Introducing a recommended spot in Sakuho~Shinkoma Bookstore~.

2024.9.06

NEXT DOOR TO GURURITO IS A VERY UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL BOOKSTORE, SHINKOMA BOOKSTORE.

GURURITO STARTED AS A SELF-RENOVATED WORKSHOP IN A PLACE THAT USED TO BE A STORE CALLED ASAKAWA YOHIN SHOP,

Shinkoma Shoten is another bookstore that was originally opened by renovating the long-established Shinkoma Shokudo, which was loved by local residents.

WHEN WE WERE STILL LOOKING FOR THE GURURURITO PROPERTY, SHINKOMA BOOKSTORE WAS STILL SHINKOMA SHOKUDO, WHICH HAD CLOSED ITS DOORS.

WE STARTED RENOVATIONS AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME, AND WE ARE VERY HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE OPENED IN JUNE 2021, THE SAME MONTH AS GURURITO (ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE GURURITO!). (ABOUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE GURURURITO!)

(Photo: Bookmarker by Shinkoma made in collaboration)

Shinkoma Shoten is basically a bookstore whose main items are secondhand books selected by the owner, Mr. and Mrs. Chikatani, themselves.

Most of the books are in such good condition that they are as good as new that you would not recognize them if you were not told so.

But when I pick up a book and look at the price, it is often less than half or one-third of the regular price, and I always wonder if it's OK that the price is so low. However, I always find myself looking at the bookshelves that are neatly arranged by theme or in the special feature section, and I find that I can't help but pick up titles that I have been curious about, books in genres that I had never heard of, or books recommended by Mr. and Mrs. Chikatani. I am happy to have more and more books in my stack every day. LOL!

Even if you visit with children, you can take off your shoes and go up to the tatami room, where picture books and children's books are lined up, and you can spend time selecting books as if you were in a library.
After going up the narrow, traditional stairs, you will find a comfortable space that is truly a hidden room where you can relax and read books.

Koji Chikatani, the owner, has a very unusual background, having originally worked as an action actor in Hollywood, U.S.A. He is also active as a translation and publishing producer of Japanese literature, making use of his language skills and contacts he cultivated there. The store is also lined with translated Western books by Japanese authors, art books that are picturesque just by being placed on the shelves, and rare vintage books.

Koji also maintains the same body he trained as an action actor, and is an active member of the Muscle Club, a community service group that takes supreme pleasure in carrying heavy loads, and to his surprise, a private gym for members called "Shinkoma Athletic Club" has sprung up next to the bookstore.

While running a bookstore on a daily basis, he is also famous in the community as a strong muscle character who never misses his gap time for strength training at the gym or on the street. LOL!

Recently, you have also started a YouTube channel where you dress up as a ninja character and introduce Japanese literature to the rest of the world!

https://www.youtube.com/@shinkoma_entertainment_2914

I have written only about the husband, Koji, but his wife, Junko, is also a very nice and interesting person. She loves books very much, and her writings on Instagram, where she introduces the books she selects each week, are not only loving but also a bit dry, and you cannot help but read them.
Especially when I ask her to select books, I think she will choose books that meet the person's needs very seriously.

Despite her love for books, Junko-san always keeps a cool eye on her husband's muscular activities, and the gap between them is very charming. Even if they are not particularly book lovers, they always say that it is a wonderful bookstore.
We hope that we can continue to be good neighbors in the future!