James Bond in film not to produce any other films based on the "Thunderball" story for a period of ten years following the release of the Eon-produced version in 1965. After the interruption of McClory as producer, Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman returned to produce once again. The first four Bond films had been popular in Japan, and Eon decided to take advantage of the market by producing "You Only Live Twice". The film included progressive elements of Japanese culture as part of the background. Lewis Gilbert was appointed director and Ken Adam returned as production designer; Adam built a volcano hideaway set for
You Only Live Twice (novel) motif. If you could manage a pink dragonfly sitting on the flowers, and perhaps just one epicanthic eye peering through them he thinks that will be just splendid!" Chopping's fee rose to 300 guineas for the cover, a rise from the 250 guineas he received for "The Spy Who Loved Me". "You Only Live Twice" was published in the United States by New American Library in August 1964; it was 240 pages long and cost $4.50. Cyril Connolly, reviewing "You Only Live Twice" in "The Sunday Times" wrote that Fleming's latest book was "reactionary, sentimental, square, the Bond-image flails its