The online interactive world of Harry Potter is reaching an entirely new audience, as Pottermore announced today the launch of the site in Japan. What is most interesting about that news is the fact that it took this long, considering that Japan is the largest market outside of the US for Harry Potter, beating out even the author’s home base in the UK.
In addition to the interactive experience, users in Japan will be able to access the online store, the only source for ebooks of the entire series. In what is good news for users, readers who access the site in Japan will be able to access all of the currently created titles in the interactive experience, rather than having to wait for the book-by-book rollout that users in the US and UK did since its launch a year and a half ago.
“I wanted to give something back to the fans that have followed Harry so devotedly over the years, and to bring the stories to a new digital generation,” said Harry Potter creator JK Rowling in a press release today. “I hope fans and those new to Harry will have as much fun helping to shape Pottermore as I have. Just as I have contributed to the website, everyone else will be able to join in by submitting their own comments and drawings, in a safe and friendly environment – Pottermore has been designed as a place to share the stories with your friends as you journey through the site.”
The Pottermore site comes at a great time in terms of marketing, since the upcoming opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is slated to open at Universal Studios Japan theme park in early 2014, as well as the recent news of forthcoming smartphone apps for the site.
Mercy Pilkington is a Senior Editor for Good e-Reader. She is also the CEO and founder of a hybrid publishing and consulting company.