Number of Bookstores in Japan Continues to Fall
A bookstore in Sendai where children sought solace after the area's 2011 earthquake and tsunami has closed, according to The Asahi Shimbun.
It's just one of thousands of Japanese bookstores that have shut their doors over the last 20 years.
Yuichi Shiokawa's small shop, Shiokawa Shoten, closed at the end of August.
After the earthquake, Shiokawa was quick to reopen his shop to give children a place where they'd feel safe and happy.
He also let readers share copies of new comics that were difficult to find in the area after the earthquake.
But now his shop has gone the same way as so many others both in Sendai and across the country.
The Yomiuri Shimbun said earlier this year that the number of bookstores in Japan had decreased from around 20,000 in 2004 to 11,000 in 2023.
According to one survey, almost 30% of Japan's municipalities no longer have a bookstore.
According to The Asahi Shimbun, people are buying more digital books, or they're buying books from big bookstore chains, not independent shops.
Reading digital books is not a bad thing, but experts say it's good for children to read physical books too.
Bookstores are also for more than just reading: they are spaces for the community, where people can take part in activities and listen to stories.
Many people want the government to do more to protect bookstores across Japan. Others have said that bookstores themselves should work harder to provide more than just books — perhaps adding other products, or cafes, or holding events.
Another idea that has been seen in Tokyo is shared bookstores, where different owners can rent a shelf and sell only a very small number of books.
