In Tokyo's Kanda Jimbocho district, the Honmaru bookstore is redefining the literary landscape by allowing customers to rent shelves, fostering a community-driven reading experience.
In the Kanda Jimbocho district of Tokyo, a new bookstore concept is taking shape, revitalizing the reading experience and the quest for books. Tomoyo Ozumi, an enthusiastic customer, rejoices at her recent discovery: an illustrated book on cheeses that she found in an innovative bookstore where anyone can rent a shelf to sell their works. This expanding model allows readers to browse through a variety of books, offering a compelling alternative to the often uniform algorithmic recommendations of online platforms.
Rebuilding Bookstores
Shogo Imamura, 40, the founder of this unprecedented concept, highlights the uniqueness of his establishment: “Here, you find books that make you wonder who might buy them,” he jokes. His store, which opened in April, stands out from traditional bookstores that now prioritize bestsellers based on sales figures. “We ignore these principles. Or capitalism, in other words,” he adds, expressing his desire to “rebuild bookstores.”
Though modest with its 53 square meters, Mr. Imamura's shop houses 364 shelves displaying both new and used books on a variety of topics, ranging from business strategies to manga and martial arts. With monthly rates ranging from 4,850 to 9,350 yen (approximately 29 to 56 euros), several hundred clients, including individuals, businesses, and publishing houses, rent shelves. “Each of these shelves is like a real version of a social media account, where you express yourself like on Instagram or Facebook,” explains Kashiwa Sato, the store's creative director, emphasizing the community aspect of this initiative.
Authentic Recommendations
The Honmaru bookstore, a symbolic name evoking the heart of a Japanese castle, is currently unique in Tokyo, but Mr. Imamura hopes to expand his concept to other regions, particularly those affected by bookstore closures. A study by the Japanese Foundation for Publishing Culture reveals that a quarter of Japan's municipalities no longer have bookstores, and more than 600 have shut down in the past 18 months.
In search of successful models, Mr. Imamura has visited numerous bookstores that have adapted to the competition from online giants. Some have incorporated cafés or even gyms to diversify their offerings. Another bookseller of this new kind, Rokurou Yui, 42, insists on the palpable passion of the shelf renters for the books they choose. “It's as if we hear a voice giving us reading recommendations,” he confides. Unlike traditional bookstores, where books are selected based on commercial criteria, Yui emphasizes that in his shop, the shelves are filled with authentic recommendations that reflect a genuine love for reading.
Renaissance of a Culture
With his father, Shigeru Kashima, a professor of French literature, Rokurou Yui opened his first bookstore, “Passage,” in 2022, followed by two more and a fourth recently inaugurated in a French language school in Tokyo. “Passage” has 362 shelves rented by vendors who attract customers through their own marketing, often on social media. On weekends, the atmosphere at “Passage” becomes almost festive, resembling a nightclub, drawing a young audience eager to discover and discuss books. “We come here not only to sell and buy, but also to talk about books,” concludes Rokurou Yui, thus illustrating the renaissance of a vibrant and communal literary culture in Japan.
With AFP
Comments