We have moved to a new office building

Yushodo has acquired new office building and relocation of the office was completed on May 2010. We had two buildings in Tokyo, head office in Shinjuku-ku and Annex in Bunkyo-ku. By moving these two offices, we realized to concentrate our business function into one location. Though we are living in IT age, I believe that it is important for our business to see each other and to make a decision through face-to-face communication among our staff.

This July, Yushodo Co. Ltd will amalgamate three fully-owned subsidiary companies, Yushodo Fantas, Yushodo Press, and Yushodo Archives by due process of law. Through the history of our company, we have split some projects into individual companies in order to establish new business models and to provide opportunity for young workers to acquire specialized knowledge. Then, each company grew up to receive good recognition at home and abroad. Now, Yushodo is entering a new era. The decision of this integration will enhance our efficiency and potential. We recognize that it is time to launch full-scale effort to take a first step.

Current status of book import business in Japan

For book import traders like us, we are much concerned with officially announced trade statistical data of annual amount of book import in recent years. I am particularly shocked at the announcement that in 2009, the amount decreased by 15 % over the previous year. Considering the case of direct importing by libraries and research institute, and the amount of non-printed-media, for example, E-journal, the actual number may be higher. I often hear the cases without passing through book traders. Because a book is not be changed whatever route it is purchased, lower price should be better. In order to survive in these globalized and digitalized days, we get nothing by only dreaming of going back to better days. We are required to develop unique, timely, indispensable products, and to offer them to the market quickly.

Yushodo sympathize with the idea of Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP), which strongly support to renovate book distribution industry in Japan. Yushodo had set up joint project with DNP to construct new business models. I expect that we will announce new innovative plan within this year. In addition, I am planning to tie up with a major bookseller with a big scale sales network in order to increase the customers of our original products. I also would like to cooperate with overseas publishers to develop new products correspond to the sales channel.

We expect proposal from foreign companies that want to sell specialized and academic contents both in prints and in digital media in Japan. 50 years has passed since we started the foreign book import. We made a start to our new 50 years.

Active Chinese antiquarian book dealers

At the beginning of the June, big auction of antiquarian books was held in Osaka. This year, we have many auctions, International Antiquarian Book Fair organized by ABAJ in spring, we also have big auction in July and November in Tokyo. Because we are in difficult situation to expand customer base through ordinary trading, such newsworthy events are needed. Even in the global recession, there is a lot of extra money in some ways, valuable books are traded at high price. Since the western and Japanese markets reached maturity, it is true that valuable books are not traded easily. It seems that even famous book dealers who have held high priced goods are experiencing funding difficulties.

The book printed in China in the 13th century was put up for sale on the auction in Osaka. Four or five years ago, it would not make a sale even if it was priced less than one hundred thousand dollars. This time, a Chinese dominant book dealer made a successful bid of one million dollars for the book. It made a new record for the bid of Chinese books in the history of auction in Japan. China has long history as a leading country of printing technology and book publishing, however, many books have been scattered and flowed out to foreign countries especially in the 19th and the 20th centuries. As China develops into major economic power, it seems to be concentrating on buying back its own cultural asset. I heard that Chinese book dealers were attracted attention also in an antiquarian book fair held in London in April.

Something may happen at the annual antiquarian book fair in Hong Kong, which will be taken place from December 3 to 5. I am interested in whether Chinese classics will come onto the market there.

YSD/DNP joint project.

The portal site "Time with the books" , that Yushodo and DNP jointly developed has steadily increased hits. I would like to continue to enhance the website as a portal site for anyone involved with books. I recommend you to use the site to transmit information about your products and exhibitions to Japan. If you send us information in English, we will edit and translate it into Japanese. Feel free to send your request by e-mail to twb%j-c-c.co.jp (please substitute "@" for "%").