Japanese bookstore challenges Amazon in ASEAN
Tokyo-based bookstore Kinokuniya Co said on August 6 that they will be setting up online stores throughout Southeast Asia in order to catch up with online shops offering e-books.
Although the company operates brick and mortar branches in some countries in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, the biggest bookstore chain in Japan aims to make a move ahead of Amazon in the region by setting up their online business.
“Utilising our many years of experiences in those countries as a conventional bookstore, we will make a move ahead of Amazon.com,” Masashi Takai, President of Kinokuniya,
The company is planning to sell physical books as well as e-books in English, Japanese, Chinese and other local languages.
Founded in 1927, Kinokuniya means “Store of Kii Province.” It opened its online business in 1996 but its annual 5,000-yen membership fee caused the bookstore to lose out to Amazon, which requires no registration fee.
However, Kinokuniya sees great opportunities in the region because Amazon currently only operates in three Asian countries, namely China, India and Japan.
Tokyo-based bookstore Kinokuniya Co said on August 6 that they will be setting up online stores throughout Southeast Asia in order to catch up with online shops offering e-books. Although the company operates brick and mortar branches in some countries in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, the biggest bookstore chain in Japan aims to make a move ahead of Amazon in the region by setting up their online business. "Utilising our many years of experiences in those countries as a conventional bookstore, we will make a move ahead of Amazon.com,” Masashi Takai, President of Kinokuniya, The...
Tokyo-based bookstore Kinokuniya Co said on August 6 that they will be setting up online stores throughout Southeast Asia in order to catch up with online shops offering e-books.
Although the company operates brick and mortar branches in some countries in Southeast Asia such as Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, the biggest bookstore chain in Japan aims to make a move ahead of Amazon in the region by setting up their online business.
“Utilising our many years of experiences in those countries as a conventional bookstore, we will make a move ahead of Amazon.com,” Masashi Takai, President of Kinokuniya,
The company is planning to sell physical books as well as e-books in English, Japanese, Chinese and other local languages.
Founded in 1927, Kinokuniya means “Store of Kii Province.” It opened its online business in 1996 but its annual 5,000-yen membership fee caused the bookstore to lose out to Amazon, which requires no registration fee.
However, Kinokuniya sees great opportunities in the region because Amazon currently only operates in three Asian countries, namely China, India and Japan.
