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OCTOBER 1, 2004 at 10:02 PM
Posted by GERI
Source: Daily Yomiuri via Wizard News
It has been over one month since the Japanese translation of Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix hit book shelves in Japan with a record 2.9 million print run, but many bookstores are now reporting
that sales have been lower than expected. "We're stumped to know why it hasn't sold as well as we expected," said one official of a major bookstore chain.
According to the Research Institute for Publications, sales have done poorly when compared with previous books and have disappointed booksellers and the publishing industry.
An employee from a large bookstore chain said:
"The sales were worse than expected, probably because some Harry Potter fans have lost interest in the series as it has been almost two years since the previous volume was released. We've started considering securing storage space for the unsold novels."
If current sales continue many bookstores may have no choice but to return other published works they had bought to balance their accounts because they can only return 5 percent of unsold Harry Potter books back to the publishers.
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Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1881
DarkPhoenixRising says:
They lost interest after 2 years????? Thats crazy...
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:04 PM EST
Smartest Gryffindor Witch
(Moderator)
Points: 6100
HermioneJGranger says:
Wow, that's kind of shocking. I do agree with the article about perhaps the Japanese are getting tired of waiting for the 6th book. Maybe Rowling will read that article. I don't want to stress her out. I believe she should take the time she wants. With a baby, this might upset her.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:06 PM EST
St. Mungo's Mental Patient
Points: 41834
Phil_ says:
Well there are only so many people who will buy the book,and so sales will drop quickly, and Japan doesn't have billions of people...
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:08 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2624
ravenmadluna says:
Wow thats nuts, how can they loose interest in Harry Potter?! They must not be true fans! Oooor ... they all learned how to speak to read english bc it was faster than waiting 2 years for the next book! hah
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:09 PM EST
The Warrior Sorceress
Points: 3333
Devilish Katlyn says:
That's pretty sad. I know I'd wait as long as it takes to get the next installment. It wouldn't matter if it was 2 years or 5 years.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:09 PM EST
Witch
Points: 657
siriusluv says:
Weird! Maybe they will discover a simple explanation. Like maybe everyone is waiting to buy it for a holiday or something.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:13 PM EST
Mad Cow Breeder
Points: 8481
Lord Of The Cows says:
Well, I dont know, I mean, it might not be as good translated, but anyway, its stil good, anyway, hope it sells better
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:13 PM EST
Muggle
Points: 12
tom_has_a_nose says:
wow. but yeah, what Chief Warlock and st mungos terminal patient said, once most people have the book, the sales will drop. theyre not gonna keep selling at the same rate for too long.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:13 PM EST
Student
Points: 217
Dreyven says:
Shame that it hasnt really picked up, but I think it might just be a slow season. Wait until Christmas hits, and every single book will be off the shelf. Have to say though, I'm surpirsed not every book is sold already.
D
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:16 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2042
Catz says:
I can understand it. It took over 1 year for it to come out in Japan. I'm sure that many Japanese people can speak English already, so many of the die hard fans have already gotten through it. Sorry, but I doubt the sales will ick bck up.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:18 PM EST
Head Girl
Points: 408
miss potter says:
Ah that must be bad if they have copied 2.9million books! maybe people dun't want to read it anymore or something!!! shame thats sad!!!
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:19 PM EST
Wizard
Points: 529
Dementors Shadow says:
Hmm...well thats not good. oh well at least spirits are high here!
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:20 PM EST
Hogwarts Psychologist
Points: 4236
Patronus Wiz says:
That's interesting. I am trying to figure it out. I wonder if it really has to do with a loss of interest? I mean, even if I have to wait 2 years or more, I'd still be interested.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:27 PM EST
Student
Points: 253
greeneyes says:
That's so unbelievable! I know people in Japan that were really excited to get the book, but I guess some people are just unenthusiastic...owell, they're missing out!
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:30 PM EST
Unspeakable
Points: 3920
stocco says:
Oh wow. I guess that's true though. I walk by the same bookstore all the time here in Japan. And the giant stack of Harry Potter books doesn't change. Weird.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:32 PM EST
Witch
Points: 548
tinkerbel says:
I agree with alot of what you are all saying, I really do think that alot of the Japanese fans have purchased the english versions of the book. I work during the summer in the JFK airport and many Japanese do speak and understand english, and I am sure that many of them would rather try to read it in english a year or so before they were able to get in japanese. I think it is ashame that they had to wait so long before it came out in japanese.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:36 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 1st Class
Points: 1908
Opera Ghost says:
These are all good points people are making, like they already read it in English, or they are waiting to get it for the holiday season...also, if students are swamped with homework, the last thing they want to see right now is another book, especially a long one. At least my kids don't! But I can't believe they have lost interest, I thought they were big Harry Potter fans in Japan, that would be hard to believe that interest would go away overnight. Unless there has been some other big phenomenon to capture their interest, but I don't know what that would be, besides the other publication mentioned in the story that has been selling so well. Hard to believe people wouldn't buy one book because they chose another book instead, why not get both? I would. Maybe they will sell better when the 5th film comes out, but that's a long time for booksellers to store the books. And it sounds like they can't return them, either... I feel sorry for those booksellers.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:36 PM EST
Prefect
Points: 389
Her-my-o-ninny says:
How could someone lose interest after 2 years? I certainly didn't!! All those poor and confused soles in Japan...HP5 should be hopping off of the shelves! I hope they all re-gain their interest! Unused copies...honestly!
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:37 PM EST
Witch
Points: 722
lotusblossom75 says:
What is wrong with the Japanese? Losing intrest? I just don't get it.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:39 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1194
Godric11 says:
If i remember right, wasn't there some sort of ban, Or was that China?...Anyway,I doubt this as a lack of interest from HP fans. Purhaps people already knew to much about the story being that it was released so late. I don't know...But HP has always sold like hot-cakes (not that anyone buys hot cakes?) anyway, HP is not losing fans, maybe just the tolerance to find out it's greatness...
Or not.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 10:58 PM EST
Student
Points: 212
TomFeltonsLady005 says:
Wow that's really shocking. I thought they were going to sell well in other countrys.
In my opinion I think the books get better and better by each one.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 11:05 PM EST
Seer
Points: 15207
Brittany Radcliffe says:
Hmmmm i wonder whats up over there in Japan and why the HP books arent doing so well o_O
im sure everyone over there loves HP as much as any other country but *shrugs* THEY NEED TO BUY THE BOOKS haha.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 11:07 PM EST
Witch
Points: 908
siriusly_in_denial says:
well that shows that Japan is stupid and more harry potter for us :) how can it lose interest after that long!!!
HE DIDNT DIE!!!
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 11:09 PM EST
Points: 15101
xeon says:
Well, that, and the fact that its been a year since it came out in English, and were lots of illegal copies of it floating around online and all.
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 11:14 PM EST
Professor
Points: 1122
Immortal Vegemite says:
*pfffftt!* Lost interest? I think not!!
I reckon that the Japanese have already bought the english books from other countries, and all tried to learn english just so they can read the books before they are translated.. it makes perfect sense!!
I would wait 10 years to get my hands on the next books.... 2 years is nothing!!
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 11:19 PM EST
Squib
Points: 185
Matchbox20 says:
OH MY GOD!! How can anyone lose intrest in harry potter! it rocks! Buy those books! its only been like 1 year thats not as long as the wait for Goblet of Fire! HARRY POTTER ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!! (GOD IM SUCH A LOSER) WOAHHHHH GO HARRY POTTER GO HARRY POTTER HEHEH!
Posted Oct 1, 2004 at 11:20 PM EST
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