Shelf-Sharing Seeks to Save Bookstores in Japan
A New Approach to Book Retailing
TOKYO: “I’m holding an illustrated book of cheeses,” says a delighted Tomoyo Ozumi, a customer at a growing kind of bookshop in Japan where anyone wanting to sell their tomes can rent a shelf.
The concept brings back the joy of browsing real books to communities where many bookstores have shut, and gives readers more eclectic choices than those suggested by algorithms on online sellers, its proponents say.
Ignoring Market Trends
“Here, you find books which make you wonder who on earth would buy them,” laughs Shogo Imamura, 40, who opened one such store in Tokyo’s bookstore district of Kanda Jimbocho in April.
“Regular bookstores sell books that are popular based on sales statistics while excluding books that don’t sell well,” Imamura, who also writes novels about warring samurai in Japan’s feudal era, told AFP.
“We ignore such principles. Or capitalism in other words,” he said. “I want to reconstruct bookstores.”
A Unique Business Model
His shop, measuring just 53 square metres, houses 364 shelves, selling books – some new, some used – on everything from business strategy and manga comics to martial arts.
The hundreds of different shelf renters, who pay 4,850-9,350 yen per month, vary from individuals to an IT company to a construction firm to small publishers.
Cafes and Gyms
For now, his store Honmaru – meaning the core of a Japanese castle – is only in Tokyo, but Imamura hopes to expand to other regions hit hard by bookstore closures.
A quarter of Japan’s municipalities have no physical bookstores, with more than 600 shutting in the 18 months to March, according to the Japan Publishing Industry Foundation for Culture.
Imamura in 2022 visited dozens of bookstores that have managed to survive the tough competition with e-commerce giants like Amazon, some by adding cafes or even gyms.
Crowd-Pullers
Rokurou Yui, 42, said his three shelf-sharing bookstores in the same Tokyo area are filled with “enormous love” for shelf owners’ favourite books,
“It is as if you’re hearing voices of recommendations,” Yui told AFP.
Conclusion
Shelf-sharing bookstores in Japan are offering a unique approach to book retailing, ignoring market trends and giving readers more eclectic choices. The concept is gaining popularity, with more stores opening and existing ones expanding. The Japan industry ministry has also launched a project to study how to support bookstores, recognizing their importance in maintaining diverse ideas and influencing national power.
FAQs
* How does shelf-sharing bookstores work?
+ Shelf-owners rent a shelf and can sell their books, with the store taking a commission.
* What kind of books are available?
+ A wide range of books, from business strategy to manga comics to martial arts.
* How many shelf-sharing bookstores are there in Japan?
+ Over 100, with more opening and expanding.
* Is this concept limited to Japan?
+ No, similar concepts are being explored in other countries.