Improving Bookstore Profitability Through Scrap and Build of the Store Network

「Regarding our stores, we opened 3 hobby shops operated by our franchise partner Surugaya BASE Co., Ltd.: Surugaya Aeon Akashi and Surugaya Joyful Honda Park Yoshioka in March, and Surugaya Aeon Mall Asahikawa Station Front in April. We also closed Junkudo Bookstore Minami-Funabashi in July and Junkudo Bookstore Fukuoka for relocation, with a reopening scheduled in August. Junkudo Bookstore Asahikawa ceased operations in May for relocation and reopened in July as Junkudo Bookstore Aeon Mall Asahikawa Station Front. As a result, we had 117 stores as of the end of July 2026.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened our second overseas store, Junkudo Bookstore LaLaport Taipei Nangang, offering books, stationery and miscellaneous goods on the fourth floor of the commercial complex Mitsui Shopping Park LaLaport Taipei Nangang in Taipei in March; magmabooks, a new-style bookstore on the second and third floors of Glass Rock in Toranomon Hills, in April; 2 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo official stores at the Expo site, East Gate Store MARUZEN JUNKUDO in April and Kaze-no-Hiroba Store MARUZEN JUNKUDO in July; and 2 hobby shops operated by our franchise partner Surugaya BASE Co., Ltd., Surugaya Matsuyama Okaido in March and Surugaya Akita OPA in July. As a result, we had 117 stores as of the end of July 2025.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened the Surugaya Umeda Chayamachi and Surugaya Tenmonkan hobby-shop and bookstore collaboration stores operated by our franchise partner Surugaya BASE Co., Ltd. in March 2024, Junkudo Bookstore Emiterrace Tokorozawa in September, MARUZEN Kagoshima Yamakataya and MARUZEN Riverwalk Kitakyushu in October, and Surugaya Nagoya Sakae in November. We closed Toda Bookstore Fujinomiya in February, Junkudo Bookstore Hirosaki Nakasan in April, MARUZEN Atre Kichijoji in May, MARUZEN Maruhiro Department Store Higashimatsuyama in August and Junkudo Bookstore Kashiwa Modi in September. As a result, we had 111 stores as of the end of January 2025.」

「During the six months ended September 2024, in addition to firm sales of Japanese-language books, we opened 2 Surugaya stores, 4 EHONS locations in Ikebukuro, Hiroshima, Kichijoji and Shizuoka based on the concept of spaces where visitors can enjoy the world of picture books, and 8 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo official stores in Osaka Umeda, Osaka Namba, Kyoto, Kobe Sannomiya, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, Naha and Sapporo. We also opened Gashapon Bandai Official Shop, a specialist store for Bandai Co., Ltd.'s capsule-toy brand Gashapon, and Bookseller's Gashapon Department Store in Takamatsu. As a result of these and other efforts to develop new store formats offering high-margin products, sales increased to ¥32,769 million, up 0.1% year on year, and operating income increased to ¥314 million, up 251.6%.」

「Regarding our stores, in March 2024 we opened Surugaya Umeda Chayamachi and Surugaya Tenmonkan, collaboration stores combining a hobby shop and bookstore operated by Surugaya BASE Co., Ltd., our franchise partner. We also closed Toda Bookstore Fujinomiya in February. As a result, we had 111 stores as of the end of April 2024.」

「We opened MARUZEN Hiyoshi Tokyu Avenue and MARUZEN Unimo Chiharadai in March 2023, MARUZEN Joyful Honda Park Yoshioka in April and MARUZEN Smark Isesaki in December. We closed Junkudo Bookstore Oita in July, Toda Bookstore Maebashi Main Store in October, Toda Bookstore Fuji in December, and MARUZEN Shinjuku Keio and MARUZEN Tenmonkan in January 2024. MARUZEN Tenmonkan was scheduled to reopen after renovation as Surugaya Tenmonkan in March 2024.」

「We opened MARUZEN Hiyoshi Tokyu Avenue and MARUZEN Unimo Chiharadai in March, and MARUZEN Joyful Honda Park Yoshioka in April. We closed Junkudo Bookstore Oita in July and Toda Bookstore Maebashi Main Store in October. We also joined the Surugaya franchise operated by Surugaya BASE Co., Ltd. and opened Surugaya Niigata Station South in March 2023 and Surugaya Naha Oki-e-dori in August. As a result, we had 111 stores as of the end of October 2023.」

「We joined the Surugaya franchise operated by Surugaya BASE Co., Ltd. and opened the first franchise store, Surugaya Niigata Station South, in March 2023. In the same month, we opened MARUZEN Hiyoshi Tokyu Avenue and MARUZEN Unimo Chiharadai, and in April opened MARUZEN Joyful Honda Park Yoshioka. We closed Junkudo Bookstore Oita in July. As a result, we had 111 stores as of the end of July 2023.」

「During the three months ended April 2023, we expanded educational goods, introduced small stationery sections into book-only stores, and expanded new formats, including EHONS HAKATA, a pop-up store based on the concept of a space where visitors can enjoy the world of picture books, and M.LEAGUE OFFICIAL SHOP Sapporo, associated with the national professional league for team-based competitive mahjong. As a result, sales increased to ¥17,080 million, up 1.3% year on year, and operating income increased to ¥220 million, up 77.5%, resulting in higher sales and profit.」

「We opened MARUZEN Toyota T-FACE in March 2022, offering a full range of books from specialist books to comics and magazines in a sales area of approximately 360 tsubo, and relocated Junkudo Bookstore Matsuyama and reopened it as Junkudo Bookstore Matsuyama Mitsukoshi. In June, we opened EHONS UMEDA inside MARUZEN & Junkudo Umeda, the second store following EHONS TOKYO, which opened in Tokyo Marunouchi in October 2021 with the concept of a space where visitors can enjoy the world of picture books. In September, after entering into a sponsorship agreement with the national professional league for team-based competitive mahjong, we opened M.LEAGUE OFFICIAL SHOP locations in Tokyo, inside MARUZEN Nihombashi, and Osaka, inside MARUZEN & Junkudo Umeda. In December, we opened Personal Lounge MARUZEN no Sankai, a space for enjoying time alone, on the third floor of MARUZEN Marunouchi Main Store. We also closed MARUZEN & Junkudo Bookstore Shibuya and Junkudo Bookstore/MARUZEN Okajima Kofu in January. As a result, we had 108 stores as of the end of January 2023.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened MARUZEN Toyota T-FACE in March 2022, offering a full range of books from specialist books to comics and magazines in a sales area of approximately 360 tsubo, and relocated Junkudo Bookstore Matsuyama and reopened it as Junkudo Bookstore Matsuyama Mitsukoshi. In June, we opened EHONS UMEDA in Kita-ku, Osaka, the second store following EHONS TOKYO, which opened in Tokyo Marunouchi in October 2021 with the concept of a space where visitors can enjoy the world of picture books. In September, after entering into a sponsorship agreement with the national professional league for team-based competitive mahjong, we opened M.LEAGUE OFFICIAL SHOP locations in Tokyo, inside MARUZEN Nihombashi, and Osaka, inside MARUZEN & Junkudo Umeda. As a result, we had 109 stores as of the end of October 2022.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened MARUZEN Toyota T-FACE in March 2022, offering a full range of books from specialist books to comics and magazines in a sales area of approximately 360 tsubo. We relocated Junkudo Bookstore Matsuyama and reopened it as Junkudo Bookstore Matsuyama Mitsukoshi. In June, we opened EHONS UMEDA in Kita-ku, Osaka, the second store following EHONS TOKYO, which opened in Tokyo Marunouchi in October 2021 with the concept of a space where visitors can enjoy the world of picture books. As a result, we had 106 stores as of the end of July 2022.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened MARUZEN Toyota T-FACE in March 2022, offering a full range of books from specialist books to comics and magazines in a sales area of approximately 360 tsubo. We also relocated Junkudo Bookstore Matsuyama and reopened it as Junkudo Bookstore Matsuyama Mitsukoshi. As a result, we had 104 stores as of the end of April 2022.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened MARUZEN Urawa Isetan and MARUZEN Hiroshima Mitsukoshi in March 2021, MARUZEN Prime Tree Akaike in August and MARUZEN Seven Park Amami in November. We also opened EHONS TOKYO, a new store inside MARUZEN Marunouchi Main Store offering the planning and sale of goods inspired by the world of picture books. We closed MARUZEN Ikebukuro and Junkudo Bookstore Sendai TR in July and Junkudo Bookstore Kobe Sanchika in January 2022. As a result, we had 103 stores as of the end of January 2022.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened MARUZEN Urawa Isetan and MARUZEN Hiroshima Mitsukoshi in March 2021, MARUZEN Prime Tree Akaike in August and EHONS TOKYO inside MARUZEN Marunouchi Main Store in October, for a total of 4 stores. We closed MARUZEN Ikebukuro and Junkudo Bookstore Sendai TR in July. As a result, we had 103 stores as of the end of October 2021.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened the 2 stores MARUZEN Urawa Isetan and MARUZEN Hiroshima Mitsukoshi in March 2021 and closed the 2 stores MARUZEN Ikebukuro and Junkudo Bookstore Sendai TR in July. As a result, we had 101 stores as of the end of July 2021.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened the 2 stores MARUZEN Urawa Isetan and MARUZEN Hiroshima Mitsukoshi in March 2021, bringing the number of stores to 103 as of the end of April 2021.」

「We opened the Hitachi store in March 2020, Apita Chiryu store in May, Hills Walk Tokushige, Ariake Garden and Aeon Town Chikusa stores in June, HAMARU Laxus Front store in August, Sanste Okayama store in September and Asunal Kanayama store in December, for a total of 8 stores. We closed the Loft Nagoya and Kyoto stores in February and the Nagoya Central Park store in July, for a total of 3 stores. The Fukuoka store, which had closed in June for relocation, reopened in August. We also acquired 8 Toda Bookstore stores through an asset transfer. As a result, we had 101 stores as of the end of January 2021.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened the Hitachi store in March 2020, Apita Chiryu store in May, Hills Walk Tokushige, Ariake Garden and Aeon Town Chikusa stores in June, HAMARU Laxus Front store in August and Sanste Okayama store in September, for a total of 7 stores. We closed the Loft Nagoya and Kyoto stores in February and the Nagoya Central Park store in July, for a total of 3 stores. The Fukuoka store, which had closed in June for relocation, reopened in August. We also acquired 8 Toda Bookstore stores through an asset transfer. As a result, we had 100 stores as of the end of October 2020.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened the Hitachi store in March 2020, Apita Chiryu store in May, and Hills Walk Tokushige, Ariake Garden and Aeon Town Chikusa stores in June, for a total of 5 stores. We closed the Loft Nagoya and Kyoto stores in February, the Fukuoka store in June, which was reopened at a new location in August, and the Nagoya Central Park store in July, for a total of 4 stores. We also acquired 8 Toda Bookstore stores through an asset transfer. As a result, we had 97 stores as of the end of July 2020.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened the MARUZEN Hitachi store in March 2020 and closed the Junkudo Loft Nagoya store and Junkudo Kyoto store in February. We also acquired 5 Toda Bookstore stores through an asset transfer in March. As a result, we had 92 stores as of the end of April 2020.」

「We opened the Takashimaya Sakai store in June 2019, with approximately 180,000 general books, magazines and specialist books, as well as a well-stocked stationery section offering items for students and educational toys. In September, we closed the Fuchu Isetan store following the closure of the department store in which it was located. We also promoted store renovations to transform our stores into bookstores with stronger proposal capabilities and greater expertise. As a result, we had 88 stores as of the end of January 2020.」

「We promoted store renovations to transform our stores into bookstores with stronger proposal capabilities and greater expertise. As a result, we had 88 stores as of the end of October 2019. Of these, 1 was an overseas store in Taiwan and 1 did not use the store names MARUZEN or Junkudo Bookstore. During the nine months ended October 2019, despite the effects of typhoons and other adverse weather, sales remained almost level with the previous year at ¥54,526 million, down 0.2% year on year, following measures to attract customers and drive sales, including the opening of Tokyo 2020 official shops, which numbered 9 as of the end of October, preventing stockouts of popular titles and running points campaigns. Profitability improved significantly year on year as a result of efforts to reduce store operating expenses and improve operational efficiency, but the business remained loss-making, recording an operating loss of ¥32 million, compared with an operating loss of ¥208 million in the same period of the previous year.」

「Regarding our stores, we opened the Takashimaya Sakai store in June 2019, with approximately 180,000 books including general books, magazines and specialist books, as well as a well-stocked stationery section offering items for students and educational toys. We also promoted store renovations to transform our stores into bookstores with stronger proposal capabilities and greater expertise. As a result, we had 89 stores as of the end of July 2019.」

「During the three months ended April 2019, we promoted the renovations and store combinations described above to create a new bookstore profitability model, while focusing on increasing the number of purchasing customers and average spend through honto Point promotional campaigns and reducing store operating expenses. As a result, sales increased to ¥19,259 million, up 1.1% year on year, and operating income increased to ¥329 million, up 114.3%, resulting in higher sales and profit.」

「Regarding our stores, we closed the Umeda Hilton Plaza store in February 2018, the Matsudo Isetan store in March and the Kansai International Airport store in May, leaving 90 stores as of the end of October 2018. Of these, 1 was an overseas store in Taiwan and 4 did not use the store names MARUZEN or Junkudo Bookstore. During the nine months ended October 2018, we continued to renovate, combine and diversify stores, while focusing on enhancing customer traffic, including by expanding the number of stores covered by the shared loyalty-points service offered in partnership with Ponta Points and d POINT. However, in addition to the difficult market environment, abnormal weather, including the Osaka Northern Earthquake and the torrential rains in western Japan, affected performance. Sales declined to ¥54,549 million, down 2.5% year on year. Despite efforts to reduce selling, general and administrative expenses, we recorded an operating loss of ¥241 million, compared with an operating loss of ¥321 million in the same period of the previous year.」

「Regarding our stores, we closed the Umeda Hilton Plaza store in February 2018, the Matsudo Isetan store in March and the Kansai International Airport store in May, leaving 90 stores as of the end of July 2018. Of these, 1 was an overseas store in Taiwan and 4 did not use the store names MARUZEN or Junkudo Bookstore. During the six months ended July 2018, we continued to renovate, combine and diversify stores, while focusing on enhancing customer traffic, including by expanding the number of stores covered by the shared loyalty-points service offered in partnership with Ponta Points and d POINT.」

「Regarding our stores, we closed the Umeda Hilton Plaza store in February 2018 and the Matsudo Isetan store in March, leaving 91 stores as of the end of April 2018. Of these, 1 was an overseas store in Taiwan and 4 did not use the store names MARUZEN or Junkudo Bookstore. During the three months ended April 2018, we continued to renovate, combine and diversify stores, while focusing on enhancing customer traffic through measures including the launch in April of a shared loyalty-points service at selected stores in partnership with Ponta Points and d POINT.」

「In the fiscal year under review, we focused on store portfolio restructuring and enhancing customer traffic through store combinations and diversification. However, the market environment remained difficult, and sales declined to ¥75,683 million, down 0.9% year on year. Profitability improved as a result of efforts to reduce selling, general and administrative expenses, but the operating loss was ¥326 million, compared with an operating loss of ¥978 million in the previous year, and we did not achieve profitability.」

「Regarding our stores, we closed the existing Oita store in February 2017 and opened a new Oita store at a different location in April. We also temporarily closed the Ikebukuro store (stationery and café) in August, the Yokohama Minato Mirai store in October and the Akita store for renovation, and opened them again, as well as opening 1 store and closing 1 store. As a result, we had 93 stores as of the end of October 2017. Of these, 1 was an overseas store in Taiwan and 4 did not use the store names MARUZEN or Junkudo Bookstore.」

「Regarding our stores, we closed the existing Oita store in February 2017 and opened a new Oita store at a different location in April. We temporarily closed the Akita store in February ahead of its scheduled reopening after renovation in October. As a result, we had 90 stores as of the end of July 2017. Of these, 1 was an overseas store in Taiwan and 4 did not use the store names MARUZEN or Junkudo Bookstore. In the six months ended July 2017, despite the continued difficult market environment, sales increased to ¥37,717 million, up 3.4% year on year, reflecting the results of the store portfolio restructuring undertaken over several years, our focus on enhancing customer traffic through store combinations and diversification, and increased wholesale sales to franchise stores and other customers. Operating income increased to ¥60 million, compared with an operating loss of ¥193 million in the same period of the previous year, following efforts to reduce selling, general and administrative expenses.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group is working to improve bookstore profitability, develop markets through learning and regional revitalisation, and create content using books, thereby creating new value and business models.」

「In this environment, we recognise that our greatest challenge in building a foundation for sustainable growth is to further improve the efficiency of existing businesses by sharing the expertise of Group companies and streamlining common operations, while leveraging synergies among Group companies to create new business areas and new value that contributes to consumers' intellectual and cultural lives through the distribution of publishing content, including digital content.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group is working to improve bookstore profitability through continued store portfolio restructuring, the promotion of franchise agreements and higher margins in the stationery division; reform its business structure in response to changes in the university market and society's educational needs; and promote regional revitalisation projects centred on libraries.」

「Against this backdrop, the Group is working to improve bookstore profitability through continued store portfolio restructuring, the promotion of franchise agreements and higher margins in the stationery division; reform its business structure in response to changes in the university market and society's educational needs; and promote regional revitalisation projects centred on libraries.」