Happa-no-kofu is a web publisher which distributes translated and original works in both Japanese and English. Our members are working on this project on a volunteer basis.

The project started in October 1999 with the advice and encouragement of Marek Lugowski, the president and editor of A Small Garlic Press. ASGP in a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Corproration based in Illinois. Our Happa-no-Kofu, while not organized exactly like ASGP, reflects the same spirit and substance of nonprofit publishing, enlarging the ever wider network of writer and translator cooperation, bypassing the traditional publishing. We received ASGP approval for the translation of their titles. Our first two publications, both English haiku books, are in fact Japanese versions of ASGP titles. ASGP (http://asgp.org/)

Web Press Happa-no-Kofu came online officially in April 2000. We are starting with just a few publications at first, both on-line and off-line (printed book version), but we will add more works gradually.

We value the uniqueness of each individual's ideas. We support the individual's power and energy, and believe that our activity on the internet helps international communication on an individual level.

Our name, Happa-no-Kofu, means leaf miner in Japanese. It might be a strange name for a publisher, but we hope to work like the leaf miner.

We always welcome your opinions and ideas to our Happa-no-Kofu. And we would appreciate your participation in our online project, Ongoing Anthology Program "Fragments". Please feel free to contact with us by e-mail.


*We added a new picture of leaf miner here. (April 2005)