“Of course, the reading part is fun too, but picking out the books, therein lies the fun.”
Kojima says it saddens him to see bookstores disappearing; digital books are fine, he supposes, but the pleasure is in choosing the book yourself in the shop — the reading is fun, but picking out the books is where the fun lies. He recalled the full childhood ritual: going with just enough pocket money, hesitating in front of the shelves deciding which to take, the thrill of standing at the register with the chosen book, being asked whether to have a paper cover put on and answering yes, paying, receiving change and placing a bookmark. He notes that today in Japan many bookstores have self‑service and, with COVID precautions, some no longer put the paper cover on for you — you put it on yourself — and he wants people today to experience that same fun.
“It's also really sad to see fewer and fewer bookstores in these times. […] Back in the day, the staff would ask you, would you like us to wrap a cover over the book? And you answered yes! That was all part of the fun. Paying for the book, getting your change, putting a bookmark in it, I want everyone now to experience that same fun.”