Some very good news: Arcade Mania is getting a 3rd print run! Huge thanks to everyone who has picked up the book so far — hoping you’ve enjoyed it — and here’s an invitation to everyone who hasn’t done so yet. The book is available in bookstores, but of course on Amazons worldwide too (Amazon US, Amazon Japan).

As 2009 comes to an end, I’m very happy to report that one of the projects that will be keeping me busy during the start of 2010 will be work on the upcoming fifth editions of The Rough Guide to Tokyo and The Rough Guide to Japan (due for release in 2011). I’ll be contributing to both, but mostly on the Tokyo guide — joining author Simon Richmond — with contributions to the Japan guide limited to Tokyo and surrounding areas. For more on the Rough Guides series, check out the official site.

If you followed the link in my last post about next year’s Web Trend Map Atlas, you’ll find Oliver mention that the project will be done in collaboration with “Books We Make.” Visiting the website, I see that it’s a new project by Craig Mod, and I’m quite upset that I don’t know anything about it.

GaijinPot.com interviews Information Architect’s Oliver Reichenstein, in which he talks about the Web Trend Map, and reveals that for next year they are planning on releasing a book — a Web Trend Map Atlas — to be published just in time for Christmas 2010.

Color me jealous: former Tokyo resident Adam Greenfield — and current head of design direction at Nokia in Finland — is one of the people behind the newly-launched Do Projects, which has the following goals:

Develop words and images that make the people who encounter them re-see themselves and the world around them; find the most appropriate containers for our ideas; craft the kind of books that please their readers in the details of their conception, design and construction as much as in the things they say; and figure out what “do-it-yourself” might mean in an age when new production technologies, informational and logistical networks give the independent amateur producer unprecedented power to reach out and make things happen.

Such a great idea. The first project is called Tokyo Blues, a photo book of Nurri Kim‘s investigations of Tokyo’s PVC plastic construction tarps. It’s available both in print, or as a free downloadable PDF.

Matt Alt shares the responses from a 2channel post that asks Japanese gamers what they play when they go to game centers. The last one he highlights is a bit sad (but almost understandable):

Whenever my friends and I go to the game center we basically stand around for a while and leave because there isn’t anything a beginner can just start playing.

I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t mention that for more on the game center scene in Japan, you should definitely pick up a copy of Arcade Mania by Brian Ashcraft and little ol’ me — makes for a great stocking stuffer!

Book cover designed by Tom Tor for an upcoming project. Via FFFFOUND!

Tonight (November 6) marks the official launch of Postglobal, a new book (in Japanese) that takes a look at Gelman‘s activities since his “business” retirement a few years ago.

[T]his book is an illustrated documentation of Alexander Gelman’s thrilling adventures in Japan since his retirement from business a few years ago. He’s not the author, rather the subject. The book contains extensive research and information about deep Japanese traditions and culture. In a way, it reintroduces Japanese readers to their heritage. Things they take for granted come in a new light, other issues explained for the first time. The broad range of Gelman’s encounters makes the book quite rich in visual and thematic content and promises for an addictive educational reading.

Gelman will be on hand tonight at Aoyama Book Center in Roppongi from 19:00 to 20:00 to signs copies of the book.

First Tokyo, then Kyoto, now it’s Osaka’s turn to get the Wallpaper City Guide treatment. As I wrote when I covered the Kyoto volume’s release, I really like what these book’s represent. No, they’re not intended to be a thorough travel guide to the cities they cover. Instead, they act as handy compendiums of the types of spots you see highlighted in Wallpaper, but end up forgetting about (unless you cut them out and paste them in a notebook).

As with the Kyoto edition, regular Tokyo-based Wallpaper contributor Gordon Kanki Knight is the author , and I have to say that he’s come up with a very cool collection of stylish spots I never knew existed in Osaka, and I’ve already marked a few I plan on taking in on my next visit — and don’t you know you it, as with all of these Wallpaper guides, you have extra blank note pages at the end in which to write down all those things.

The official release, as indicated on its Amazon US page (or even Amazon Japan), is December 9, but Gordon tells me that the book should be popping up in some shops around mid-November. As for what’s next for the City Guide series in Japan, I hear that Sapporo is on the horizon.

Designboom takes a look at the DMN Design Workshop Exhibition (Vol. 10) held during this past week’s design festivities, with the theme of “Box.” Directed by Naoto Fukasawa, the catalog for the show can be purchased online here.

The Japan Times has an article that takes a good look at the arrival of the Kindle in Japan, and the challenges it will face in getting Japanese publishers to contribute to the device. Via Japan Probe, which also includes a bit on how to avoid the international book price mark-up.

You may have already heard the news, but if you haven’t, the Amazon Kindle is coming to Japan (and 99 other countries). While you’ve always been able to buy one wherever you are, this new international version means that you’ll able to use the 3G access to buy books anytime, anywhere. For the time being, purchases can only be made from the Amazon US store, but that’s not much of a problem, since it’s aimed at all of us expats (who have to deal with high import costs on books). So at first, this looks pretty good — especially the chance to buy books at a very good price — although keep in mind that there are hidden costs. Japan Probe posts all the details on exactly what the device has to offer.

For me, it means that I’m actually interested in the device now, although the price tag is still a bit of a turnoff ($280).

For his upcoming lecture at “Arttalking #4 ‘On the Street,’” Ian Lynam has produced a limited edition and numbered booklet, pictured above. More details on the event itself — which happens October 8 — here.

The Calm & Punk Gallery has released the Calm & Punk Book #1, produced by ten_to_ten. It sells for 1,800 yen, and can be purchased online from the GAS shop. Via TABlog.

Fans of the amazing Junko Mizuno rejoice, since Last Gasp has finally released Little Fluffy Gigolo PELU Vol. 1 — and if you haven’t, best to pick up Pure Trance as well. Both were produced by Patrick Macias and Izumi Evers’ jaPRESS.