Summary
K-Books (Japanese: ケイ・ブックス) is a chain of used goods stores in Japan. It specializes in otaku- and hobbyist-related items, including anime goods, manga, dōjinshi (self-published works), and voice actor and idol goods.
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| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Retail |
| Founded | 1992 (founded) 1994 (incorporated) |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Used goods (otaku and hobbyist-related items) |
History edit
K-Books was founded in 1992 originally as "Kenchan no manga juku 1gouten" (けんちゃんのマンガ塾1号店), a secondhand manga store located in Sugamo, Toshima, Tokyo. It opened a second location in Sugamo in 1994, and was incorporated and rebranded as K-Books that same year.[1] Locations were opened in the Tokyo neighborhoods of Kichijoji, Ikebukuro, and Akihabara in the mid- to late 1990s. Its first locations outside of Tokyo were opened in Osaka in 2002, and Nagoya in 2017.[1]
In February 2019, K-Books ceased consignment sales for dōjinshi at its dōjin store in Ikebukuro after 15 years.[2]
Products edit
K-Books sells variety of secondhand otaku and Japanese pop culture goods, including dōjinshi (self-published works), manga, novels, dolls, cosplay items, anime and video game goods, as well as voice actor and idol goods. Several K-Books locations specialize in specific kinds of goods or genres, including yaoi, Vocaloid, and 2.5D musicals.[1]
In addition to its retail business, K-Books operates several cosplay restaurants and bars: Ikemofu, a costumed animal café; Swallowtail, a butler café;[3][4] and Bar Blue Moon, a nighttime bar operated by the butlers of Swallowtail. It also operates Atis Collection, a yaoi audio drama production label.[1]
Major locations edit
K-Books Akihabara Hon-kan is located at Akihabara in the Akihabara Radio Kaikan building. It specializes in items aimed at men, such as moe and Virtual YouTuber goods.[5] K-Books Chara-kan is located in Chiyoda and specializes in goods from Weekly Shōnen Jump media properties, such as My Hero Academia and Demon Slayer.[6] K-Books Ikebukuro Doujin-kan is located in Ikebukuro on Otome Road, and specializes in boys' love-related items.[7]
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Exterior of K-Books in Nipponbashi, Osaka. -
Radio Kaikan in Akihabara, Tokyo, with K-Books visible on the fourth floor.
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c d Gratin, Gladys (20 December 2019). "An Anime and Manga Fan's Guide to K-BOOKS". Manga Planet. Dai Nippon Printing & Fantasista Inc. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ Hodgkins, Crystalyn (22 October 2018). "K-BOOKS Retailer's Dōjinkan 2F Shop to Halt Consignment Sales of Dōjinshi for Women After 15 Years (Updated)". Anime News Network. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ Gratin, Gladys (23 December 2019). "Come home to Butler Cafe Swallowtail after a day of shopping at Otome Road". Futekiya. Dai Nippon Printing & Fantasista Inc. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ Nakamura, Akemi (24 April 2006). "For female 'otaku,' a coffee house all their own". The Japan Times. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
- ^ Narita, Usa (1 January 2020). "Interview with Mr. Moritsuka, Store Manager of K-BOOKS Akihabara Hon-kan". Manga Planet. Dai Nippon Printing & Fantasista Inc. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ Akram, Nabil (25 December 2019). "Interview with Mr. Natori, the Store Manager of K-BOOKS Chara-kan". Manga Planet. Dai Nippon Printing & Fantasista Inc. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
- ^ Hejastro, Trish (1 January 2020). "Interview with Ms. Watanabe, Chief of K-BOOKS Ikebukuro Doujin-kan". Futekiya. Dai Nippon Printing & Fantasista Inc. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
External links edit
- K-Books official website (in Japanese)