The secondhand book market connects books, towns, and people
June 10th, 2017, a sunny Saturday with blue skies during the rainy season.
On the day of the 7th annual "Book Carnival in Kamakura 2017," a popular secondhand book market, many people were waiting in front of the Yuigahama Public Hall and the old house "Garden & Space Kurukuru" for the doors to open. The event was organized by "books moblo," a popular secondhand book store in Kamakura.
Inside the venue, there are 35 small bookstores with books carefully selected by various people. It is a paradise of books that will excite even those who are not book lovers, with picture books, photo books, literature, travel books, and even a store that only sells "scary" books, and a booth with a high-quality design selling local little presses. The customers are of all ages. Young women, couples, mothers and children, everyone enjoys searching for books in their own way.
The venue for the Book Carnival in Kamakura, Yuigahama Community Center. The atmosphere was incredibly exciting right from the start!
"Garden & Space Kurukuru" Book hunting in a venue with a beautiful garden. A dreamlike time.
But that's not all. First, there's a stamp rally that connects the venues. Collect stamps while browsing the variety stores and having tea at cafes along the way, and you'll receive an original, stylish eco-bag.
In addition, there are many events suitable for Kamakura, a city of writers, such as talk events with authors with ties to Kamakura, bookbinding workshops that are fully booked, readings for children, and "adult readings." "Book Carnival in Kamakura" is a dense book festival where you can choose according to your preferences.
The 4th Odawara Book Market was held the following week on June 17th, and it was also a very lively day, with a constant stream of people from the moment the venue opened.
There were 30 groups at three locations: the Midori Community Center near the station, the Hirai Bookstore parking lot, and the shared space Kyu-Sanpuku. At the booths of novelist Michiko Yazuki and manga artist Tomoko Fuyukawa, both from Odawara, there were customers who came from far away to have their purchased books signed.
The venue for the Odawara Book Market, Midori Community Center. Booths for local novelists Michiko Yazuki and Tomoko Fuyukawa.
The distinctive feature of the Odawara Book Market is the "Machinaka Venue." In addition to the main venue, cafes and shops will open their own bookstores for one day, displaying books with their own unique selections. Customers can enjoy book hunting by walking around looking for shops with a venue map distributed on the day.
There will also be live performances at Cafe Mago, a downtown venue that many people, even those living in Odawara, visited for the first time.
One of the joys of the secondhand book fair is to explore the town. As you walk around looking for your destination, you may step into an alley you've never walked down before or discover a charming shop you never had the chance to enter. The venue map is like a little treasure map that you can use afterwards.
A day where everyone involved can enjoy themselves
When you find a book that makes your heart flutter, you feel a surge of joy as if you have connected with the person even without a conversation. "There was a boy who asked his mother to buy him a manga by Shigeru Mizuki. It makes me so happy when unexpected people buy my books," said the store owner.
The shop owners, who sat next to each other on the day, became friendly with each other as time went on and enjoyed talking about books.
At each venue, book-loving volunteer staff members were helping out at reception and guiding visitors to the stamp rally. They were responsible for a variety of tasks, such as guiding visitors around the venue, looking after shop owners and dealing with customers, and patrolling between venues...it was impressive to see how they all seemed to enjoy talking to each other despite the many jobs they had. Their kindness and smiles, as they wanted customers and shop owners to have fun, connected people together and made the whole event a warm and cheerful one.
The decorations at the venue were also handmade by the staff. Book-shaped ceiling ornaments swayed in the breeze.
A used book market in the city connects people
According to Keiko Ushiyama, editor and head of the Odawara Book Market, this time many of the store owners in the town themselves came up with ways to liven up the Odawara Book Market, and she feels that it may be gradually becoming established. Some people even return to their stores after the event and become regulars. It was a day that gave birth to many small, invisible connections.
The parking lot of Hirai Shoten, a bookstore in town, will also be included in the venue.
At secondhand book markets, many secret heart-to-heart exchanges take place through "books," which connect to a special place deep in everyone's heart. After reading, you will want to talk about it, and you will want to visit the place where you first encountered the book.
Even though people are said to be moving away from reading, secondhand book markets remain popular, perhaps because communication through "books" quietly and deeply connects people with each other.
