Rikao Yanagita dropped out of his science studies at Tokyo University to become a full-time cram school teacher. In 1991, he started a private cram school, only to find he had no managerial talent whatsoever. On the edge of bankruptcy, in 1995 Yanagita wrote The Fantasy Science Reader, which applied scientific-sounding explanations to famous science fiction and fantasy characters and situations. It became a national bestseller. In the 20 years since Yanagita has made the Reader into a popular series, full of ridiculous illustrations and even more ridiculous theories.