Sunmark Publishing Rights Highlights
and NEWS Mail--January 2018 Issue

The year 2017 is coming to an end. We hope it was a great, prosperous year for all of you.

 

We at Sunmark Publishing had a wonderful year, as we’re fortunate to have bestselling books such as The “Trunk Muscle Reset Diet” That Top Models Have Kept Secret, Before the Coffee Gets Cold, and The Stanford Method for Ultimate Sound Sleep. It’s noteworthy that they’re all in different genres, both in fiction and non-fiction. We believe we’re mainly known as a publisher of non-fiction titles, such as self-help, spirituality, and business, yet we’re now trying to open up every avenue before us, and as a result, we’ve had bestsellers in fiction and children’s books, too. We hope to continue expanding our potential again next year.

Thank you for your support throughout the year, and we hope that 2018 brings you happiness and success.

 

If you have any questions or inquiries about this NEWS Mail, please contact Ms. Shino Kobayashi, Rights Manager (rights@sunmark.co.jp).

Topics of the Month

Japan’s annual bestseller rankings were announced!

The annual bestseller rankings were announced by TOHAN and NIPPAN, two major national distributers in Japan. According to their lists, three of our titles are ranked in the top 20 overall, and five titles are ranked in the top 10 by genre. The “Trunk Muscle Reset Diet” That Top Models Have Kept Secret is our bestselling book this year, now having sold up to 600,000 copies and ranking #9 overall and #1 in Health & Beauty. Before the Coffee Gets Cold was ranked #14 and Even the Stiffest People Can Do the Splits hit the #15 mark. Those last two books were published in 2016, so we’re very lucky to have books that are long-sellers as well as bestsellers. Many say the market is shrinking, but we do our best to create then promote contents that can attract our readers.

Bao Nakashima, the author of Seeing, Knowing, Thinking, visited Norway for the promotion of his book.

Bao Nakashima, the 10-year-old author of Seeing, Knowing, Thinking, visited Norway at the invitation of the Norwegian publisher after the Norwegian edition of his book was published. As an elementary school boy, he discussed and exchanged ideas with Norwegian elementary school kids, which became a very special event for both sides. He also had some media interviews, including a TV program, a newspaper, and a magazine. We thank the Norwegian publisher for planning this special event and hope this helped the promotion of the Norwegian edition of the book.

Editors of the Month

<<Kanako>>

The editor who is a big fan of GLAY, the Japanese rock band, and Alvark Tokyo, the Japanese professional basketball team. I love both playing and watching basketball!

I mainly edit business and self-help books. I’m also a member of the Rights Team and sometimes edit translated books.

Some of the books I’ve been in charge of are 51 Keys to Becoming a Leader People Want to Follow (by Matsuo Iwata),Successful Salespeople Don’t Beg! (by Akira Kagata), and Good Blood Flow Can Resolve Everything (by Akiyoshi Horie).

Outstanding Past Achievements:

51 Keys to Becoming a Leader People Want to Follow  by Matsuo Iwata

Successful Salespeople Don’t Beg! by Akira Kagata

Good Blood Flow Can Resolve Everything by Akiyoshi Horie

 

<<Umechan>>

I love baseball and Batman very much, and I watch the Major League games every day during the baseball season. (My favorite team is the Cincinnati Reds.)

I hope someday I can visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums (I’ve now been to nine stadiums). This is my dream.

I edited The Stanford Method for Ultimate Sound Sleep, A Body That Doesn’t Sag, and other books.

I don’t have to wear glasses anymore!

Outstanding Past Achievements:

 

The Stanford Method for Ultimate Sound Sleep by Seiji Nishino

A Body That Doesn’t Sag by Saki Ono

Hot Titles

The Dynamic Stretching Method

by Michiya Tanimoto

ISBN978-4-7631-3569-8 C2075

149 pages / September 2017 / 1,300 yen (w/o tax)

A new book from the author of The Slow Training Diet, which sold around 400,000 copies.

Description

Unwind your body and become surprisingly limber.

 

No more feeling sluggish, tired and unhealthy

Burn fat

Build muscle

Improve athletic performance

 

Different from standard stretching methods, this method involves large movements of the arms and legs that help to loosen your body. The biggest difference is improved blood flow. It also helps to loosen stiff muscles, eliminating fatigue.

 

The stretching method presented in this book is unique for its large movements, which help to loosen stiff muscles and make the body more limber. With a strengthened core as well, daily activities become instantly easier.

 

The method consists of aerobic exercise, muscle training and conditioning.

It helps to lose weight, become healthy, improve performance, and gain core strength.

 

This method will also work well for busy people or anyone who feels weak and out of shape. You can do it in your spare time or include the stretches in your daily activities. No matter how old you are, these stretches will make your body limber and flexible.

 

For each individual’s needs and goals, the method can be customized. Choose your favorite stretches and your preferred number of reps to achieve your ideal weight and figure.

From the table of contents

CHAPTER 1          How can this stretching method eliminate fatigue and other conditions?

CHAPTER 2          Free your body from stiffness

CHAPTER 3          These basic dynamic stretches reset your body

CHAPTER 4          These “boost” dynamic stretches burn fat

CHAPTER 5          Dynamic stretch strength that helps to build muscles

CHAPTER 6          These dynamic stretches are good for conditioning

CHAPTER 7          Foods that support a strong, energetic body.

From the editor "Hasumin"

We’ve felt the need to exercise more, especially after receiving poor health check results or playing a sport for the first time in a while. But if you lack stamina, doing any kind of exercise can be difficult.

The dynamic stretch method introduced in this book will make your body limber and ready for more activity.

 

It’s so easy that “no time” and “I’m old” are no longer valid excuses. Eighty percent of Japanese people exercise less than the recommended amount, and this book is the solution to that problem.

Author:

Michiya Tanimoto

Michiya Tanimoto was born in 1972 in Shizuoka, Japan. He is an associate professor at Kinki University’s Faculty of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology. He is also a medical member of the Japanese Olympic Committee and Japan Bodybuilding and Fitness Federation. He graduated from Osaka University majoring in Engineering and received a doctorate degree from The University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. He has authored many books including Rules After 35 to Be in the Best Shape of Your Life (Baseball Magazine), Textbook of Sports Science (Iwanami Shoten), and The Slow Training Diet (Takahashi Shoten). He has also appeared on NHK’s “Ohayo Nippon” and Fuji TV’s “Honmadekka!?TV.”

A Codebook for Deciphering the Signs and Messages of Your Fate

by Miyuki Kashii

ISBN978-4-7631-3650-3 C0030

366 pages / September 2017 / 1,600 yen (w/o tax)

If you open your heart, you can hear what the universe is trying to tell you.

Description

I see a lot of butterflies recently.

I see a lot of matching numbers recently.

I run into the same people recently.

 

These peculiar coincidences could actually be signs.

 

Those who lead a successful life don’t just write off moments like these as mere coincidences, they see them as meaningful signs. Being able to interpret the many things that happen around us as specific signs can greatly change our lives.

 

Author Miyuki Kashii is active as a fortune teller and healer. In this book, using real-life examples, she explains how to analyze seemingly benign daily occurrences that can positively affect your life.

 

Whether you use this as a reference guide to reading signs or just enjoy it as a fun read, this codebook can greatly influence your lifestyle.

From the table of contents

Signs from things you see — star shapes / passing balloons

Numerical signs — birthday numbers / matching license plate numbers

Signs from things around you — losing your hat / receiving a bag / a stopped clock

Signs from occurrences — picking up a dropped item / seeing a fire / getting lost

Signs related to money — finding money on the street / finding a 10-yen coin with a corrugated edge

Signs from home electronics — your computer runs slowly / seeing something striking on TV

Signs related to people — running into a friend / being spoken to on the train

Signs from sounds you hear — hearing a buzzer / when you hear clapping / when you hear a bird chirping

etc…

From the editor "Ryu-yan"

I have known Myu-myu (author Miyuki Kashii’s nickname) for close to 10 years. At the time we met, Miyuki had only just started her business and remembers, “I was living alone in an apartment without a bathtub.” Now, her business has expanded, turning her into a highly popular healer and astrologer.

 

I spoke with her about fate around two years ago. Although we spoke about a lot of interesting things, and I received a book proposal, no solid plans for an actual release were made at the time. I then realized that publishing something like an encyclopedia of sign reading, an all-encompassing codebook, would be a great idea. Miyuki’s strength lies in the data she’s gathered of her clients’ cases and experiences and her ability to connect the meanings of her readings with real life examples. I wanted to put all of that information together in one book.

 

We were able to make a book packed with rich and meaningful information in a short time. The book design is also special. It was designed by Manami Mizusaki, who also designed books by Shomei Yoh and I Chose My Body to Live In by Rio Inyaku (published by Sunmark). Haruko Mimura’s fine illustrations add a touch of exquisite beauty, creating an elegant final product. Let this book be your guide for encouragement and self-support.

Author:

Miyuki Kashii

Miyuki Kashii is a spiritual healer, a sign reader, and an astrologer. She has experience working in over 30 different fields, including system engineering, nursing, and as a dispatch worker. Unable to achieve a steady income with so many occupation shifts, she opened her own astrology and healing practice in 2008. She’s been meeting clients every single day since then, and her annual income increased by seven times. She has over 8,000 clients. Her private “horoscope reading interview” sessions and her “sign reading power” lectures are popular not only in Japan, but are attracting participants from overseas as well.