K-Books

K-Books (Japanese: ケーブックス) 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.

K-Books
ケーブックス
TypePrivate
IndustryRetail
Founded1992 (founded)
1994 (incorporated)
Headquarters
Toshima, Tokyo
,
Japan
ProductsUsed goods (otaku and hobbyist-related items)

History

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

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

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]

See also

References
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Nakamura, Akemi (24 April 2006). "For female 'otaku,' a coffee house all their own". The Japan Times. Retrieved 22 February 2020.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. 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.
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