Latest news with #Kinokuniya
a day ago
- Entertainment
Forever Young: A New Manga Title Takes On the American Market
Manga has long been big business in Japan, and weekly publications like Young Magazine are instrumental in keeping it front and center in the cultural conversation. But in an era of shrinking Japanese readerships, creators see the future of the medium as being overseas. A new English-language edition of the manga vehicle, the special issue released to kick off the Young Magazine US print run, goes hard from the very beginning, featuring an originally illustrated cover by Ghost in the Shell creator Shirow Masamune. The artwork envisions a futuristic city where urban life, humanity, and technology intersect—perfectly capturing the issue's editorial theme: unfiltered manga. The cover of the US-exclusive edition of Young Magazine . (© Kōdansha) The debut issue features 19 works across a wide range of genres—including sci-fi, dark horror, and cyberpunk—created by both established and emerging talents from Japan and abroad. Highlights include Subaru and Subaru by Shigeno Shūichi, known internationally for Initial D , and Me and Bob Dylan (And My Father) by Oshimi Shūzō, renowned for his raw portrayals of adolescence in titles like The Flowers of Evil and Blood on the Tracks . Me and Bob Dylan (And My Father) by Oshimi Shūzō. (© Kōdansha) A limited run of 4,000 print copies of this special kick-off issue will be handed out at the Anime NYC 2025 show, held in New York City from August 21 to 24. The special issue will also be made available at 17 Kinokuniya bookstores across the United States. A digital version will be released through a dedicated website and on social media platforms. Of the 19 featured titles, 16 will be opened to fan voting to determine whether they continue in serialization in English. Rankings will be determined by votes on the special website and by the number of likes and reposts their shares receive on X (formerly Twitter). The top five titles will be serialized in both Japanese and English later this year in the official English edition of Young Magazine and Kōdansha's K Manga app. The title page of The Graveyard Shift by Satō Yoshimi, one of 19 works included in the special US issue. (© Kōdansha) While manga for younger teens—both boys and girls—dominates the North American market, Hidemi Shiraki, the chief editor of this special English issue of Young Magazine , emphasizes the unique appeal of manga for young adults: 'So-called seinen manga, aimed at older readers, has in Japan long explored the raw emotional complexities of life—including the struggles, pain, and alienation from society that people in this cohort experience. I hope readers in North America can connect with these emotions through our stories.' (Originally published in Japanese on July 15. Banner photo: The special Young Magazine US issue with its original cover by Shirow Masamune. © Kōdansha.)
SoraNews24
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- SoraNews24
Young Magazine to give away special US-only edition with works by new and legendary mangaka
Over 1,000 pages of free manga goodness. When it comes to seinen manga, which is aimed at an adult audience, the premier magazine has long been the ironically titled Young Magazine . Famous for publishing legendary series like Akira and Ghost in the Shell , it has long featured stories with complex morality and unflinching depictions of violence and sexuality. Young Magazine has become quite the adult itself, now celebrating its 45th anniversary, and in honor of this, it will release a free special edition issue in the USA only. These magazines will only be available at the Kinokuniya booth at the Anime NYC convention from 21 to 24 August and from all 17 Kinokuniya bookstores stores across the US from 21 August to 10 November, or while supplies last. This beefy, 1,044-page issue of Young Magazine will contain 20 stories, including 16 new titles carefully selected from a field of over 100 manga creators to best represent the magazine's theme of boundary-pushing and rich world-building. During the distribution period, American readers will be able to vote for their favorites on Young Magazine 's official website and Twitter account. The title that receives the most votes will be added as an ongoing series to the K Manga app. Limited edition prizes will also be given to lucky readers who post more about the manga they're voting for. In addition, there will be four titles by well-established manga creators. Shuzo Oshimi, known for works such as Blood on the Tracks , looks set to explore his relationship with Bob Dylan further in a autobiographical manga called Me and Bob Dylan (and My Father) . Horror writer Masaaki Nakayama , whose resume includes Fuan no Tane , will return from a mysterious hiatus with a new story, The Silent Forest , set in the Edo period over 150 years ago. There will also be a chapter of Kengo Hanazawa's hit series Under Ninja , which was recently adapted into a live-action movie in Japan. And last but certainly not least, Initial D and MF Ghost creator Shuichi Shigeno will make his triumphant return to street racing manga with Subaru and Subaru , which is actually about two people named 'Subaru' rather than the cars, though I have to think they'll make frequent appearances too. Don't forget, all of this will be given out for free at Anime NYC and Kinokuniya bookstores, so you better act fast before they fly off the shelves faster than Takumi driving away from a Fuan no Tane ghost. Featured images: ©︎ 2025 KODANSHA LTD. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Insert images: ©Robico/Kodansha Ltd., ©Denchi Matsumoto・Keita Nishijima/Kodansha Ltd., ©Yukito Iwai/Kodansha Ltd., ©Rin Shimokawa/Kodansha Ltd., ©Hiroshi Takashige・Tatsumi Hitomoji/Kodansha Ltd., ©Kami Nishio/Kodansha Ltd., ©Hiroki Ishizawa/Kodansha Ltd., ©Keito Gaku/Kodansha Ltd., ©Shuzo Oshimi/Kodansha Ltd., ©Masaaki Nakayama/Kodansha Ltd., ©Kengo Hanazawa/Kodansha Ltd., ©Shuichi Shigeno/Kodansha Ltd. ● Want to hear about SoraNews24's latest articles as soon as they're published? Follow us on Facebook and Twitter!
New Paper
18-07-2025
- Business
- New Paper
Third Kinokuniya branch opens in Raffles City, weeks before planned date
Kinokuniya, the Republic's only remaining books-focused mega-chain, opened its third outlet in shopping mall Raffles City on the morning of July 18. The celebratory occasion bucked prevailing trends of bookshop closures amid laments of declining book-buying habits. The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the "hidden literary haven", designed by award-winning architect Tan Kay Ngee, took place weeks before its initial scheduled date of August and immediately welcomed about 30 patrons. Kinokuniya vice-president of domestic and overseas business Keijiro Mori said Singapore may be more digitalised than other countries, but trends away from screens in Britain and the United States offer hope. "I'm confident this will come to Singapore," he added. "Meanwhile, we have to try to include more non-book items. But we will try to keep these book-related. We don't want to become a general miscellaneous store." Totalling 3,433 sq ft, the third-floor space had, up till April, been leased by tech gadget retailer Challenger. It may be a far cry from Kinokuniya's Ngee Ann City flagship - at about 10 times the size - but news of its opening, announced three months ago, still came as a salve to bibliophiles after worrying scenes of bookshelves in Ngee Ann City being emptied. Totalling 3,433 sq ft, the third-floor space had, up till April, been leased by tech gadget retailer Challenger. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM In February, The Straits Times reported that the 38,000 sq ft store was being downsized after rental negotiations with landlord Toshin Development arrived at the conclusion that the front portion of the bookstore would be taken over by a cafe. Kinokuniya has since assured the public that its range of titles remained intact. Its Raffles City branch is similar in size to the Bugis Junction store, which opened in 2013. Kinokuniya Raffles City was "designed not to shout, but to invite", which architect Tan has attempted with a long central axis leading to a blue-hued Reading Room, an alcove that reuses some of Kinokuniya's signature shelves from Ngee Ann City. The bookstore at Raffles City is divided into the Reading Room (left) and main area (right). ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Exclusive stationery is being touted as a key feature, such as cat-themed products from Japanese designer Matsuo Miyuki and the anthropomorphic Pickles the Frog. "We put the honey in front," said Kinokuniya consultant Kenny Chan. Exclusive merchandise such as Pickles the Frog in Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM There are other subtle differentiations from other branches, for instance, a greater focus on English-language and business-related books to cater to the Central Business District crowd. Mr Ervin Yeo, chief executive of commercial management at CapitaLand Investment, said customer satisfaction surveys have long indicated a demand for Raffles City to have a bookstore again, which would allow browsing between appointments while also supplying nearby Fairmont Hotel and Swissotel The Stamford guests with holiday reads. Raffles City is managed by CapitaLand. There could be "cross-activations", he added, suggesting collaborations with brands like Chinese milk tea chain Chagee, wine concierge Grand Cru and cafe Alice Boulangerie. "With the right trade mix, we hope that sales for all tenants will improve." According to a National Library Board 2024 study, 28 per cent of adults read books and e-books more than once a week. Among these, 75 per cent still prefer physical books, and more people buy physical books from bookstores (54 per cent) than borrow from libraries (51 per cent). After the outpouring of grief over Kinokuniya's reduction at Ngee Ann City, Mr Yeo urged the public to put their money where their mouth is. "Rather than bellyaching over their closures and lamenting their disappearance, the best thing we can all do to support bookstores is to visit bookstores and buy books."
AsiaOne
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- AsiaOne
Books Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City opens, features reading room and outlet-exclusive items, Lifestyle News
Bibliophiles can rejoice as they'll be able to explore Books Kinokuniya's new Raffles City outlet — originally slated to open in August — sooner than expected. Books Kinokuniya's newest store opened its doors to the public on Friday (July 18), the Japanese bookstore chain announced in a press release on July 15. The store is located on the third level of the shopping centre, taking over the unit formerly occupied by consumer electronics chain Challenger, with this being Books Kinokuniya's third location in Singapore. The Raffles City outlet spans 3,433 sq ft and visitors might be drawn to its major feature located in the heart of the store: The Reading Room. With shelves painted deep blue, the room offers a quiet and tranquil vibe for visitors and is a clear distinction from the wooden tones of the rest of the store. The room is intended to evoke a sense of contemplation and to be a distinct cove for booklovers, the brand shared in its press release. A curated selection of popular genres such as Asian Literature, Romance, Fiction and more can be found here. Something for visitors to note is that there are no comics or children's books in this section of the store. Magazines and books in Chinese or Japanese are not available at the new space, but visitors can find them at Kinokuniya's two other outlets. There's also a selection of outlet-exclusive stationery and merchandise, from cat-themed products by Matsuo Miyuki to rare Pickles the Frog items only available at this location. Customers can also get Books Kinokuniya merchandise such as pouches or paper clip boxes with a minimum spend of $30, while stocks last, said a company spokesperson. There will also be a variety of events held at the new store, including mascot appearances by characters such as Smiski and Moomin, so keep your eyes peeled on Books Kinokuniya's socials for more information. In the wake of its sister company NBC Stationery & Gifts's closure in the same mall earlier this year, along with the recent downsizing of Books Kinokuniya's flagship store in Takashimaya Shopping Centre, news of this opening may also come as a welcomed start for the brand and book lovers alike. Recently, customers and book lovers in Singapore had lamented at the sight of empty shelves at the Takashimaya outlet. The 38,000 sq ft store was in the midst of downsizing operations, with the vacated space set to be replaced by a new cafe among others, The Straits Times reported. Many members of public took to social media, dismayed by the thought of the nostalgic outlet downsizing. Books Kinokuniya then shared an announcement to reassure their fans that business operations would continue as usual. Address: 252 North Bridge Road #03-22/23 Singapore 179103 [[nid:717983]] amierul@
Straits Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Kinokuniya opens third bookstore in Raffles City after flagship downsizing
SINGAPORE – Kinokuniya, the Republic's only remaining books-focused mega-chain, opened its third outlet in shopping mall Raffles City on the morning of July 18. The celebratory occasion bucked prevailing trends of bookshop closures amid laments of declining book-buying habits. The ribbon cutting ceremony for the 'hidden literary haven', designed by award-winning architect Tan Kay Ngee, took place weeks before its initial scheduled date of August and immediately welcomed about 30 patrons. Vice-president of Kinokuniya Keijiro Mori says Singapore may be more digitalised than other countries, but that trends in the United Kingdom and United States returning to the analogue offers hope. 'I'm confident this will come to Singapore,' he says. 'Meanwhile, we have to try to include more non-books items. But we try to keep these still somehow book-related. We don't want to become a general miscellaneous store.' Totalling 3,433 sq ft, the third-floor space had up till April been leased by tech gadget retailer Challenger. It may be a far cry from Kinokuniya's Ngee Ann City flagship – at about 10 times the size – but news of its opening, when it was announced three months ago, still came as a salve to bibliophiles after worrying scenes of bookshelves in Ngee Ann City being emptied. Totalling 3,433 sq ft, the third-floor space had up till April been leased by tech gadget retailer Challenger. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM In February, The Straits Times reported that the 38,000 sq ft store was being downsized after rental negotiations with landlord Toshin Development arrived at the conclusion that the front portion of the bookstore would be taken over by a cafe. Kinokuniya has since assured the public that its range of titles remained intact. The other Kinokuniya branch of similar size to the Raffles City one opened in Bugis Junction in 2013. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Up to 30% of aviation jobs would have to be redesigned because of AI, automation: CAAS Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences Business Global fintech firms expanding in Singapore with larger offices, APAC hubs Singapore 5 foreigners charged over scheme to deliberately get arrested in S'pore to sell sex drugs Life F1 Singapore Grand Prix: Music acts Lewis Capaldi, Clean Bandit, Spice Girls' Melanie C added World Trump threatens to sue WSJ over story on alleged 2003 letter to Epstein Asia Appointment of Malaysia's new chief justice eases controversy over vacant top judge seats for now Singapore SPCA appoints Walter Leong as new executive director Kinokuniya Raffles City was 'designed not to shout, but to invite', which architect Tay has attempted with a long central axis leading to a blue-hued Reading Room, an alcove that re-uses some of Kinokuniya's signature shelves transported from Ngee Ann City. The long central axis of bookshelves dividing the reading room (left) and the main area (right), where merchandise, stationery and more books are, in Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Exclusive stationery is being touted as a key feature, such as cat-themed products from Japanese designer Matsuo Miyuki and the anthropomorphic Pickles the Frog. 'We put the honey in front,' says former Kinokuniya Asia-Pacific senior store and merchandising director Kenny Chan. Exclusive merchandise such as Pickles the Frog in Kinokuniya's new outlet at Raffles City. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM There are other subtle differentiations from other branches, for instance focusing more on English-language and business-related books to cater to the Central Business District crowd. Landlord CapitaLand's chief executive officer Ervin Yeo said customer satisfaction surveys have long indicated a demand for Raffles City to have its own bookstore, which would allow for browsing in between appointments while also supplying nearby Fairmont Hotel and Swissotel guests with their holiday reads There could be 'cross-activations', he says, suggesting books and Chinese milk tea chain Chagee. 'With the right trade mix, we hope that sales for all tenants will improve.' According to a National Library Board 2024 study, 28 per cent of adults read books and e-books more than once a week. Among these, 75 per cent still prefer physical books, and more people buy physical books from bookstores (54 per cent) than borrow from libraries (51 per cent). After the outpouring of grief over Kinokuniya's reduction at Ngee Ann City, Mr Yeo urged the public to put their money where their mouth is. 'Rather than bellyaching over their closures and lamenting their disappearance, the best thing we can all do to support bookstores is to visit bookstores and buy books.'
