IRH Press USA, the 2017 Breakout Small Publisher of the Year, Is Connecting Renowned Japanese Author and Spiritual Leader Ryuho Okawa to the West
NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- 2017 was the year that IRH Press USA (www.okawabooks.com) created a successful United States and Canadian brand for the founder of the worldwide Happy Science movement in the U.S. trade book market. Its growing synergistic relationship with Japan mirrors what one United States Administration called the "Asian pivot." President Trump has established a new and stronger relationship with Japan. The country's global visionary, renowned spiritual leader and best-selling Japanese author, Master Ryuho Okawa — who has sold over 100 million copies of books worldwide that are currently translated into 29 languages — is now taking the United States book market by storm with the assistance of IRH Press USA. His work to date includes 2,200 book publications and 26 consecutive years as a best-selling author in Japan. Okawa has a simple goal he is bringing to the United States and Canada: to help people find true happiness and create a better world.
Okawa's books cover religious, spiritual, and self-development teachings such as how our thoughts influence reality, the nature of love, and the path to enlightenment. He also writes on the interrelationship between religion and international relations, domestic politics and the global economy and business/leadership. Distribution into United States brick and mortar, online outlets and through major wholesalers has soared.
"There is a hunger in the United States and Canada for Eastern ideas," said Rocky Uchimura, the director of IRH Press USA. "We have translated Master Okawa's extraordinary success worldwide into a North America program that remains consistent with our international editorial, production and marketing quality."
"The results in 2017 indicate that Ryuho Okawa's teachings are spreading to new readers everyday," added Uchimura. "2018 promises to be groundbreaking once again in terms of our publishing program."
In the last 18 months, IRH Press USA has released Okawa's "Messages from Heaven," "Invitation to Happiness," "Think Big," "Heart of Work," "Laws of Justice," "Essence of Buddha," "Miracle of Meditation," "Life of Triumph," "Laws of Success," "Unhappiness Syndrome," "Healing from Within," "Laws Mission," "Invincible Thinking" and "Starting Point to Happiness." This January, IRH Press releases its first business book, "The Laws of Invincible Leadership" and in the Spring of 2018, IRH Press USA will release "Laws of Faith," "Strong Mind," and "My Journey to the Spirit World." In the Fall of 2018, IRH Press USA will re-release in paperback the international best-seller "Laws of the Sun" with a major North American marketing roll-out.
United States and Canadian chain and independent stores are carrying both of Okawa's recent releases but simultaneously modeling a significant number of back-list titles. Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, Indigo, Hudson News, Vroman's, and numerous other bookstores have stocked thousands of Okawa's books.
IRH Press USA also has dedicated significant resources to co-op placement, publicity and advertising in broadcast, print, online and social media venues to support both front-list and back-list titles. Included in this marketing effort was radio interviews on over 1,000 radio stations by IRH Press USA spokespeople, advertorials in the Weekly Standard, the National Review, the Economist, and advertisements in the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Times, Newsweek, Spirituality and Health Magazine, Mindful Magazine and Tricycle. Two 8-part infomercials have aired on WNYW Fox 5 in New York, WAGA-TV Atlanta, KTVU-TV San Francisco, and KTLA-TV Los Angeles. Okawa's books have also launched an Amazon advertising campaign and been featured on www.okawabooks.com and Facebook, Twitter and Instagram platforms which provide content for over 50,000 followers. Ryuho Okawa visited the United States in October 2016 and addressed a sold-out crowd of his followers and readers in New York City. Bookstore events occur monthly at chain and independent stores.
"United States and Canadian media have embraced Ryuho Okawa's books and messages," said Bob Newman, IRH Press USA's Publicist. "Not only has Okawa's United States spokespeople been staples on talk radio and with major Podcasts but major print and online publications are now preparing features, reviews, mentions and authored pieces featuring the content of IRH Press USA books."
IRH Press USA is distributed by Continental Sales and NBN Canada. Since joining with Continental two years ago, distribution in the United States has increased significantly. IRH Press USA is represented by Newman Communications for publicity, marketing and sales coordination.
In 1986, Okawa founded Happy Science as a spiritual movement dedicated to bringing greater happiness to humankind by uniting religions and cultures to live in harmony. Today he is the CEO of Happy Science. Happy Science has grown rapidly from its beginnings in Japan to a worldwide organization with centers in North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Canada and over 12 million followers. The spiritual workshops Happy Science offers are open to people of all faiths and walks of life and are rooted in the same simple principles of happiness that inspired Okawa's own spiritual awakening. Okawa is compassionately committed to the spiritual growth of others. In addition to writing and publishing books, he continues to give lectures around the world. In addition to promoting spiritual growth, Okawa has also dedicated himself to improving society and creating a better world. As affiliates of the Happy Science Group, he has founded various institutions including boarding schools, a higher education institution, a preschool education institution, as well as a publishing company, a political party, a talent agency, and a talent school.
Happy Science maintains United States Temples in New York, New Jersey, Atlanta, Tampa, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
SOURCE IRH Press USA
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