Used-book stores, particularly those in Tokyo, have received a succession of bulk orders, prompting speculation that the books may be intended as training data for generative AI. Records have also confirmed that more than 50 tons were exported from Japan to the United States.
Our reporting confirmed that online used-book stores across Japan have seen a rise in bulk orders since around August this year. In many cases, orders have been placed through multiple accounts at each store, with deliveries consolidated at a logistics center in Okayama Prefecture.
The books seeing increased demand have tended to be specialist titles on philosophy, history, medicine and law, as well as the life and culture of the Edo period, rather than mainstream novels and comics. Owners of stores that have experienced sharp sales increases have pointed to the possibility that the books are being purchased mechanically.
People involved in the industry share the view that the purchases may be intended to provide training data for AI. Cases involving stores whose sales have risen sharply, as well as similar activity observed at multiple stores, have come to light. The company overseeing the logistics declined to comment on individual transactions.