Stocks in Japan’s pop culture-related companies soared again Monday based on speculation that avowed otaku Taro Aso could become prime minister after the surprise resignation of Yasuo Fukuda.
If you’ll recall, the same thing happened last September when Aso was considered a contender for the same position.
This time around, shares of manga publisher Broccoli International jumped by 45 percent before lunch, while those of bookstore chain Mandarake climbed 17 percent.
Aso, who’s now chief cabinet secretary, established the International Manga Award — “the Nobel Prize of manga” — while he was foreign minister.
Related: Hong Kong cartoonist Lau Wan Kit wins the second annual International Manga Award
September 2nd, 2008 at 9:56 am
You know what really went up in price? DC Heroes RPG materials relating to The Watchmen.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 am
I just learned that the Prime Minister of Japan, one of the world’s economic powers and a key ally to the US, resigned by reading it on this blog. You’d think that would be news someplace else. Like, say, the New York Times?
September 2nd, 2008 at 2:51 pm
The Diet will immediately be moved to Akibahara, all government papers will be printed in phonebook-sized tomes and then reprinted later in small pocket-sized editions, and Densha Otoko will be names transit minister.
I can only imagine what new and exciting directions Japan’s military defense will go. And the new uniform for pages in governmental buildings…well, the mind boggles.
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:08 am
Vinnie: HA! Great stuff there. I suppose the fact that I understood all of that confirms that I’m otaku as well.