[Nagoya] Want to Find an Exciting Book? A Report on Secondhand and Antiquarian Booksellers

In this article, we will introduce bookstores in Nagoya that sell second-hand books.

If you want to read a slightly rare book, or want to find a book I've never seen or read before... In such a case, please visit a secondhand bookstore. You can find out-of-print books, valuable first editions, and other rare books that are hard to find at regular bookstores, and you can meet exciting books.

Antiquarian Books and Japanese Bound Books 
from the Edo period,
"Kiyo Shoten"

Founded in 2015, "Kiyo Shoten (bookstore)" is a 7-minute walk west along Wakamiya Odori from Osu Kannon Station on the Tsurumai subway line.

Mr. Saito, the owner of the shop, spent about 10 years training at the long-established secondhand bookstore "Shinsendo Bookstore" in Jinbocho, Tokyo, which is said to be the world's number one secondhand shopping district, and learned about the knowledge of antiquarian books and how to handle them. You got me.

Antiquarian books are books that have been out of print for a number of years and have a high rarity value. It has a high historical value, and you can hardly see it at general bookstores.

Since the front of the store is entirely glass, the atmosphere inside the store is easy to understand from the outside, making it easy for first-time visitors to enter. The wooden frame blended in with the landscape and was very nice. The sun's rays gently enter the store.

Kiyo Bookstore handles a large number of old books centered on Nagoya's local materials, transportation and industry related books, art and architecture related books. Going back in time, there are many valuable materials such as antiquarian books from the Edo and Meiji periods, paper items, and ukiyo-e prints. This time, I was shown a special product, so I will introduce it immediately.

Illustrated Japanese characters "Ōjōyōshū"

A Buddhist book said to have been written in the Heian period by Eshin Sozu Genshin, a monk of Hieizan Enryakuji Temple. This is the "Ojo Essentials Collection with Japanese Characters", which is an excerpt of the contents written there, with furigana and illustrations.

It seems that the contents preached what to do in order to be born in paradise. This is a very valuable book published in the late Edo period consisting of three volumes, Tales of Hell (first), Tales of Rokudo (second), and Tales of Paradise (third). It seems that the scarcity value is high if the title paper (title part) is in good condition.

Tales of Hell (first)

Is it like the god of hell, Enma Daio, who judges the sins? There are demons, and a head like Kannon Bodhisattva is enshrined, and the horror of hell is depicted.

There is an iron kettle, and it seems that boiling water is poured and the person is suffering. The expression of the demon on the left looks a little calm, but on the contrary, it feels scary.

As an aside, there are two types of hell, burning hell and freezing hell, and it is said that there is a large hell and a small hell for each. There are 8 large hells, and each large hell has 16 smaller ones. 8 large hells and 8 x 16 small hells combined for a total of 136. Furthermore, it seems that there are 272 types of hell, including heat and cold.

If you go to hell, there is no way out. By the way, Abi Jigoku (jigoku: hell) is said to be the most painful. It is said that the etymology of the four-letter idiom Abikyoukan（阿鼻叫喚: agonizing cries）comes from this Abi Jigoku and Kyoukan Jigoku.

It describes the type of hell. It is written as firebug. This is one of the small hells in Abi Jigoku, and it is said to be a hell for all sorts of diseases. It is said that countless insects spring up from the whole body and eat up the flesh and bones.

One of the 8 Big Hells, the Great Fiery Hell.

An essential collection that clearly expresses the world and concept of "hell". It must have had a great impact on those who read it at the time. It was a very interesting old book. The modern language version is also on sale, so I'm going to read it once.

Japanese Bound Book

This book is made by binding Japanese paper with string and using a traditional Japanese binding method. Let's take a look at the "Seirou Beauty Mirror" at the bottom.

Nishiki-e depicting the charming appearance of the prostitutes of Yoshiwara, a competition between ukiyo-e artists Kitao Shigemasa and Katsukawa Shunsho. Nishiki-e is an elaborate multicolored woodblock print that became popular after Meiwa (Edo period).

It is said that nishiki-e came to be called Nishiki-e because it is as beautiful as nishiki-ori (brocade). I was really surprised when they showed me the contents! The colors and beauty are so vivid and beautiful that you wouldn't believe they were hundreds of years ago. I just fell in love with it.

Since Japanese paper was used for books and ukiyo-e prints at that time, it is said that even after hundreds of years, the colors will not fade. Western paper is said to last 100 years, while Japanese paper is said to last 1,000 years.

Miniature Book

The next is this one. It's a very cute palm-sized book, "Mame-hon"! It became popular overseas around the 16th century, and in Japan, it is said that it was actively made for entertainment from the late Edo period. Surprisingly, the contents of the book are also printed firmly.

Smaller than the palm of your hand.

Even smaller!

There are various types of books, such as Bibles, school textbooks, and diaries. It seems that there are many people who collect miniature books. Why are miniatures so exciting?

Many other old maps and ukiyo-e prints were also introduced. I was really excited to see products that I had only seen in textbooks and photographs.
At Kiyo Bookstore, in addition to over-the-counter and online sales, we also carry out careful assessments and purchases under the motto of "Hundreds of books, sincere purchases." Supports various fields, including old books without ISBN codes. In addition to old books, antiques, art, and printed materials related to daily life (postcards, ukiyo-e, hanging scrolls, etc.) are also acceptable. If you have a product that you are considering throwing away, please consult with Kiyo Bookstore before letting it go.

Saito-san, thank you for your cooperation!

[Kiyo Bookstore]
Address: 1-5-38 Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya City
Phone number: 052-231-0994
Business hours: 12:00-18:00
Closed: Tuesdays, irregular holidays (please inquire for details)
HP: http: //www.kiyo-books.jp
Twitter: @kiyobooks

Handles Art Books such as Architecture and Design
Higashi ward "LIEB BOOKS"

The next store we visited was "LIEB BOOKS" in Aoi, Higashi-ku.

Get off at Kurumamichi Station on the Sakura-dori Subway Line and walk for about 5 minutes along Sakura-dori. It is a very pleasant area with lots of greenery, such as the Otsukaya main store near the shop and a street lined with trees.

The store is on the second floor of the Sanko Building. As soon as you go up the stairs, you can see the entrance of the shop.

The white walls and glass windows create a very stylish and chic atmosphere. Expectations will gradually increase as to what kind of book you can meet.

Once you step into the store, you will be drawn into a special space far removed from everyday life. No matter where you take a picture, you can feel the stylish and elegant interior of the store.

LIEB BOOKS handles photo collections, art books, and books related to architecture, fashion, and design in both Japanese and Western styles. The owner, Mr. Ushida, carefully manages each book. They have many purchase requests from all over the country, and they also do home delivery and business trip purchases.

The layout is not only fashionable but also easy to see.

A lot of interesting art books and books regardless of Japanese or Western.

The interiors that were placed here and there were very nice. Also, at the art gallery space "NAO MASAKI" next to the shop, exhibitions of works by various artists are held from time to time. Recommended books and regular holiday information are announced on the official Instagram, so please check it out.

[LIEB BOOKS]
Address: Sanko Bldg. 2F, 2-3-4 Aoi, Higashi-ku, Nagoya City
Phone number: 050-5328-7197
Business hours: 13:00-19:00 (open until 17:00 on Mondays)
Closed: Tuesdays, irregular holidays
HP: https: //www.liebbooks.com
Instagram: Search at liebbooks