In the past few months, a seemingly obscure Japanese historical novel has risen to the top of best-seller lists on the mainland, riding a wave of new interest in Japanese titles.
Some attribute the appeal among Chinese readers to improved Sino-Japanese relations in the wake of President Hu Jintao's recent trip to Tokyo. Others say readers hope to move beyond hard feelings the better to understand their powerful neighbour as the two nations step up economic links and cultural exchanges.
At first glance, Tokugawa Ieyasu hardly seems a likely candidate for spurring strong interest among mainland readers. The 13-volume set is about a Japanese historical figure's decades-long struggle to become the founder of the Tokugawa regime. The serialised tale about the period from 1603 to 1867 took author Yamaoka Sohachi 18 years to write and its esoteric subject matter has little to do with China.
When Nanhai Publishing House put out the first two volumes late last year, however, the novel quickly climbed to the top 10 of various best-seller lists, including those of joyo.com and dangdang.com, two of the biggest online booksellers on the mainland. With eight volumes published, various parts of the publication often occupy several spots on the same lists.
Recently, at the Wangfujing Bookstore, one of Beijing's largest, Tokugawa was prominently featured as a book to watch out for: in one corner five shelves held 250 copies.
'I've just finished reading volumes one and two and I'm back for more,' says Zhang Liang, 21, a student at Beijing Normal University, as he heads for the cashier with two more instalments.