View source for K-Books

{{Short description|Japanese used goods chain}}
{{Infobox company
| name             = K-Books<br>ケイ・ブックス
| logo             = KBooks_Logo.png
| type             = Private
| genre            =
| foundation       = 1992 (founded)<br>1994 (incorporated)
| founder          =
| location_city    = [[Toshima]], [[Tokyo]]
| location_country = [[Japan]]
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| key_people       =
| industry         = [[Retail]]
| products         = [[Used good]]s ([[otaku]] and [[hobbyist]]-related items)
| services         =
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}}
'''{{nihongo|K-Books|ケイ・ブックス|lead=yes}}''' is a chain of [[used good]]s stores in [[Japan]]. It specializes in [[otaku]]- and [[hobbyist]]-related items, including [[anime]] goods, [[manga]], ''[[dōjinshi]]'' (self-published works), and [[Voice acting in Japan|voice actor]] and [[Japanese idol|idol]] goods.
==History==
K-Books was founded in 1992 originally as {{nihongo|"Kenchan no manga juku 1gouten"|けんちゃんのマンガ塾1号店}}, a secondhand [[manga]] store located in [[Sugamo]], [[Toshima]], [[Tokyo]]. It opened a second location in Sugamo in 1994, and was incorporated and rebranded as K-Books that same year.<ref name="Manga1"/> Locations were opened in the Tokyo neighborhoods of [[Kichijoji]], [[Ikebukuro]], and [[Akihabara]] in the mid- to late 1990s. Its first locations outside of Tokyo were opened in [[Osaka]] in 2002, and [[Nagoya]] in 2017.<ref name="Manga1"/>
In February 2019, K-Books ceased [[consignment]] sales for ''dōjinshi'' at its ''dōjin'' store in [[Ikebukuro]] after 15 years.<ref name="ANN"/>
==Products==
K-Books sells variety of secondhand [[otaku]] and [[Japanese pop culture]] goods, including  ''[[dōjinshi]]'' (self-published works), [[manga]], novels, dolls, [[cosplay]] items, [[anime]] and [[video game]] goods, as well as [[Voice acting in Japan|voice actor]] and [[Japanese idol|idol]] goods. Several K-Books locations specialize in specific kinds of goods or genres, including ''[[yaoi]]'', [[Vocaloid]], and [[2.5D musical]]s.<ref name="Manga1"/>
In addition to its retail business, K-Books operates several [[cosplay restaurant]]s and bars: Ikemofu, a [[Costumed character|costumed animal]] café; Swallowtail, a [[butler café]];<ref name="Butler"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nakamura |first1=Akemi |title=For female 'otaku,' a coffee house all their own |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2006/04/24/national/for-female-otaku-a-coffee-house-all-their-own/ |website=[[The Japan Times]] |accessdate=22 February 2020 |date=24 April 2006}}</ref> and Bar Blue Moon, a nighttime bar operated by the butlers of Swallowtail. It also operates Atis Collection, a ''[[yaoi]]'' [[audio drama]] production label.<ref name="Manga1"/>
==Major locations==
K-Books Akihabara Hon-kan is located at [[Akihabara]] in the [[Akihabara Radio Kaikan]] building. It specializes in items aimed at men, such as ''[[Moe (slang)|moe]]'' and [[Virtual YouTuber]] goods.<ref name="Manga2"/> K-Books Chara-kan is located in [[Chiyoda, Tokyo|Chiyoda]] and specializes in goods from ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'' media properties, such as ''[[My Hero Academia]]'' and ''[[Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba|Demon Slayer]]''.<ref name="Manga3"/> K-Books Ikebukuro Doujin-kan is located in [[Ikebukuro]] on [[Otome Road]], and specializes in [[Yaoi|boys' love]]-related items.<ref name="Manga4"/>
<gallery widths="200px" heights="200px">
File:Lashinbang Ikebukuro Main Store and K-BOOKS Ikebukuro Anime Hall.jpg|K-Books Ikebukuro Anime Hall in [[Ikebukuro]], [[Tokyo]].
File:KBooks Osaka.jpg|Exterior of K-Books in [[Nipponbashi]], [[Osaka]].
File:AKIHABARA New Radio Kaikan.jpg|[[Akihabara Radio Kaikan|Radio Kaikan]] in [[Akihabara]], Tokyo, with K-Books visible on the fourth floor.
</gallery>
== See also ==
* [[Animate (retailer)|Animate]]
* [[Book Off]]
* [[Comic Toranoana]]
* [[Comic Takaoka]]
* [[Mandarake]]
==References==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=
<ref name="ANN">{{cite web |last1=Hodgkins |first1=Crystalyn |title=K-BOOKS Retailer's Dōjinkan 2F Shop to Halt Consignment Sales of Dōjinshi for Women After 15 Years (Updated) |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2018-10-22/k-books-retailer-dojinkan-2f-shop-to-halt-consignment-sales-of-dojinshi-for-women-after-15-years/.138417 |website=[[Anime News Network]] |accessdate=18 February 2020 |date=22 October 2018}}</ref>
<ref name="Butler">{{cite web |last1=Gratin |first1=Gladys |title=Come home to Butler Cafe Swallowtail after a day of shopping at Otome Road |url=https://futekiya.com/butler-cafe-swallowtail/ |website=Futekiya |publisher=[[Dai Nippon Printing]] & Fantasista Inc. |accessdate=18 February 2020 |date=23 December 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Manga1">{{cite web |last1=Gratin |first1=Gladys |title=An Anime and Manga Fan's Guide to K-BOOKS |url=https://mangaplanet.com/an-anime-and-manga-fans-guide-to-k-books/ |website=Manga Planet |publisher=[[Dai Nippon Printing]] & Fantasista Inc. |accessdate=18 February 2020 |date=20 December 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Manga2">{{cite web |last1=Narita |first1=Usa |title=Interview with Mr. Moritsuka, Store Manager of K-BOOKS Akihabara Hon-kan |url=https://mangaplanet.com/interview-with-mr-moritsuka-store-manager-of-k-books-akihabara-hon-kan/ |website=Manga Planet |publisher=[[Dai Nippon Printing]] & Fantasista Inc. |accessdate=18 February 2020 |date=1 January 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="Manga3">{{cite web |last1=Akram |first1=Nabil |title=Interview with Mr. Natori, the Store Manager of K-BOOKS Chara-kan |url=https://mangaplanet.com/interview-with-mr-natori-the-store-manager-of-k-books-chara-kan/ |website=Manga Planet |publisher=[[Dai Nippon Printing]] & Fantasista Inc. |accessdate=18 February 2020 |date=25 December 2019}}</ref>
<ref name="Manga4">{{cite web |last1=Hejastro |first1=Trish |title=Interview with Ms. Watanabe, Chief of K-BOOKS Ikebukuro Doujin-kan |url=https://futekiya.com/k-books-ikebukuro-doujin-kan/ |website=Futekiya |publisher=[[Dai Nippon Printing]] & Fantasista Inc. |accessdate=18 February 2020 |date=1 January 2020}}</ref>
}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|K-BOOKS}}
* [https://www.k-books.co.jp/ K-Books official website] {{in lang|ja}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Japanese companies established in 1992]]
[[Category:Retail companies based in Tokyo]]
[[Category:Retail companies established in 1992]]