Editorial

15:23 JST, June 11, 2025

Bookstores are cultural centers for local communities that connect people with books. Their existence is also deeply connected to people’s education and character building. It is necessary to halt the decline in the number of bookstores and enhance momentum to protect them as a foundation of knowledge.

The government has announced a plan to vitalize bookstores. To reduce the high rate of unsold newly released books and magazines returned to publishers, which is said to be one of the causes of rising book distribution costs, the government will hold study sessions together with people related to the industry and aim to improve the operational efficiency of bookstores through the widespread use of IC tags.

In addition, the government, across its ministries and agencies, intends to support bookstores through such means as strengthening efforts to lower fees for cashless payments, which are........

© The Japan News