One of the Japanese institutions that has gained recognition across various countries around the world is Books Kinokuniya. Founded in 1927 by Moichi Tanabe, it started as a humble bookstore and art gallery in Tokyo's Shinjuku district. Apart from Japan, Kinokuniya has bookstores in the United States, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the Philippines. The brand's very first footprint in South Asia, its newest bookstore has opened in Bangladesh already sparking a new sense of hope among book lovers. Located in Uttara Centrepoint, this 5,000 sq ft bookstore offering a wide collection of original books by international authors, has already ignited a spark of excitement among the new generation. 

Previously, finding books by foreign authors in Bangladesh was quite difficult. Most readers would visit the bookshops of Nilkhet in Dhaka to hunt for their favorite international authors. Even when books were available, they were often cheap copies of the originals. Although some bookstores and libraries in Dhaka did stock original copies but limited supply caused prices to fluctuate frequently, making readers reluctant to purchase books at such high costs. When a reader struggles to find their favorite author's book, it gradually diminishes the reading culture as a whole. Since Kinokuniya's arrival, the enthusiasm for buying books among readers has grown significantly. Purchasing original books at high prices was once a major challenge but Kinokuniya has made that challenge considerably easier to overcome. With a larger collection of books, there is now hope that prices may become more competitive. Yet regardless of whether prices rise or fall, nothing can stop a true reader from enjoying the books they love.

A notable trend has been observed among the current generation is that a deep fascination with Japanese culture, particularly anime, manga, and comic books, which have built a massive fanbase in Bangladesh. Previously, obtaining Japanese manga and comic books was extremely difficult. Today, the arrival of Kinokuniya has become a tremendous gain for the youth.

We often hear that 'books are the greatest companions of our lives' — but books alone are not enough; what is equally needed is a sufficient number of readers. It is true that the number of readers in Bangladesh is declining day by day. Academic pressure and the structure of the education system leave little room for Bangladeshi students to read beyond their textbooks. Added to this is the discouragement from parents, who rarely motivate their children to pick up a book outside of academics. Another unfortunate reason behind the declining readership is the widespread use of smartphones and modern technology, which is gradually shifting people away from books and toward screens. The arrival of Books Kinokuniya has not only sparked enthusiasm among the existing reading community, but it is also hoped that it will attract the younger generation toward reading. After all, this is the age of trends and the youth largely tend to follow what is trending. If Kinokuniya manages to create not just an interest in reading but also a trend of book collecting, it could play a meaningful role in building a new generation of readers. On the other hand, families too can play a vital role in increasing readership and encouraging book collecting at home. 

Kinokuniya is renowned worldwide not only for its books, but equally for its exclusive premium Japanese stationery and merchandise collection. The Uttara Centrepoint outlet also features a vast and eye-catching stationery section, alongside official anime merchandise, a Studio Ghibli collection, blind boxes, and much more — all of which have an incredibly wide appeal among the younger generation. So Kinokuniya is not just a destination for book lovers, it also caters to those who enjoy journaling and crafting, offering a premium stationery collection that is sure to nurture and inspire creativity among the youth of Bangladesh.

It is therefore hoped that Kinokuniya is set to bring about a remarkable transformation among the younger generation of Bangladesh. This change will not only be reflected in reading habits, but also in directly connecting the youth of Dhaka with world-class literature and culture. Perhaps it is through this Japanese bookstore that a new chapter in Dhaka's literary journey has finally begun.