Ever since I wrote my book I have received a fair bit of communication with people asking how I did it, how I pulled it together, and why I decided to go alone in this publishing venture. The story has its own sordid points and trials and tribulations, but suffice to say, writing this book and then publishing it have been sources of extreme satisfaction for me personally, and I have found the entire process to be quite broadening and fascinating.

You see, I went to school to study and train to be an academic. I thought that I would probably spend the rest of my days as a school teacher or university instructor of some sort. In short, I kind of left the business end of things in terms of writing and publishing up to the “establishment”, by which I mean, the general public and publishing professionals who, no doubt, knew far more about quality and material worthy of publication far more than someone like me would know.

But as I went along working to get my book to publication I realized that publishers and literary agents really have no idea what is publication-worthy and what isn't. Most of the time they don't even read the material that gets sent to them. For literary agents, their schedules are jammed with scanning the next batch of possible marketable materials, schmoozing on the phone, and having lunch with publishing houses they try to sell materials to. What constitutes as good writing, or important material, is not always the focus of their work. They want “sparkle”. They want “panache”. They want something that is going to make them money.

Although I would like to piously take the “high road” and cluck my tongue at the publishing industry, I understand what they are doing, and I appreciate the fact the publishers need to make money in order to continue doing what they do. Many people in the publishing business have gotten involved in the process because they usually have a love of books, and a passion for writing. But at times the pursuit of business blurs their vision, and I can see where they get swept away in the midst of it all.

One element of the business side of publication that caught me off guard is just how much disrespect and disregard is given to the author. “Remember him? You know, the guy that actually wrote the book you are trying to sell?” I was surprised to learn that it is the author, the guy whose name and reputation are on the cover of the book, who gets paid last, and gets paid least. I found the fact that my literary agent was trying to get me to sign away the rights to my own writing and then get paid last for my best efforts intolerable.

There has got to be a better way. In fact, there is, and this is precisely why I have decided to go it alone in publication. I have established my own imprint called USAGI PRESS JAPAN, and it is established here in Japan and I run this imprint from my office and a couple laptop computers. What Usagi Press Japan is all about is working with authors who have Japan related or karate related texts who wish to have their books reach a broader audience. But Usagi Press is not a one-man show. There are other professionals in the areas of page design, printing, and book distribution who I am working with to produce and promote texts. Although I will always be the head honcho, publication requires a lot of solid networks and good relations to bring about maximum effect.

Authorial rights are of ultimate importance to the work we are doing with Usagi Press. We do not own the rights to any book an author writes. The author retains full rights to their own work at all times. Authors are also to be paid the lion's share of profit, which in our estimation is what is best and most correct. They do not get paid last, and they do not necessarily share royalties unless we provide some kind of service and agreeable terms are reached by all concerned. We negotiate and discuss everything. But there are some catches.

Here is the first catch. The book has to be good. Usagi Press will not help develop or promote or permit the use of its imprint to books which are shoddy, ill-conceived, reeking of propaganda, poorly written, amateur, or just plain weird. We hope to keep our focus on Japan and on the martial arts. At this point there is no plan to stray from this niche in any way. So, we will not be producing any books of poems about cats. We also do not expect to produce many titles, but the ones that we do will be quality material, and what we anticipate necessary texts for serious researchers and inquisitive martial artists. We are small, but absolutely determined to surpass much of what passes for supposedly good and informed writing in this niche.

Whatever has the Usagi Press imprint on it will be a text of excellence. Nothing else will be acceptable.

If you are an author and have a book that you think would match the tenor and tone of what you have found on this website, or in its current publication, please contact us through this site. If your proposal meets an initial enthusiastic response you may be asked to submit your materials for further review and examination. There is certainly no guarantee of acceptance, and materials cannot be returned to you by post. We hope that you can understand these conditions and we look forward to your inquiries. And we hope to treat all inquiries with respect and goodwill, so even if your book is in its initial stages, that is just fine too. Let's talk.

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