Tsutaya Bookstore's "Concierge Library," a nationwide project in preparation for Book Day (November 1st), has launched!

2019.10.29 Press Releases
Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd.

- "First Book" Selected by 10 Famous Concierges at Tsutaya Bookstore -

November 1st is Book Day. The books on the shelves are likened to the number "111," and bookstores across the country are coming up with ideas to please their customers as part of an initiative called "Let's get people to come to our bookstores."
Tsutaya Bookstores supports this initiative and will be holding a fair at each store featuring paperback books selected by 10 of the 120 concierges at Tsutaya Bookstores nationwide, which they have named "Concierge Paperbacks."

We believe that a bookstore is a place where people can find their place in a world overflowing with information and discover what they truly desire, and we call the support we provide for these discoveries and encounters "lifestyle suggestions."At Tsutaya Bookstore, concierges who are experts in various genres such as cooking, travel and literature act as guides for customers' discoveries and encounters, proposing lifestyle suggestions to customers through books, related goods, events and more.

This "Concierge Library" is Tsutaya Bookstore's first nationwide project, and the company plans to continue holding fairs across the country featuring books selected by its concierges on a single theme.

The theme of this first "Concierge Library" is "Your First Book."Ten concierges will each select five titles based on the theme of "Your first book about something like this," and a total of 50 titles will be available at each store.

A portion of the proceeds from this Concierge Library will be donated to the Japan Braille Library, a social welfare corporation, as a charity, to promote the spread of reading culture among the visually impaired.

Comment from Yoshiaki Misuna, humanities concierge at Umeda Tsutaya Bookstore, who planned and proposed the Concierge Library
"When I ask customers in the store why they love books, many of them tell me that the first book they read was very interesting. On the other hand, when I spoke to customers who had rarely had the opportunity to pick up a book, they told me that it was because the books they were required to read in school and write book reports didn't suit them.
To coincide with Book Day on November 1st, concierges from across the country gathered together to select a special book to help people rediscover books and bookstores. I recommend this book with the hope that your "first book" will be the one that starts you off."

■Introducing the concierges participating in this project, their themes, and some of their book selections

・Mamuro Michiko (Daikanyama T-Site Literature Concierge)　
"My First Mystery": "Tenko and Anton" by Erich Kästner and others
The "original charismatic bookseller" introduces recommended books in various media such as magazines and TV. In addition to having a series of book reviews in women's magazines, she also writes many commentaries on paperbacks. A bookworm who reads 500 books a year.

・ Miyadai Yumiko (Humanities Concierge, Daikanyama T-Site Bookstore)
"The first book for a new you and me": "How to read a book" by Keiichiro Hirano and others
A concierge dedicated to the humanities, whose experience as a bookstore clerk is also his experience in humanities books. We have planned many events, including the Daikanyama Humanities Cafe and author talk events.

・Yoshiaki Misago (Humanities Concierge, Umeda Tsutaya Bookstore)
"The Door to Books: Your First Book": "Gift from the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh and others
He writes a series of book reviews as well as guides to reading Buddhist books. The organization is also well-known for planning events such as the "Reading School," which creates a place for people to discover new books.

・Kitamura Tomoyuki (Umeda Tsutaya Bookstore, Humanities Concierge)
"The first book to hit me hard": "Humanity: This Dramatic Thing" by Tsuneari Fukuda and others
After working at a major bookstore chain, a local bookstore in front of the station, a long-established bookstore, and a select bookshop with a cafe attached, she is currently working as a literary concierge at Umeda Tsutaya Books.

・Mikiya Sakamoto (Travel Concierge, Tsutaya Bookstore, Hakodate)
"The first book to take you on a journey": "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho and others
After returning from his travels around the world, he worked for a travel agency and a hotel before becoming a travel concierge at Hakodate Tsutaya Bookstore. We recommend books that invite customers to travel and suggest how to spend their time there.

・Yagi Yasuko (Humanities Concierge, Shonan Tsutaya Bookstore)
"The first book for traveling to another world": "Tsuji" by Furui Yoshiyoshi and others
After working for a newspaper company, a publishing company, and a library, he became a bookseller. In addition to contributing book reviews to literary magazines and newspapers, he has 15 years of experience previewing works for literary awards. His hobby is Noh music.

・Eto Hiroki (Hiroshima Tsutaya Bookstore Literary Concierge)
"The first book to jump into the world of science fiction": "11 eleven" by Yasumi Tsuhara and others
A literary concierge who loves mystery and science fiction. In addition to books, he also loves Kendama and has competed in the Kendama World Cup four times.

・Kitada Hiromitsu (Humanities Concierge, Tsutaya Electrics, Futako Tamagawa)
"The first book that will change the way you see the world": "Playing Colors" by Fukumi Shimura and others
After working as a manager at a publishing agency and a bookstore complex, he is currently a humanities concierge at Tsutaya Electrics in Futakotamagawa. He also publishes books as a "one-man publisher."He is the planner and executive committee chairman for "Bookstore Expo," which will be held at the end of January 2020 and will bring together around 40 attractive and unique bookstores.

・Mori Yasumi/Mori Yasumi (Hokkaido TSUTAYA BOOK project)
"Meeting the "me" from a different worldline: My first book": "Hello Sadness" by Françoise Sagan, and others
After working at a bookstore, he worked as a concierge at Hakodate Tsutaya Bookstore when it was first established. He currently serves as the BOOK MD for all TSUTAYA stores in Hokkaido.

・Yakushiji Ayako (Tsutaya Bookstore Planning Office)
"The first book to read while waiting for the food you ordered": "Books to read on sleepless nights" by Shusaku Endo and others
After working at TSUTAYA TOKYO ROPPONGI, Daikanyama T-Site, and Futakotamagawa T-Site Electrics, he is now in charge of vintage books for all of T-Site. I believe that humanities books are "practical books for living a better life."

■Concierge Bunko stores
Hakodate Tsutaya Bookstore, Ebetsu Tsutaya Bookstore
Tsutaya Bookstore Tagajo City Library
Urawa Tsutaya Bookstore
Makuhari Tsutaya Bookstore
Kashiwa no Ha Tsutaya Bookstore
Daikanyama Tsutaya Bookstore
Nakameguro Tsutaya Bookstore
Futako Tamagawa Tsutaya Electrics
Shonan Tsutaya Bookstore
Tsutaya Bookstore Ebina City Central Library
Nagoya Minato Tsutaya Bookstore
Umeda Tsutaya Bookstore
Hirakata Tsutaya Bookstore
Hiroshima Tsutaya Bookstore
Edion Tsutaya Electrics
Tsutaya Bookstore Shunan City Tokuyama Station Library
Kochi Tsutaya Bookstore
Ropponmatsu Tsutaya Bookstore
Tsutaya Bookstore Takeo City Library
Tsutaya Bookstore Nobeoka Encross

Materials related to this matter

Tsutaya Bookstore's "Concierge Library," a nationwide project in preparation for Book Day (November 1st), has launched!

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Culture Convenience Club Co., Ltd. 　
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