Welcome to the adventure of making a book.
With Solaris, your publishing journey begins.

For Authors – Shall we publish your book?

Taiyo Shobo has launched a crowdfunding-based publishing programme, which we call “Solaris.” In essence, crowdfunding gathers financial support from readers who wish to see a particular book brought into existence. Their contributions are used to cover publication costs. There is no participation fee for the author, and the period for seeking support is 60 days.

Within this framework, we offer two distinct models. You may choose the one that best matches the way you wish to proceed with your book.

1. All-or-Nothing model (Standard service)

This is the most common and, for many authors, the most comfortable model. Under this arrangement, publication is confirmed once either of the following goals is reached:

• 100 supporters are obtained, or
• 1,000,000 yen in support is collected.

If at least one of these conditions is met, the book is scheduled for publication, and supporters receive their returns (the book and any additional items) when the book is completed.

If, however, neither goal is reached within the 60-day period, the project does not proceed. The support funds are returned to the supporters, and no publication obligation arises. This may seem severe, but it has the virtue of clarity: a book is published only when there is demonstrable interest.

2. All-in model (Optional)

Authors who publish using Taiyo’s system “tps” may choose this model. Here, when the 60-day period ends, the funds collected are used directly as part of the publication costs, regardless of whether a particular numerical target has been reached. The project moves forward toward publication in any case.

Supporters receive their returns in step with the book’s release. In this model, the author assumes more responsibility, but also gains more certainty that the book will, in fact, appear in the world.

Eligible genres

In principle, we accept all genres. Academic works, poetry, novels, manga, essays, tanka, haiku, and many other forms are welcome. At present, however, photo books and art books are excluded, as their production requirements differ substantially from ordinary volumes.

Book format

Books are produced as paperbacks (softcover). This choice keeps costs reasonable while allowing for a durable and attractive physical object.

Manuscript length

There is no fixed length requirement. Long manuscripts and short ones alike may be considered. What matters is not the number of pages, but whether the content justifies its existence.

Sales and distribution

Each published book is assigned an ISBN (International Standard Book Number). This enables sales not only through Taiyo Shobo, but also via Amazon, Yahoo! Shopping, participating bookstores throughout Japan (those handling direct transactions), and university co-operatives.

Furthermore, books published with Taiyo do not go “out of print” in the usual sense. There is no planned discontinuation. Your book remains available to readers over the long term, which is, after all, the chief reason for publishing it.

Royalties

Royalties are paid annually, in proportion to the book’s sales. The arrangement is simple: when the book is bought, you are paid. This is not a romantic principle, but it is a just one.

Proposal Submission Form