With the number of bookstores decreasing nationwide due to the spread of online shopping and e-books, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has set up a project team to promote local bookstores and will consider new support measures. became.
Due to the spread of online shopping and e-books, the number of bookstores is decreasing nationwide, and according to the Publishing Culture Industry Promotion Foundation, which is made up of bookstores and publishers, about one-quarter of local governments in Japan do not have a single bookstore. It's on the rise.
Under these circumstances, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has established a cross-departmental project team to promote bookstores, recognizing their role as local cultural hubs.
In the future, we will invite bookstore managers to exchange opinions and introduce to bookstores across the country examples of how they were able to increase the number of customers through various innovations, as well as understand issues such as business succession and develop new support measures. We are planning to consider this.
At a press conference after the Cabinet meeting on the 5th, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Saito said, ``Bookstores are an important base for improving Japanese people's education, and by going to a bookstore, you can make new discoveries and broaden your horizons.'' I would like to think about what we can do with a sense of crisis, while also referring to South Korea's example."