The second hand bookstore run by a designer with excellent communication skill

“I think it’s great if we have different types of books in bookstore.”

Sekaibunko　Owner　Suzunari Koga

A bookstore as a concept

The secondhand bookstore industry is changing. In 1990-2000s, franchised stores were more popular for their variety and affordable price than personal ones. Yet recently, there are many more secondhand bookstores, which are run by younger owners, who collect their favorite books based on their value.

Sekaibunko, which has carefully selected secondhand books, was opened in 2012 and located in the old factory site where it was renovated all in white. It has gathered attention from not only all over from Japan but also from all over the world for its unique appearance. The owner, Suzunari Koga, is not just a designer but an art director, an illustrator, a picture book writer and a poet. He is a jack of all trades.

The dream of a bookworm boy was to be a designer and a secondhand bookstore owner

“I have loved books since my childhood. I borrowed as many books as possible at both school and library. My bag was always full of books.”

Mr. Koga, from Hikone, also liked drawing. He aimed to become a designer when he was in high school because he thought that it pays better than being a painter or cartoon artist. After graduating the design college in Osaka, he worked at the design office in Tokyo. Having worked there for a year, Mr. Koga became a freelance designer and built his career in the art and music industries, mainly for graphics, for 20 years in Tokyo.

“Having said that, I love books anyway. I was keen on running a bookstore. I wanted to own one when I got older, perhaps after my retirement.”

The Great East Japan Earthquake helped him decide to leave Tokyo. He felt something special to this building located in Funaokayama. The chance for him to start a secondhand bookstore has arrived much earlier than he expected.

Having variety is inspiring

The name of “Sekaibunko”(World pocket book) is a neologism, jointing the word “Sekai”(world), which holds widely spread image, with the term “Bunko”(pocket book), that associates with the image of “small”. A unique thing at this store is what’s called “World bookshelf”. Thanks to the network that he made in Tokyo, he was able to arrange the books from top artists such as a singer Ikuko Harada, a designer Akira Minagawa and a picture book writer Ryoji Arai.

“I imagined it would be nice if there were a wide arrangement of books in a bookstore. It’s more amusing and inspiring for me to have a variety of books rather than only your favorites.

Now, he is working on building “Sekaibunko Academy”. It is the school where people think about a new way of working. I want to invite people in the field such as editors, writers and artists, who are working in unique ways, as teachers. The school of course is held at Sekaibunko.

“Sekaibunko bookstore opens irregularly. I believe it is important to hold the bookstore as a notion.”

For Mr. Kiga, Sekaibunko is only the beginning of his journey. He puts his whole heart into creating opportunities to connect people from a design perspective. It seems like he is ready to take over the art world.