Kinokuniya’s oldest Asian store outside of Japan to close

In Singapore, Japanese bookstore chain Kinokuniya is closing down its oldest branch in Asia outside of Japan, reports the Straits Times.

Opened in 1983, Kinokuniya at Liang Court shopping mall will close permanently on 21 April 2019, after over 30 years of operation.

Senior store and merchandising director of Books Kinokuniya (Asia-Pacific Region) Kenny Chan told the Straits Times, ‘We need to consolidate our resources … so management decided that since the lease is up, it is timely and convenient to close.’

According to Chan, human traffic at Liang Court has been on the decline. Following the closure of the store, books will be returned to suppliers and dispersed among the chain’s three other Singapore stores.

Established in Japan in 1927, Kinokuniya has over 80 branches in total, with 26 international stores including 13 branches in the United States and branches in cities such as Taipei, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur. Kinokuniya’s Sydney outlet was established in 1996.

Category: International news