“We went extinct for a reason” series has sold over 1 million copies

‘They became extinct for some reason. ” series exceeds 1 million copies ​
Diamond, Inc. Press release: September 10, 2025 To Members of the Press “They became extinct for a reason. ” series has sold over 1 million copies A hit series that teaches you about extinction and evolution in a fun way Diamond Inc. (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) is pleased to announce that the total number of copies of the “We Went Extinct for a Reason” series has surpassed one million.
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“They Went Extinct for a Reason” by Takashi Maruyama, supervised by Tadaaki Imaizumi ” Diamond Inc. A wildly popular series that brings extinct animals closer to children all over Japan “They Went Extinct for a Reason,” released in 2018, is an illustrated encyclopedia of extinct animals in which animals that went extinct for surprising reasons, such as “Platybelodon, whose jaws were too heavy, became extinct,” and “Opabinia, whose jaws were too decorative, became extinct,” explain the reasons for their extinction. This illustrated book, which humorously portrays the often heavy theme of “extinction,” was unprecedented, and it generated a lot of buzz immediately after its release, selling over 130,000 copies in just four days, breaking Diamond Inc.’s record for fastest sales at the time. In the seven years since then, it has continued to be popular with readers of all ages, from preschoolers to those in their 90s, and has expanded beyond the book to include character goods and events. We are now pleased to announce that the total number of copies of the series has finally surpassed one million. This series was created by hit editor Yumiko Kanai Yumiko Kanai, the editor who worked on this series, explains the reasons for its success: “At the time, many books about extinction inevitably left readers feeling sad, but I deliberately aimed to create a fun book about extinct animals. I think one of the reasons it was so well-received was that each spread was self-contained, so even elementary school students could enjoy it without getting bored. Also, in recent years, interest in the global environment and biodiversity has been growing, and I feel that this trend of the times has also been a driving force behind the series.” We would like to express our gratitude to the many readers who have supported this series, and we will continue to deliver works that will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers. ■30 lucky winners will win a book card worth 1,320 yen! Social Media Campaign Now Underway To celebrate the “Wageatte Extinction” series surpassing 1 million copies, we’re running a campaign on “X” where you can win a book card. Anyone with an X account can participate. ＜Prizes＞ 30 lucky winners will receive a “Book Card Net Gift” worth ¥1,320. ＜How to Apply＞ 1. Follow the “Diamond Inc. Official X Account (@diamond_sns)” (hereinafter referred to as the “X Official Account”) 2. Repost the relevant “Campaign Announcement Post” below.
https://x.com/diamond_sns/status/1965608668055150971 ＜Application Period＞ Wednesday, September 10, 2025 – Sunday, September 28, 2025, 11:59 PM ＜Notes＞ – Accounts that follow and repost during the campaign period will be eligible for the lottery. – Winners will be contacted via DM (direct message) from the official X account, so please keep following us. – Please change your settings to allow you to receive direct messages. – We are unable to answer inquiries regarding application acceptance or winning results. ＜About “Tosho Card Net Gift”＞ ・This is an online gift service provided by Nihon Tosho Fukyu Co., Ltd. ・Winners will be notified of their win and will receive a QR code for the online gift via direct mail from the official X account. ・To use the online gift, display the QR code on your smartphone and bring it along with the book to the bookstore register. ※This service is not compatible with feature phones. ・For details on how to use the service and participating stores, please visit the “Tosho Card NEXT” website. (https://www.toshocard.com/netgift/) ■Bibliographic information “They became extinct for a reason.” The one who sparked the extinct animal craze! A lineup of popular extinct animals Release date: July 19, 2018 Supervised by: Tadaaki Imaizumi Author: Takashi Maruyama Illustrations: Masanori Sato, Yoko Uetake Price: 1,320 yen (tax included) : Diamond Inc. Format: 46 paperback, 192 pages https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4478104204
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/45710/395/45710-395-6ae014aa52bc36aec43038f16fdf1f57-1879×2700.jpg “Sequel: They Went Extinct for a Reason.” You’re probably wondering why they went extinct… Here’s a collection of extinct animals that we still want to talk about! Release date: July 18, 2019 Supervised by: Tadaaki Imaizumi Author: Takashi Maruyama Illustrations: Masanori Sato, Yoko Uetake, Heisuke Kitazawa Price: 1,320 yen (tax included) : Diamond Inc. Format: 46 paperback, 192 pages
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4478108560/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/45710/395/45710-395-3b7d6c92708cdbdf1be63899b8cbc83c-1866×2700.jpg “Even more species have become extinct for a reason.” The long-awaited third installment! Hear from endangered species who are on the verge of extinction for a reason! Release date: July 9, 2020 Supervised by: Tadaaki Imaizumi Author: Takashi Maruyama Illustrations: Masanori Sato, Yoko Uetake, Mizuki Iwasaki Price: 1,320 yen (tax included) : Diamond Inc. Format: 46 paperback, 192 pages
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4478110689/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/45710/395/45710-395-da3ef9c39f219e82e1a858dc8d337904-1868×2700.jpg “They became extinct for a reason, but they’re amazing.” The first picture book in the series! Listen to the extinct animals’ “pride contest!” Release date: July 20, 2022 Supervised by: Tadaaki Imaizumi, Takashi Maruyama Author: Masanori Sato Price: 1,430 yen (tax included) : Diamond Inc. Format: A4, 42 pages
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/4478116415/
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/45710/395/45710-395-73543eae2300dec13e62c478a56846fd-2277×2700.jpg ■Fair now underway! “They became extinct for a reason. ” and other popular children’s books are available. The “Captivate Children’s Hearts! Fair” is currently being held at bookstores nationwide. We have a wide selection of popular titles, including “They Went Extinct for a Reason,” which has sold over 1 million copies, and the “Dangerous Japanese History” series, which has sold over 880,000 copies, as well as “An Illustrated Guide to Protecting Life” and “The Complete Guide to Tree Mysteries That Even Adults Don’t Know.” Check out this popular children’s book series created by Diamond Inc.’s hit editor, Yumiko Kanai. *We are not accepting inquiries regarding participating stores. The fair may end without notice.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/45710/395/45710-395-131e515e2548cd387172bd0a81f0fb60-2150×1518.jpg *Images and photographs in this release may only be used for news reporting related to this book. For more information about this release