Japanese bookstore Tsutaya opens first Thailand branch in Bangkok

Key facts

• Tsutaya Bookstore will open its first Thailand branch at One Bangkok shopping mall on October 20.
• The new branch spans over 1,000 square meters across two floors.
• The store will feature more than 50,000 book and magazine titles in Thai and English.
• A children's and manga zone will offer over 15,000 children's titles, manga, and licensed anime merchandise.
• The bookstore will include a Thai Art Exhibition Corner for local artists.
• Tsutaya Bookstore will have a cafe in collaboration with Wawee Coffee and Cocoa Dutch.

Culture Convenience Club (CCC), the operator of the Japanese bookstore chain Tsutaya, is set to open its first store in Bangkok, Thailand, on October 20. This move signifies Tsutaya's expansion into Southeast Asia, driven by a growing interest in Japanese culture, including anime and manga. CCC previously operated a video and DVD rental business in Thailand under the Tsutaya brand from 2000 to 2017, but is now returning with its bookstore format.

The new Tsutaya Bookstore is located at The Storeys zone of the One Bangkok shopping mall. It is a collaboration between Tsutaya Bookstore Malaysia and Asia Books, a business under Berli Jucker (BJC). The store will span over 1,000 square meters across two floors, designed with a concept called 'The Waves of Wisdom' that emphasizes simple, airy, and natural Japanese design elements. It will stock more than 50,000 book and magazine titles in both Thai and English, covering literature, business, art, lifestyle, and children's books.

Key features of the bookstore include lifestyle curation, where books are displayed alongside Japanese stationery and design goods to integrate reading with daily life. A dedicated children's and manga zone will house over 15,000 titles, along with licensed anime merchandise. Additionally, the store will host a Thai Art Exhibition Corner to showcase the work of young Thai artists. Complementing the retail offerings, a cafe will serve food and beverages developed in partnership with Wawee Coffee and the Dutch cocoa brand Cocoa Dutch.