Kawade Shobo Shinsha's 140th Anniversary Project: Kawade Bookstore Announces Second Opening on August 8, 2026, Featuring Talk Event with Iri no Matsuda and Harajuku

140th Anniversary Character 'Fukurou-san' Illustration by Bunpei Yorito (Bunpei Ginza)

Kawade Shobo Shinsha Co., Ltd. (Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo / President Yu Onodera) has opened Kawade Bookstore (Kawade Shoten) to commemorate its 140th anniversary.

The second opening will be held on Saturday, August 8, 2026, with entry by complete reservation only.

● About Kawade Bookstore

A small, occasional bookstore located on the 3rd floor of Kawade Shobo Shinsha's headquarters.

Each time it opens, a special guest—such as an author, translator, book designer, or editor—visits, selects a book they cherish, and shares stories about it.

Bookshelves reflecting 140 years of history welcome you.

Here, you may discover the book you've always searched for—or one you never knew existed.

Opening summer 2026.

● Motto: 'Let’s Keep Talking About Books!'

How did that person turn the pages?

What kind of scenery did they imagine while reading?

A space to share the time and memories embedded in books.

That is 'Kawade Bookstore'.

● Access to Kawade Bookstore

3rd Floor, Kawade Shobo Shinsha Co., Ltd. 2-13 Higashi-Gokanden-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8544

・5-minute walk from Kagurazaka Station (Tozai Line)

・8-minute walk from Ochanomizu-Kagurazaka Station (Toei Oedo Line)

・10-minute walk from Iidabashi Station (JR Sobu Line)

● How to Enter Kawade Bookstore

① Upcoming opening dates will be announced on the Kawade Bookstore website.

https://www.kawade.co.jp/kawadeshoten2026/

② Those wishing to attend in person must apply for a 'Live Viewing' ticket. If demand exceeds capacity, a lottery will be held, and only selected applicants may purchase tickets.

③ Those wishing to attend online should purchase a 'Streaming' ticket.

④ On the day, enjoy the guest’s talk about books.

⑤ After the talk, enjoy shopping at the bookstore.

※ Tickets will be sold via the digital ticketing platform 'Zaiko'.

Second Kawade Bookstore Sales Page: https://kawade.zaiko.io/e/kawadeshoten2

〈Important Notes〉

※ Entry is limited to the ticket holder only. A photo ID (driver’s license, My Number card, passport, student ID, etc.) will be required upon entry. Entry may be denied without proper identification.

※ Access to offices other than Kawade Bookstore on the 3rd floor of Kawade Shobo Shinsha’s building is prohibited.

※ Kawade Bookstore will feature all active titles from the Kawade Bunko series and special book selection events. Not all publications by Kawade Shobo Shinsha will be available. Please understand in advance.

※ Tickets are required for elementary school students and above. Preschool children may attend free of charge, one per ticket-holding adult.

※ Staff may inspect attendees’ belongings. Your cooperation is appreciated.

※ Late arrivals due to personal circumstances or transportation delays, or failure to follow staff instructions, may result in denied entry.

※ A mini signing session is planned after the event. Details will be sent via email to ticket holders.

※ Gifts and letters for guests should be placed in the designated gift box at the venue. Direct handover to guests is not permitted.

※ If you are unable to attend on the day, refunds will not be issued. However, absentees will receive two selected Kawade Bunko books and a 140th-anniversary tote bag as a gift, shipped postpaid (shipping cost borne by the recipient). Shipping address must be submitted by the deadline specified in the post-event email sent to your Zaiko-registered email. Failure to respond by the deadline will result in no shipment.

※ For attendee safety, the event may be altered or canceled due to natural disasters or weather. Refund procedures in case of cancellation will be announced via Zaiko as soon as decided.

● Second Opening on August 8, 2026 — Ticket Sales Start July 8!

Talk Event with Iri no Matsuda and Harajuku: 'Where Does the Fascination of Novels Come From?'

For the second opening of the 140th-anniversary project 'Kawade Bookstore,' we welcome rising star author Iri no Matsuda, whose debut novel 'Happy-yama' won the Bungei Prize, and Harajuku, former editor-in-chief of 'Omocoro'.

The theme is 'Where Does the Fascination of Novels Come From?' Using the many layers of 'fun' embedded in 'Happy-yama' as clues, Matsuda and Harajuku will explore their respective sources of expression.

Matsuda, who has crafted words on stage through theater, and Harajuku, who has delivered words via cutting-edge web media, will discuss creation, camaraderie, humor, expression, and the future of literature, with 'Happy-yama' as their starting point.

Kawade Bookstore is a small space where book creators, readers, and distributors exchange words in the same room.

Why not peek into the landscape of contemporary literature through Kawade Bookstore?

'From the Window of Happy-yama' — Iri no Matsuda and Harajuku

Date & Time: Saturday, August 8, 2026 — Doors open 13:30 / Start 14:00 / End 15:30 (estimated)

【Ticket Information】

Live Viewing Ticket: ¥4,950 (tax included)

・Entry to Kawade Bookstore

・Participation in the talk event

・Choice of 2 Kawade Bunko books from the in-store shelves

・Complimentary Kawade Shobo Shinsha 140th Anniversary Tote Bag (retail price ¥3,080)

・Capacity: 15 people — Fully reserved. Lottery if oversubscribed

Streaming + Book Selection + Tote Bag Set Ticket: ¥4,730 (tax included) — Shipping included

・Live and archived streaming access

・2 selected Kawade Bunko books chosen by the guests

・Complimentary 140th Anniversary Tote Bag and the 2 books shipped to your home

Streaming Only Ticket: ¥1,650 (tax included)

・Live and archived streaming access

[Recommended for Repeat Attendees] Streaming + Book Selection Set Ticket: ¥3,630 (tax included) — Shipping included

・Live and archived streaming access

・2 guest-selected Kawade Bunko books shipped to your home

140th Anniversary Commemorative Tote Bag

Ticket Sales Site: https://kawade.zaiko.io/e/kawadeshoten2

● More openings coming soon!

Third Talk Event: Motoki Shibata × Sachiko Kishimoto [Scheduled for September]

Fourth and beyond: Events planned with diverse guests including Sohma Saito, Mariko Saito, and others connected to books.

※ Details and ticket sales for each event will be announced sequentially on the Kawade Bookstore special website.

※ Guests and schedules are subject to change.

Kawade Bookstore Special Website: https://www.kawade.co.jp/kawadeshoten2026/

● Please stay tuned for more events in Kawade Shobo Shinsha’s 140th Anniversary Project!

○ Kawade