Honmaru Jinbocho
Shelf at the Honmaru Jinbocho bookstore, in Tokyo, Japan
Not everyone can own a bookstore, especially at a time when business is falling. But in Japan, anyone can rent a shelf — and sell their books.
As the number of bookstores dwindles in Japan, those renting shelves are on the rise, allowing book lovers to sell their works — and fostering book communities. “shelf owners”.
These bookstores “end up functioning as local cultural hubsat a time when the total number of bookstores in the country continues to decrease”, says an expert cited by .
A Honmaru Jinbochoa bookstore located in the second-hand bookshop district of Kanda Jinbocho, in Tokyo, already has around 360 rented shelves.
These shelves offer unique selections, such as picture bookshistorical novels and humor titles, reflecting the personalities of their respective ownerswhich sell books selected by themselves.
Honmaru Jinbocho’s shelf curators, who are mainly publishers and people between 20 and 60 years oldpay an initial amount, a monthly income and 5% of revenue of sales to the store.
As the store manager explains, Haru Shimokawa25 years old, the attraction of rental shelves “is in the offer of books that can never be found in conventional bookstores.”
As an example, refer to an entire shelf dedicated to anger managementalongside another specifically about love relationships between thai girls. “You can discover a new world with each visit,” adds Shimokawa. “It’s like a unique encounter, similar to a trip”.
According to Shimokawa, the number of bookstores that rent shelves to private individuals began to increase around the 2010sthere are currently around 110 stores of this kind throughout the country.
The biggest advantage of these stores is that anyone can become a bookseller for just a few thousand yen a month — some few tens of euros. Many use the space more as a form of self-expression than as a source of profit, says Shimokawa.
Naomi Okuyamaa 61-year-old specialist in picture books for adults, rents a shelf where he displays picture books aimed at an older audience. He has already organized three reading sessions at Honmaru Jinbocho.
“One of the pleasures of having a shelf is being able to connect with people who also like illustrated albums, through my favorite titles”, said Okuyama.
According to the Japan Book and Magazine Publishers and Booksellers Association, the country had, in fiscal year 2003, more than 20,000 bookstores. In 2024, this number was practically half.
If rental bookstores establish themselves in areas where bookstores have disappeared, “will become cultural centerss where people can find books”, argues Yashio Uemura, professor at Senshu University and publishing specialist. “In addition, they will serve as a meeting point for the local population whenever events are held”.
