Marine literature, as a reflection of the evolving maritime culture, has experienced a rising trajectory of scholarly interest in recent years. This study delves into the intrinsic ties and foundational mechanisms underpinning the evolution of marine literature within China and Japan, advocating a developmental pathway akin to an industrial cluster for this literary genre. Utilizing a meticulously constructed input-output table for the marine literature industry, this paper conducts a comparative horizontal analysis of the sector’s growth across six coastal cities in China and Japan for the year 2023. The study encompasses three primary dimensions: correlation effects, supply-push effects, and demand-pull effects. The empirical findings underscore the developmental value of marine literature in both nations. Notably, the development potential index for China’s marine literature industry stands at 26.36, surpassing Japan’s by 13.88, with the variance largely attributable to differences in the marine economic and social environments. This comparative analysis not only highlights potential growth avenues for China’s marine literature but also offers fresh insights into the cultural disparities between China and Japan.