In the book "Low IQ Society" by this scholar Kenichi Ohmae, there is such a sentence: The average Chinese person reads less than 15 minutes a day, and the per capita reading volume is only a few tenths of this, which is a typical "low IQ society", and there is no hope of becoming a developed country in the future.

This sentence is estimated to make many people in many countries extremely uncomfortable.

Leaving aside the fact that reading alone is a reliable measure of a country's degree of development, those who have read this book will find that Kenichi Ohmae's view shows that around 2010, Ben also entered a "low-IQ society".

An important reason for Kenichi Ohmae's feeling that "one generation is not as good as the next" is the decline in the number of people reading.

In 2010, the average annual reading volume of this adult was about 20 books, ranking first in Asia, five times that of China, and twice that of South Korea. It looks good, but it's nearly half the number compared to more than a decade ago.

As of 1997, my average annual reading volume is close to 40 books, second only to Israel, Russia, Germany and a few other countries.

However, it was also in 1997 that the publishing industry experienced negative growth for the first time since World War II, and the total sales of publications for the year fell by 0.7% compared to the previous year.

In the first half of 1998, the decline was even more pronounced, with a decrease of 2.7 percent over the same period last year, especially in June this year, when the return rate of summer books was as high as 5 percent.

This is a big deal for the publishing world.

In fact, as early as March, the Fair Trade Commission issued a "Solution for the Publication Pricing System", in which distributors are allowed to adopt pricing methods such as limited-time special prices and discounted pricing according to the situation, in addition to the unified pricing system for publications, in the hope of activating the book market in this way. However, the performance of the book market in the first half of the year proved that this initiative did not make much difference.

In July, the "Association for the Promotion of Reading Activities" was formed, with publishers as the center, and it was hoped that they would unite to discuss countermeasures.

The publishing house was struggling to survive, and the bookstore was not idle, so Lin Hai was invited to Kinokuniya to discuss the release of the new book.

Kinokuniya Shoten is the largest bookstore chain, with more than 50 branches in Japan and many overseas stores.

Kinokuniya has two stores in Shinjuku, one is the South Exit store, which opened in 1996, and the other is the main store in Sanchome, Shinjuku, which is also called the East Exit store because of its proximity to the East Exit of Shinjuku Station.

Originally built in 1927 as a two-story wooden building, the shop was destroyed in 1945 and was built in the 60s by Kunio Maekawa, a leading figure in modern architecture, to create a large building with nine floors above ground and two floors underground.

The above two stores have a total collection of more than 2 million books, which dominates the number of books in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and claims that there are no books that cannot be bought.

The Kinokuniya Main Store is undoubtedly a great place for book lovers, and it is a great honor for a new writer to be invited to discuss the release of a book.

village

I didn't have this treatment when I went to the tree.

Speaking of which, when Murakami was in college, he worked at a nearby restaurant, and in "Norwegian Wood" and "1Q84", it was specifically mentioned that the protagonist often went to Kinokuniya.

……

Rika Nomi drove Rinkai to Kinokuniya.

Why not take the metro?

Just kidding, with Lin Hai's current degree, if he dares to appear in public casually, I'm afraid that a layer of skin will be rubbed off his palms.

According to a survey conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun on the streets of Tokyo, Lin Hai is currently at the top of the list of "artists that the public most wants to meet". Most of the interviewees said that Lin Haihai was "protected by the gods" and that shaking hands with him would bring good luck.

Yes, you heard it right, I'm so superstitious.

Or is curiosity too strong?

Even Shintaro Ishihara, who later served as the governor of Tokyo, organized an expedition to find the Loch Ness Monster when he was young, and it seems not surprising that ordinary people regard Lin Hai as a mascot?

All in all, in order not to attract attention, both men made a careful disguise.

However, before he could enter the door, Lin Hai was recognized.

It was a young woman in professional attire who recognized him, and she took the initiative to greet him and saluted: "Lin Jun, thank you for your visit, please come with me." ”

It looks like the reception staff arranged by the bookstore.

Following the other party into the employee-specific elevator, Lin Hai couldn't help but ask, "How did you recognize me?"

Not only did he wear sunglasses, but he also had a fake beard, and he was recognized, which hurt Lin Hai, who thought he was full of cross-dressing ability.

The woman chuckled softly, "I recognized it by your material. ”

That's amazing.

Lin Hai's material is of course very good, but passers-by who are similar to him grab a lot of handfuls and confirm a person based on his material alone, this look is really good.

After a brief chat, the woman's name is Tomoko Hayara, and she is in charge of visitor reception and other work at Kinokuniya. It's about to see a lot of celebrities, Zhizi talks very decently, and although he looks at Lin Hai with curiosity, he doesn't have embarrassing behavior.

Tomoko led Lin Hai to a reception room.

When you walk into the reception room, the first thing that catches your eye is two stacks of books that are half a meter high neatly stacked on the desk.

"Welcome to visit!"

A man who looked to be around fifty years old greeted him with a smile on his face, and Lin Hai noticed that he was holding a book in his hand. Like the book on the table, it is the upcoming release of "Meteor Trip".

"This director of Takai is mainly responsible for the promotion of the new book. ”

"Hello, nice to meet you. ”

Lin Hai saluted the other party.

Gao Jing returned the salute and invited Lin Hai to sit down.

Tomoko poured tea for everyone, and then sat next to him at Takai's suggestion.

Lin Hai noticed that she was pouring herself white water - this was not rude, on the contrary, it proved that she was very well prepared.

After a few people sat down, Gao Jing praised Lin Hai very numbly, and then chatted with Lin Hai about the content.

I can tell that Takai is really young

I've read this book carefully, and I didn't just hold it in my hand and pretend to be it.

"It's amazing, you make me believe that there are geniuses in this world...... If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have found it hard to imagine that you were only sixteen years old now......"

In the face of Gao Jing's praise, Lin Hai smiled: "This book was not written by me, but by the characters in the story themselves. ”

"That's a good saying!"

Takai praised it, turned his head and said to Tomoko: "Write down this sentence, and the propaganda slogan will use this!"

After speaking, he turned to Lin Hai and said, "When I got the book the day before yesterday, I began to worry about the slogan, but you helped me solve a problem......

When it came to the topic of promoting the new book, Takai became serious, and he introduced the bookstore's arrangements for the book to Lin Hai in detail.

Lin Hai was surprised when he heard this.

The bookstore's decision to put new books in the spotlight and create brochures and banners is already quite surprising. What is even more surprising is that the bookstore has also contacted some influential media and literary critics to comment and build momentum.

This kind of treatment, not to mention new writers, is not a luxury for writers who have already become famous.

The most important thing is that the cost of publicity is borne by the bookstore.

As for the reason, Takai bluntly said that he valued Lin Hai's popularity.

I have to say that Lin Hai caught up with the good times.

In the early years, when the book market was still heating up, bookstores would not take a new writer seriously, and in the later years, everyone accepted the reality that every year was not as good as the year, and they did not have the courage to die anymore.

Of course, Lin Hai's topicality is also the reason why bookstores value him.

……

"Does Lin Jun have any new writing plans?"

Takai looked at Lin Hai expectantly.

"Well, not yet. ”

Lin Hai felt very speechless.

In fact, I didn't know that Takai asked like this, and Futaba also called him and asked similar questions.

How to say it. Lin Hai understands their mentality, and they want to save the market with a best-selling book, which is a drop in the bucket for the entire market, and the fundamental purpose is to create a thriving scene.

However, understanding is understanding, this kind of thing is not blown by the wind, even if Lin Hai has inventory in his head, if it is to be converted into words, it cannot be done overnight.

Gao Jing was not surprised by Lin Hai's answer, and then said with confusion: "Does Lin Jun have any plans to publish a photo album?"

"Huh?"

"You are an artist, and your image is good, if you publish a photo album, the sales will definitely not be bad...... On top of that, the photobook was made in a short time. ”

Takai Balabala said a lot, and the last sentence is the key.

Perhaps this was the fundamental purpose of his meeting with Lin Hai.

……

Takai's suggestion was abrupt, but Lin Hai thought about it carefully and found that it was indeed a good suggestion.

Not to mention anything else, it is an indisputable fact that Lin Hai is short of money in hand, and the price of a photo book is much higher than that of a photobook.

After all, it's full-color printing.

One thought

At this point, Lin Hai did not pretend to be a gesture, but gave an affirmative reply.

Takai was very happy and said, "Kinokuniya also has its own publishing department, so if you are willing to leave it to us to produce, we will show the greatest sincerity in terms of royalties......"

When it came to this, Lin Hai had no choice but to nod.

……

Back at the office, Lin Hai and Akimi Oshima talked about the photo album.

"Wouldn't it be better for you to make up your own mind about this kind of thing?"

"Didn't you say that your biggest dream was to be a fashion designer, and now the opportunity has come. ”

Lin Hai said: "We have money now, I can help you set up your own studio, but I can see that the police department has left, except for you, I really can't trust others, so I can only wronged you to be an agent for me for a while......"

Before Lin Hai finished speaking, he suffered a brain breakdown.

Oshima Xiaomei said angrily: "You can't wait to drive me away?"

Lin Hai hurriedly explained: "I didn't mean that......"

"I appreciate your kindness. ”

Akimi Oshima said with a straight face: "I've just become familiar with the agent job, but I don't want to give up halfway." As for the costumes, I'll give it a try, but don't get your hopes up ......"

After she finished speaking, she left the president's office under the pretext that Inoue Yoshihisa had something to do with her.

When she went out, Akimi Oshima pressed her hand to her mouth and felt her heart beat hard.

"I can't trust anyone but you......"

Oshima Xiaomei whispered Lin Hai's words, and her stiff face suddenly bloomed like a flower.