Japan’s Manga, Self-help and Novels are UK’s “Hottest Books in Translation”
The world’s largest spring book trade event has announced the return of the Market Focus programme, and Japan as the appointed country for 2027.
From the huge manga market to self-help books, runaway bestselling novels such as Butter to cosy fiction, Japanese writers continue to dominate the translated book charts in the UK. In 2025, the top seven translated authors in the UK all came from Japan, as well as 24 of the Top 50, according to data from NielsenIQ BookScan.
The London Book Fair 2027: Key dates & logistics
The London Book Fair (LBF) Market Focus, back for the first time since 2022, will see the involvement of the Japan Book Publishers Association as a key partner, with more initiatives to be announced in due course.
Taking place on 16-18 March 2027 at Excel London, the next edition of the LBF will benefit from more space to grow and expand its international offering and overall content.
LBF Director Emma Lowe announced a number of conferences will take place at Excel London, including:
- The Writers’ Summit: The popular gathering of writers who are interested in understanding more about the industry.
- IPG Training: A training session organised by the IPG.
- HP ConTEXT: A conference focusing on book production.
Expanded seminar program
LBF has also just opened submissions to its Seminar Programme:
- Main Stage
- Tech Theatre
- Author HQ
- Literary Translation Theatre
- First Timers’ Hub
- The Salon (formerly English PEN)
- Market Focus Theatre
- Audio Theatre
- Sustainability Hub
Industry perspectives
Yoshiaki Yoshino, International Affairs and Promotion Manager at Japan Book Publishers Association, said: “We are deeply honoured to be invited as the Market Focus Country, following the last market focus event in 2022. In recent years, Japanese authors have gained increasing recognition in the UK market, and building on this momentum, we are excited to introduce an even broader and more diverse range of Japanese publishing genres and storytelling, showcasing a wide variety of publishers and titles. We are very much looking forward to building new connections and strengthening relationships with colleagues from across the international publishing community.
While Japan continues to expand its global presence, we approach this opportunity with humility and a strong desire to understand, collaborate, and grow. We hope this programme will inspire the next generation of creators, editors, and readers by demonstrating that publishing is a truly creative and dynamic industry. We look forward to sharing the excitement, innovation, and diversity of Japanese publishing with everyone at The London Book Fair 2027.”
Bridget Shine, Chief Executive of the Independent Publishers Guild (IPG), said: “We’re delighted to bring our award-winning AI training to The London Book Fair in 2027. The IPG and LBF share the desire to help publishing professionals adapt to change and deepen their knowledge, so Excel is the perfect platform for this development. Our session will be the ideal way for attendees to start their Book Fair and gather the insights and practical skills they need to thrive.”
Yale Goldis, Head of Strategy at HP PageWide Industrial, added: “HP ConTEXT brings the book production community together with publishers, manufacturers, service providers, and associations to tackle real operational challenges affecting the book industry. Collaborating with The London Book Fair is a natural evolution, and I look forward to expanding its impact and continuing to grow as a hub for meaningful, global dialogue.”
Emma Lowe, LBF Director (above), said: “We’re over the moon to bring back the Market Focus Programme in 2027. What’s not to like about Japan? It’s the hottest literature in translation right now, spanning the whole range of book genres – from fiction to self-help, to best-in-class manga. It also feels like Asian culture is not limited to books: it is taking over our high streets, and we’re all the richer for it! Alongside this big news, we’re thrilled to be hosting The Writers’ Summit, plus the IPG training and HP ConTEXT, at LBF on Day 0. With this, it won’t be an understatement to say that LBF will really start on Monday.
These are only a couple of the new additions to our Seminar Programme that the new venue of Excel will allow us to offer. We’re excited to be able to deliver fresh, improved content and a more international outlook at the 2027 Fair. Stay tuned for more updates from LBF: this is only the beginning!”
About The London Book Fair
The LBF is the world’s largest spring book trade and publishing event and registration will open in November.
The LBF is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. It is a unique opportunity to explore, understand and capitalise on the innovations shaping the publishing world of the future. LBF brings you direct access to customers, content and emerging markets.
