Amazon Japan. All bookstore lists are paperback bestsellers for last week, and Amazon Japan’s list is for Literature. The Japanese paperback LOTR has 9 volumes, each selling for JPY 700 (about US $5.30).”

Kinokuniya (Shinjuku)
(only top 10 are listed)
1. FOTR 1
2. FOTR 2
3. TTT 1
4. FOTR 3
5. TTT 2
6. FOTR 4
7. TTT 3

Sanseidou
1. FOTR 1
2. FOTR 2
3. FOTR 3
4. FOTR 4
20. ROTK 1
24. TTT 3
25. ROTK 2
30. TTT 2
44. TTT 1

Yaesu Book Center
2. LOTR (full set)

Amazon Japan
3. Hobbit 1
4. Hobbit 2
7. FOTR 1
10. FOTR 2
11. Atlas of Middle Earth (Japanese)
14. TTT 1
16. TTT 2
18. FOTR 3
19. TTT 3
20. Silmarillion 1
21. Silmarillion 2
22. ROTK 1
23. FOTR 4
24. ROTK 2

Note: The LOTR full set is number 5 on Amazon Japan’s current overall bestseller list, with Hobbit at 19 and 21. [More]