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Sat, Dec 01, 2001 - Page 19 News List

Harry Potter mania aboutto descend upon Japan

BLOOMBERG , TOKYO

Booksellers and publishers are also looking for a windfall.

"We are having a lot of requests to publish new stories soon," said Akiko Ebisawa, a manager at Say-Zan-Sha Publications Ltd, which translates and publishes the Harry Potter books.

"After the release of the film, the boom in Japan will probably heat up among grownups, not only children," said Akio Kobayashi, a professor of English literature at Sophia University in Tokyo. "It's a classic adventure story."

Fans such as Mika Hashimoto, a 17-year-old schoolgirl and self-labeled "Potterian" may help keep the boom going. She had already bought two tickets to see the film on its regular run before she joined the crowd at last week's preview.

"I've been hooked since the summer," said Hashimoto, done up in Harry Potter fashion, complete with wizard's hat and scarf.

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