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3rd Jimbocho Symposium: The Future of Book Culture

On October 23, 2025, the highly anticipated 3rd Jimbocho Symposium, titled "The Future of Book Culture in Jimbocho," will be held at the Publishing Club in Jimbocho, Tokyo. Organized by the Tokyo Cultural Resource Council and co-hosted by the Jimbocho Cultural Broadcasting Conference, this symposium aims to explore the current challenges and opportunities for preserving and promoting Japan's rich literary culture.

Background

Jimbocho, renowned as the world's largest second-hand bookstore district, has long served as a central hub for Japanese publishing culture. Over the years, it has cultivated a unique atmosphere infused with literary history. However, with the rapid advancement of digital technology and changing lifestyles, the landscape surrounding books has undergone significant transformations. The symposium seeks to address these changes and consider how Jimbocho's deep-rooted "book culture" and "city culture" can be passed on to future generations while continuing to evolve.

Event Details

• - Event Name: 3rd Jimbocho Symposium: The Future of Book Culture in Jimbocho
• - Date and Time: October 23, 2025 (Thursday), from 18:00 to 20:00
• - Venue: 3rd Floor Hall, Publishing Club, 1-32 Kanda Jimbocho, Chiyoda, Tokyo
• - Participation Fee: Free
• - Capacity: 280 participants
• - Registration: Advance registration required via Peatix here
• - Organizer: Tokyo Cultural Resource Council
• - Co-Organizer: Jimbocho Cultural Broadcasting Conference
• - Sponsor: Yomiuri Shimbun Tokyo Headquarters

Program Overview

The symposium will feature the following schedule:

• - 18:00-18:05 Opening remarks by Yoko Uekawa (Chairperson of the Physical Culture Members’ Alliance, Member of the House of Representatives)
• - 18:05-18:35 Keynote Speech: "The Charm of Jimbocho to the World (tentative)" by Takaaki Higuchi (Mayor of Chiyoda Ward)
• - 18:35-18:55 Reports on Jimbocho-related projects by:

- Satoshi Kato (Director of the Tokyo Cultural Resource Council / Specially Appointed Researcher at Osaka University)
- Shuichi Matsuki (Executive Director of Japan's Publishing Culture Industry Promotion Foundation)
- Toshikazu Yamaguchi (Chairman of the Letter and Typography Cultural Promotion Organization)

• - 18:55-19:55 Panel Discussion: "New Directions for Book and City Culture: Considerations from Jimbocho" moderated by Yashio Uemura (Professor at Senshu University) with panelists:

- Teijiro Egusa (President of Yuhikaku Co., Ltd.)
- Sung-Bok Kim (President of Quon Co., Ltd.)
- Midorou Yui (President of ALL REVIEWS Co., Ltd.)

• - 19:55-20:00 Closing remarks by Toshiya Yoshimi (Chairman of the Tokyo Cultural Resource Council / Professor at Kokugakuin University)

Key Participants

The symposium will feature prominent speakers:

• - Takaaki Higuchi: As the Mayor of Chiyoda since 2021, he advocates for community cultural promotion based on a principle of on-the-ground engagement.
• - Yashio Uemura: A specialist in publishing studies who has actively engaged in research and dissemination of e-books and electronic libraries in Japan.
• - Teijiro Egusa: Representative of a specialized book publishing company that has witnessed the evolution of Jimbocho over fifty years.
• - Sung-Bok Kim: Publisher of Korean literature in Japan and founder of a Korean-language bookstore in Jimbocho named "Chekkori."
• - Midorou Yui: Innovator behind the ALL REVIEWS book review site and the community-driven bookstore, PASSAGE.

This symposium promises to be an enlightening experience for all attendees, focusing on the future of literature and culture in Jimbocho amidst changing societal dynamics.