Zenbird Editorial TeamBookoff Corporation will open its third Furusato Bookoff store in Fukaura Town, Aomori Prefecture, on 25 April. This store address the lack of bookstores in the area while promoting a circular economy through the reuse of second-hand books.
According to a 2025 survey by the Publishing Culture Industry Development Organization, approximately 28.6 per cent of municipalities in Japan are “bookstore-less” regions. This suggests a disparity in certain areas in Japan regarding access to literature. Fukaura Town has lacked a bookstore since 2005, which has limited reading opportunities for local residents and children.
The new store will be located within the Kazemachikan community space. Under the Furusato Bookoff model, Bookoff provides the inventory while the local municipality or a designated manager handles operations. This arrangement allows the town to establish a bookstore without the financial risk of holding inventory. The Fukaura branch will stock approximately 4,000 items, including children’s books, paperbacks, and comics.
Sustainability is also part of the store’s design, as the facility utilises bookshelves salvaged from closed schools. Furthermore, by selling second-hand books, it extends the lifespan of printed materials. Bookoff aims to use this platform to teach the younger generation about the value of reuse and the importance of resource circulation.
An opening ceremony is scheduled for the morning of 25 April, marking the third such location for the company, following successful openings in Nishiwaga, Iwate Prefecture, and Kisosaki, Mie Prefecture.
