When the light of the only bookstore in Asagaya was about to go out.
Voices of ``don't eliminate bookstores from the city'' came from all over the country one after another.
It's been over two months since we reported on this topic in the news. The sentiments of people who love books became a huge sensation, and the bookstore ended up remaining in the town.
With memorable episodes
Last November, a bookstore that had been open for 43 years in front of JR Asagaya Station in Suginami Ward, Tokyo, announced that it would be closing.
The name of the bookstore is "Shoraku".
A bookstore that has been loved by locals for 43 years, including the Asagaya sisters, who are celebrities, has closed.
It became a hot topic, with the SNS post being viewed over 1.79 million times.
Post announcing closure
On social media, people from all over the country expressed their condolences, such as, ``Please don't stop,'' and ``I'm so shocked that I have no words.''
In addition, each person's memories are written down, such as the time they discovered their favorite book, the time they bought a book for their family, and the place they used to stop by even if they had nothing to do, such as on their way home from work. I did.
Don't eliminate bookstores from the city
Asagaya, where the bookstore is located, is also known as the ``town of writers,'' as later literary greats such as Masuji Ibuse and Osamu Dazai held gatherings called the ``Asagaya-kai.''
As the only bookstore in the area that carries new releases, the store's lineup is not just limited to best-selling books, and its lineup is gaining popularity, with a focus on writers and works related to Asagaya.
Masuji Ibuse appeared on NHK special broadcast in 1983
We, the Asagaya reporting team, made up of book lovers, reported on the closure on the Metropolitan Area Network on November 17th.
Bookstores disappear from Asagaya, a town where Osamu Dazai and Masuji Ibuse also gathered...
One day, a while after the broadcast.
Our reporting team received information that ``There seems to be a movement to inherit calligraphy in order to prevent bookstores from disappearing from the city.''
After conducting a series of interviews, I learned that the major bookstore Yaesu Book Center had taken over the site after it had closed and would begin operations there.
What made you decide to take over?
When I asked bookstores, they said that there was a lot of support from fans and publishers.
Kazuhiro Sato, President of Yaesu Book Center
: ``We believe that the Chuo Line area is an area where many authors, teachers and editors who create books live, and there is a high demand for books.We have worked with publishers and others to work as a ``One Team''. ``So, while we are carrying out cross-sectional efforts to keep the town's bookstores afloat, we heard a lot of voices on social media, and we decided to open the store due to our connections.''
It seems that those currently working at the bookstore who wish to do so will continue working there.
Furthermore, in order to be able to open the store as soon as possible after the store closes, the books will be carried over as is, and there will be no changes to the layout for the time being.
The new store will open on February 10th.
President Sato
: ``Obviously we should pass on our staff, who were the closest to our customers, and the lineup of books that we carry that has many fans.If we don't do that, there will be no point in us accepting orders.'' ”
Inheritance and challenge
Bookstores are closing one after another across the country.
According to the Japan Publishing Infrastructure Center, the number of bookstores increased from 20,880 in 2003 to 11,495 last year. Over the past 20 years, it has decreased by nearly half.
Last year alone, 477 stores closed.
As the difficult situation continues, newly opened bookstores are considering new "challenges".
As part of this, they are considering whether it would be possible to set up a time period in the future where the store could become an "unmanned bookstore" using things like cashless self-checkout.
Image of an unmanned bookstore Self-checkout is on the far left
Furthermore, we are considering turning it into a place for the local community that would bring book creators and readers closer together.
They have already received requests for cooperation in autograph sessions and workshops from artists who live nearby.
President Sato
: ``Bookstores are a social infrastructure, just like food and clothing.And you can have chance encounters with books that you can't experience at online bookstores.The current product lineup and atmosphere are created by Shoraku. We will steadily increase our profits.The opening of this new store is the result of everyone's efforts coming together."
2 days until closing at Shoraku
We visited the bookstore again on the 29th of this month, just two days left until it closed.
Many people had been buying books since the morning, and at the cash register, I heard some regretful comments such as, ``There are only two days left.''
Regular customer
: ``Local bookstores are important places where you can easily stop by and buy things, and they support the culture of the town, so I hope they continue to do their best.''
Regular customer
: ``I'm really happy and glad that there's a place that's taking over the music.I really liked calligraphy, so I hope they'll pass on that.''
Shoraku Manager Mitsuru Ishida: ``
I'm really happy when I hear from customers that ``When I was lonely, I came to the store to relieve my loneliness,'' or ``It wasn't just a place to sell books, but it became a place to rely on.'' The Shoraku name will be gone, but we will do our best to become a better bookstore.”
Have you been reading any books lately?
Do you have any memories from the bookstore?
(Asagaya reporting team: Yuki Ishikawa)
By the way, the place name is ``Asagaya'', and the station and sisters are ``Asagaya''.