Why are most Japanese newspapers, magazines and books read from back to front?

Question

In my experience, the above listed reading materials are all read from left cover to right cover, page one is the last page from a western perspective. I have been unable to find a reason for this publishing style.

In contrast, my Japanese dictionaries all have the first page on the left-hand side and the last on the right-hand side. In the west, everything is read from left cover to right cover, whilst in Japan there is variation.

Answer 1

Japanese can be written in two directions.

1. in columns

   • each column is written from top to bottom
   • columns are arranged from right to left

2. in rows [as in English]

   • each row is written from left to right
   • rows are arranged from top to bottom

The first is used for most newspapers, books (incl. manga), etc. Individual pages are thus bound on the right and thus, from a Western perspective appear to be read from the "back".

(By the way, I also have a 漢和字典 that is typeset in columns, thus bound on the right, and thus read "back to front".)