Opening of Kinokuniya at New Little Tokyo Location Celebrated

By JUN NAGATA
RAFU STAFF WRITER

Kinokuniya Bookstore Los Angeles, which recently relocated to the ground floor of the Kajima Building in a prime Little Tokyo location, held a reception on July 1 at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center to celebrate its grand reopening.
The store renewed its commitment to revitalizing Little Tokyo and growing alongside the community by focusing not only on book sales but also on promoting Japanese pop culture.

Distinguished guests — including Consul General Kosei Murota, Little Tokyo business leaders, and publishing industry professionals from both Japan and the U.S. — praised the expanded store’s extensive product selection and expressed high expectations for its role in disseminating Japanese content, such as manga.

Masashi Takai, chairman of Kinokuniya Co., delivered opening remarks, highlighting the company’s history of expanding from its first U.S. location to major cities across the country, and expressing a commitment to continued growth and integration with the local community in Little Tokyo.

According to Takai, Kinokuniya opened its first overseas store in San Francisco in 1969, marking 57 years since the company’s entry into the U.S. market. He explained that the founder, Moichi Tanabe, decided to open the store out of a strong desire to respond to requests from Japanese Americans and the need to share Japanese culture with the U.S.

Eight years later, in 1977, the Los Angeles store opened in Little Tokyo within the New Otani Hotel, and three years after that, in 1980, it relocated to Weller Court.

Takai emphasized that for the past 46 years, the store has been an integral part of the Little Tokyo community, supported by local residents. Since then, the company has expanded its network across the U.S. — including locations in New York, Seattle, and Texas — and currently operates 22 stores in North America.

The relocated store has embarked on a new chapter as a large-scale flagship location spanning approximately 14,000 square feet. Takai bowed deeply, expressing heartfelt gratitude, noting, “This is entirely due to the long-standing patronage and support of everyone here.”

Regarding Los Angeles, he outlined a promising outlook: “The city is currently buzzing with excitement. Beyond the presence of Dodgers players Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki, the city is set to host the soccer World Cup and the 2028 Olympics. With ongoing infrastructure and stadium construction, further development is anticipated.”

Takai emphasized that “Little Tokyo stands out as a particularly vibrant hub where people gather in great numbers within this metropolis.” He spoke with conviction about the future, stating, “Japanese manga, anime, music, cuisine, and culture continue to captivate people across generations and national borders, and the role played by Little Tokyo will only grow in importance. As a member of this community, Kinokuniya Bookstore is committed to contributing to the continued development of Los Angeles and Little Tokyo.

“We ask for your continued support as we look forward to further growth in this location over the next 50 to 100 years.”

Distinguished guests delivered congratulatory remarks to celebrate the launch of the new store. Comparing Kinokuniya’s initial entry into the U.S. market in 1969 with the present day, Consul General Murota noted, “While the original goal was to convey Japanese culture by selling Japanese books, the new mission is to disseminate a wide range of Japanese content, centered on anime. This is a truly significant role.”

He expressed his hope that Japanese content originating in Los Angeles would spread via social media and the Internet to reach audiences across the U.S. and around the world, and pledged his continued support, just as he had assisted with the opening of the new store.

Yoshinobu Noma, president of publisher Kodansha, who led the toast, recounted how his grandfather had traveled to the U.S. to deliver a congratulatory address when the first store opened in 1969. Noting that this was his second time attending an anniversary reception — following the Los Angeles store’s 40th-anniversary event — he said that he was “truly honored.”

Regarding Japan’s efforts to expand its content business overseas, he explained that the government has set a goal to increase international sales of Japanese content — such as anime and games — from the current 6 trillion yen to 20 trillion yen by 2033, with various projects currently underway to achieve this.

Noma emphasized, “Manga is positioned as a key sector within this initiative,” and expressed his high expectations, stating, “We will continue to produce content that sells well, so I hope the team at the Los Angeles store will aggressively promote and sell it across the United States and around the world.”

Store Manager Sakura Yamaguchi took the stage to express her gratitude. She had been assigned to oversee the relocation and grand reopening, and she looked visibly relieved, expressing heartfelt gratitude that, despite delays, the new store had finally opened.

“Every day, I keenly feel the customers’ passion for Japanese content,” she said. “I believe it is my mission to ensure this enthusiasm becomes a lasting fixture rather than a passing trend. I want to create an even better store and a better space.”

She also shared her aspirations, saying, “Thanks to the creation of this wonderful, spacious, and open store, the possibilities have expanded. I hope to do something exciting here in historic Little Tokyo,” and was met with thunderous applause.

Naoki Oyamatsu, senior vice president of Kinokuniya Bookstores of America, expressed his aspirations, stating, “We are proud to take this new step forward here in Little Tokyo, a place with a rich history of U.S.-Japan exchange. We remain committed to contributing to the continued prosperity of both Little Tokyo and Los Angeles.”

He concluded the event by asking for the public’s continued patronage of the newly reborn Los Angeles location.

The new location offers access to the Kajima Building’s parking lot and is close to the Metro Little Tokyo/Arts District Station as well as various bus stops. Situated at the corner of San Pedro and First streets, the shop is accessible from both thoroughfares.

With high foot traffic — driven by customers visiting nearby anime shops and Japanese restaurants — the move is considered an upgrade to a superior location that promises strong customer turnout.

Boasting a sales floor more than twice the size of the previous location, the store offers a spacious, open atmosphere. The selection of Japanese-language books spans a wide range of genres, including novels, magazines, manga, travel guides, specialized works on Japanese culture and art, and picture books for young children.

Regarding English-language titles, the store features one of California’s largest selections of manga in translation, alongside a robust collection of general books, particularly English translations of Japanese literature that have recently garnered significant attention.

In addition to books, the store offers high-quality Japanese-made stationery, mugs, T-shirts, plastic models, wallets, and gift items that combine stylish design with functionality. It also features permanent sections dedicated to Hello Kitty, anime figures, character merchandise, and Studio Ghibli titles such as “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Castle in the Sky,” and “Spirited Away,” alongside original products exclusive to the Los Angeles location. A photo book and bobblehead doll featuring Shohei Ohtani also catch the eye.

Kinokuniya Bookstore
Los Angeles
101 San Pedro St.,
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: (213) 687-4480
Website: https://usa.kinokuniya.com/stores-kinokuniya
Hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily