In Japan, a new kind of bookstore is bringing back the joy of discovering unique reads by allowing anyone to rent a shelf to sell books. In Tokyo’s Kanda Jimbocho district, Shogo Imamura’s bookstore Honmaru — named after the central keep of a Japanese castle — provides space for shelf renters to curate small collections. For Imamura, who writes novels about samurai, this concept is a way to rethink the bookstore experience, focusing on passion and diversity over sales statistics. “We ignore principles of capitalism,” Imamura says. “I want to reconstruct bookstores.”
Honmaru’s 364 shelves feature a variety of new and used books, ranging from business to manga and martial arts, with renters paying between 4,850 and 9,350 yen ($32-$61) monthly. Contributors include individuals, publishers, and even companies, each sharing books that reflect their personal tastes or values. “Each one of these shelves is like a real-life social media profile,” says Kashiwa Sato, Honmaru’s creative director, comparing the concept to sharing on Instagram or Facebook.
The resurgence of these shelf-sharing stores is especially significant in Japan, where over 600 bookstores closed between 2022 and 2023, leaving one-quarter of municipalities without a physical bookstore. Imamura hopes his concept can expand to other areas affected by these closures, bringing back the cultural importance of bookstores to Japanese communities.
Other bookstores have tried to diversify by incorporating cafes or gyms to attract foot traffic, but Imamura believes these changes dilute the essence of bookstores. “If a gym is more profitable, 90 percent of the space may end up dedicated to exercise, with only 10 percent for books,” he says. By contrast, Honmaru and similar stores aim to stay true to their core purpose.
Rokurou Yui, president of book review site All Reviews, and his father Shigeru Kashima opened their first shelf-sharing store, Passage, in 2022. They have since expanded to three other locations, including one in a French language school. Yui describes the shelves as being filled with “enormous love” for books. “Here, there’s no pressure to sell, only a desire to share,” he says, adding that customers feel as if they’re listening to personal recommendations.
Weekends at Passage often feel like a social event, with young customers in their 20s and 30s browsing to the sound of upbeat music. For both customers and shelf-owners, these stores are spaces to discuss and bond over books.
Recognizing the value of bookstores to cultural life, Japan’s industry ministry established a team in March to explore ways to support them. “Bookstores are hubs of cultural transmission,” the ministry said, “and are vital to preserving diverse ideas within society.”
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