Bookstores had mixed reactions to Kinokuniya Co.¡¯s surprise announcement last week that it was purchasing 90 percent of the first edition of renowned writer Haruki Murakami¡¯s upcoming book. Some said mom-and-pop bookstores are likely to benefit from the move, while others said it was simply a smart business strategy.
Kinokuniya, a major bookstore chain, said there are two main motives behind the announcement: to get a competitive edge over online bookstores, such as Amazon and Rakuten, and to energize smaller book shops.
¡°What¡¯s most important is to change the current situation where the latest popular books don¡¯t really go to real bookstores,¡± said an employee at Kinokuniya who asked not to be named.
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